DOWN MEN PULL OFF A REAL ’COO

Kilcoo St Finbarr’s 1-13 (AET)

1-18

KILCOO delivered the goods when it mattered to reach back-to-back All-Ireland Club Championship finals.

But it needed extra-time at O’Moore Park with Paul Devlin, Anthony Morgan and Ceilum Doherty grabbing vital scores.

Kilcoo assistant boss Conleith Gilligan admitted there is work to be done ahead of the final.

“It was a game where we never felt that we were really in control of and it is something we will look at,” he added.

Eoin McGreevy and Ryan Johnston traded points in the opening minutes and that set the tone for a great battle.

Johnston then hit the roof of the net after brother Jerome picked him out with the pass.

Corner back Aaron Branagan scored a rare point with Conor Laverty instrumental in the build-up and Paul Devlin converted a free but three converted frees from the steady Steven Sherlock meant St Finbarr’s were only a whisker behind.

And then came their breakthrough as the Corkmen grabbed a great goal only two minutes before half-time when Eoin McGreevy blasted home from close range.

It gave them the lead for the first time and they held a two-point advantage at the break.

Kilcoo had a wonderful chance to win it having been awarded a soft free in second half added time.

But a silly challenge by Aidan Branagan on Adam Lyne saw the joint captain pick up a red card and the game headed to extra-time at 1-10 to 1-10.

Kilcoo led 1-15 to 1-12 at the turnaround with Devlin and sub Morgan on target for the Magpies while Sherlock replied from frees but it was the Down men who prevailed.

St Finbarr’s finished with 13 as Jamie Burns and Micheal Shields picked up late reds.

Kilcoo: P Devlin 0-5, 0-2f, R Johnston 1-1, N Kane 0-3, 0-2f, D Branagan 0-2, C Doherty 0-2, E Branagan 0-1, A Branagan 0-1, A Morgan 0-1, M Rooney 0-1, S Johnston 0-1. St Finbarr’s: S Sherlock 0-10f, E McGreevy 1-1, 0-1m, C Crowley 0-1,

C Barrett 0-1

SCORING WITH STYLE Ryan Johnston fires Kilcoo goal