Derrygonnelly Harps 1-07 Kilcoo 2-13
The mercilessly efficient machine that is Kilcoo had simply too much power for a game but outgunned Derrygonnelly Harps in this hard-fought affair at Brewster Park.
In truth this matter was sealed at the break when a brilliant Kilcoo led by 1-08 to 0-01. Their goal came in the 20th minute as corner forward Paul Devlin cooly converted a penalty and that was the killer score.
Derrygonnelly had a much better second half as Kilcoo lost influential midfielder Ryan Johnston to a black card. Ryan and Garvan Jones hit two fine points, but a turnover knocked their revival for six.
For, a rapid six man move ended with sub Sean Og McCusker palming the ball to the Harps net to put Kilcoo into a 2-11 to 1-04 lead to seal the deal.
Kilcoo got off the mark on the fifth minute when the fleet-footed wing back Eugene Brannigan raced through the centre of the Harps defence unchallenged for the opening score.
It was all Kilcoo who looked yards faster than their bigger but ponderous opponents as midfielder Ryan Johnston put his side two points in front by the seventh minute.
Conal Jones replied for the Harps but that was to be their only score of the half.
Kilcoo keeper Niall Kane landed a 45 as Branaga once again flew through a loose looking Harps defence.
Paul Devlin and Branagan added further points before Devlin cooly converted a penalty after Jack Devlin was hauled down. That put Kilcoo into a 1-07 to 0-01 lead by the 20th minute and this contest looked already over.
The Harps did have a chance of a goal in the run up to half time when in possibly their only real attack Shane McGullion found himself one on one with Kilcoo keeper Kane, but his shot came off the upright.
Meanwhile Devlin made it 1-08 to 0-01 as the rain fell heavily on the large crowd.
Gary McKenna opened the scoring for the Harps after the break. But in a declaration of intent, Kilcoo full-back Ryan McEvoy bulled his way through the Harps defence for an inspirational score.
The Harps had much more of the ball in this half and battled to the death. They won the second half by 1-05 to 1-04 but even without McCusker's goal Karly Lacey’s men were never really bothered.
However, they could face a much tougher task against Scotstown in Pairc Esler Newry next weekend.
Derrygonnelly:Jack Kelly; Aaron Jones, Oisin Smyth, Michael Jones (Daniel Ward 56); Shane McGullion, Rian McGovern (Declan Cassidy 44), Niall Maguire (Ronan McGovern 36); Ryan Jones (0-01) Conor McGovern; Stephen Gilroy Ronan McHugh 44), Garvan Jones (0-4,2f) Eamon McHugh (Bryan McKenna 54); Leigh Jones, Conall Jones (0-01,f) Gary McKenna (1-01f)
Kilcoo: Niall Kane (0-01); Niall Branagan, Ryan McEvoy (0-01), Aaron Branagan (Callum Rogers 60); Miceal Rooney, Darryl Branagan (0-01), Eugene Brannigan (0-02); Aaron Morgan (0-01), Ryan Johnston (0-02) (Tiarnan Fettes 52); Shealan Johnston, Jack Devlin (Conor Laverty 49), Anthony Morgan (0-01); Paul Devlin (1-02,pen), Christopher Rooney (Sean Og McCusker (1-01) 36), Ceilum Doherty (0-01)
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
