Kilcoo 2-14 Ballybay 1-7
All-Ireland champions Kilcoo were far too good for Ballybay in today’s Ulster quarter-final encounter at Clones.
Ballybay had been impressive in disposing of Scotstown and Crossmaglen but they found this another level up.
The game was all but over when Ryan Johnston refused a handy fisted point on 34 minutes to slam his shot to the roof of the net for a five point lead.
Kilcoo always looked like they had the capabilities to manage it out from there.
When you’re chasing the game in the second half against Kilcoo you’re losing as Ballybay quickly found out.
The Down champions carved out a series of goal chances with a goal line clearance from Ceilum Doherty on 50 minutes and a save by goalie Julius Sniauksta from Dylan Ward a minute later preventing the scoreline turning ugly.
Kilcoo’s second goal came on 59 minutes when Micheal Rooney was on the end of another slick hand passing move to fire to the net.
It was a double scores defeat in the end and that was just about right.
The Kilcoo defence scored 1-5 of their 2-14 total showing how versatile and complete an outfit they are.
They led by 0-8 to 1-2 at half-time but it was hard to believe there were only five points in it, such was Kilcoo’s dominance.
The pace of their attacks from deep and the tenacity of their tackling was the main difference between the sides.
Ballybay had a couple of early chances, but tried to work goals when they might have tapped over points.
Christopher McGuinness also had a goal chance saved on 12 minutes when Paul Finlay won a mark from a Ballybay kickout and drove it long inside.
With Kilcoo having seven different scorers in their eight point first half tally from 11 shots they were ruthless in their finishing and Ballbay were struggling to contain their attacks.
But they were thrown a lifeline when Colm Lennon’s point attempt came off the post on 15 minutes and fell to Daniel Caraher, who was fouled by Kilcoo goalie, Niall Kane.
Christopher McGuinness stroked the penalty home and the scores were level at 0-4 to 1-1.
The other main talking point off the half was an incident involving Kilcoo midfielder Dylan Ward.
He was booked for a tussle on the ground with Paul Finlay on 20 minutes and after receiving treatment after overcarrying and taking a few hits Ward was send to the sideline to get a gumshield.
Not wearing a gumshield is a yellow card offence and he might well have been sent off but Fermanagh referee, Niall Cullen let him off.
Ward was send off on a second yellow card deep into stoppage time, but it was all academic as Kilcoo set up an Ulster semi-final meeting with Enniskillen Gaels.
KILCOO: N Kane (0-1, 45), N Branagan, R McEvoy (0-2, 1f), A Branagan (0-2), M Rooney (1-0), D Branagan, Anthony Morgan, Aaron Morgan, D Ward, C Doherty (0-2), R Johnston (1-1), S Johnston, P Devlin (0-4, 3fs, 1 45), J Johnston (0-1, mk), C Laverty (0-1).
SUBS: T Fettes for Anthony Morgan 39mins,S Og McCusker for Doherty 52mins, A Branagan for N Branagan 60mins, C Rooney for R Johnston, M Hynes for Rooney.
BALLYBAY: J Sniauksta, M Hannon, T McSkean, E McKearney, S Monaghan, C Lennon (0-2), R Wylie, D Wylie, D Ward (0-1, f), C Galligan, S McGuinness (1-0, pen), D Caraher, P Finlay (0-2, 1f), C McGuinness, T Kerr (0-1, 45).
SUBS: A Toner (0-1) for Carraher, B Wylie for Monaghan, P O’Neill for McKearney 56mins, T Keenan for Finlay 61mins.
REFEREE: N Cullen (Fermanagh)
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