After completing a clean-sweep of Championship titles last season, Kilcoo have lost none of their edge says attacker Ceilum Doherty.
A cursory glance at the results from this season’s Down SFC might suggest that defending champions are vulnerable as they begin the defence of their Ulster Club title against Ballybay in Clones on Sunday (1.30pm).
After routing Clonduff and Ballyholland by 14 and 11 points respectively in their opening rounds, the reigning All-Ireland champions were a penalty kick away from being knocked out by the former in the quarter-final rematch.
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The Hilltown outfit brought the Magpies to a shoot-out in Newry and Conor Brown missed a penalty to claim a famous win for Ciaran McBride’s men. Kilcoo went on to win the shoot-out before defeating Mayobridge in the semi-final.
Their 10th Down SFC victory in 11 seasons arrived last month, but Warrenpoint also took Kilcoo to extra-time in the decider before losing out by the narrowest of margins.
However, speaking at the recent launch of the Ulster Club Championships in the Athletic Grounds, Doherty insists they are just as hungry for silverware as ever.
“You hear stuff every now and again, but we can only control what we can control,” said Doherty.
“That’s training hard and making sure we are ready to compete on any given day. The boys that are lucky enough to be selected will be ready to take the field and, hopefully, we can do the business.
“The only difference (from last season) is there’s probably younger boys who’ve come into the squad and are pushing other boys out.
“That’s the way it has to be, it’s a revolving wheel and that is distilled into you from underage. If you’re not on it, you’re not going to play and that’s always been the way. Everyone knows to stick to that so you have to be ready at every training session.”
Getting put to the pin of their collar in the defence of their county title is nothing new for Kilcoo.
Indeed, they were taken to extra-time by Carryduff at the quarter-final stage of last season’s Down SFC before completing a clean-sweep of Championship crowns.
Doherty believes those battles will stand to the Magpies as they go head-to-head with the Monaghan championship this weekend.
“It probably goes unnoticed from people outside, but the Down Championship is a very, very good Championship,” said Doherty.
“Even in the latter stages, some people might say it is defensive, but there’s a lot of good players in Down.
“You’re lucky and happy to come out of those games with a win and you’ve to do your homework but, hopefully, you have enough to come through but there’s very good teams in Down.”
This year’s Ulster Club series got off to an explosive start last weekend when Ballybay shocked Crossmaglen in the Athletic Grounds in last weekend’s preliminary round game.
Sunday’s quarter-final tie in Clones is already the focus of much attention after Ballybay’s joint-manager Jerome Johnston confirmed that he would step aside for the game due to a conflict of interest.
The Kilcoo native has three sons lining out for Conleith Gilligan and Richard Thornton’s side with Ryan, Shealan and Jerome Jnr all expected to feature on Sunday.
Mark Doran will be in sole charge of Ballybay while Jerome Johnston Snr isn’t expected to attend the game.
The other three quarter-finals also look evenly-poised and Doherty says he is relishing playing in the provincial series once more as Kilcoo begin their bid for a third successive Ulster title.
“The Ulster championship is a very special competition and it always has been,” added the Kilcoo ace.
“Whenever I came to watch the Ulster Championship games when I was younger and I loved it and now I’m just so appreciative that I’m playing in it.
"Any time we’ve been lucky enough to win our own county, I’ve enjoyed it because these games are special
“When the lights are on and the atmosphere heats up - it is a special time and we’re happy to be here.”
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