ACFL 1: CLASSY KILCOO RUN REDS RAGGED - Rostrevor 0-5 Kilcoo 0-13
If you are wondering whether you are
really good enough to be at the top of
the First Division table, the best way
of reassuring yourself is to travel to
the home of the reigning league
champions[ and current pace-setters] ….
And beat them off the park!
That’s how Kilcoo went about it on
Thursday last, crushing Rostrevor by
eight points at Pettit Park. And they
were far from flattered to do so; for,
but for two brave saves from young
goalkeeper Padraig Mulholland at the
feet of Anthony Devlin and Damien Grant
in the second quarter, Kilcoos margin of
victory could have been humiliatingly
wide.
GOBBLED UP
Rostrevors biggest problem was the way
that their attack was so comprehensively
gobbled up by a powerful Kilcoo defence.
Only one home forward managed to score
from play, and that was Joe Fegan’s
point in the 32nd minute. The
only time that Reds actually led all
evening, between the 12th and
13th minutes, was the result
of swashbuckling support play by Eddie
Magee and Niall Farrell, and not of any
impression the forwards were making on
the rampant Gary McEvoy, Sean O’Hanlon,
Niall McEvoy and co. That was the only
time that Rostrevor looked capable of
matching their well-organised opponents.
After that the game went steadily in
Kilcoo’s favour.
MAGPIES MOVE AWAY
A good point from Anthony Devlin
levelled the scores at 0-3 each by the
end of the first quarter, and dominant
Kilcoo should have been out of sight by
half time. Instead they had two
excellent points from Damien Grant a nd
one from Phelim McGreevey to their
credit, and young Padraig Mulholland had
covered himself in glory in the
Rostrevor goal. A brilliant Joe Fegan
point early in the second half roused
Rostrevor hopes briefly, but the
optimism was short-lived. As Magpies
easily hustled Rostrevor off their
running game, Gary McEvoy, Damien Grant
and Conor Laverty had three points in as
many minutes. It was 0-9 to 0-5 going in
to the final quarter, but Rostrevors
last hopes disappeared when the injured
Jarlath Farrell had to be with drawn
from his duel with Conor Laverty,
probably the only head-to-head in which
Rostrevor were coming out on top.
Laverty celebrated by poaching two late
points, with Damien Grant and Dominic
McEvoy adding one each as Kilcoo cruised
out convincing winners.
IMPRESSIVE
When you add their eight point win over
Rostrevor to their eleven point pasting
of Clonduff the previous week, it is
clear that Kilcoo must be doing
something right, but it will help them
keep their feet on thew ground in the
run-up to the championship when they
reflect on the many errors which marred
their play on Thursday. Their defence
was superb, especially Niall McEvoy and
Roger Morgan, and Phelim McGreevey and
Paul Greenan made up a strong mobile
midfield partnership. But there remains
a margin for improvement in the attack,
where Damien Grant probably made the
most impact over the hour, though
Anthony Devlin , Dominic McEvoy and Gary
McEvoy all had their moments. Rostrevor
on the other hand, were extremely poor.
Jarlath Farrell and Martin Cole worked
overtime in a respectable defence, but
the were always second fiddle at
midfield, and awful in attack where only
Sean Parr and Joe Fegan can be even
moderately happy with their
contributions
Rostrevor scorers; Lloyd Parr [0-2] 2
frees; Eddie Magee [0-1]; Niall Farrell
[0-1] ; Joe Fegan [0-1].
Kilcoo scorers; Damien Grant [0-4] 2
frees; Conor Laverty [0-3]; Anthony
Devlin [0-2]; Phelim McGreevey[0-1];
Gary McEvoy [0-1]; Dominic McEvoy [0-1]
Rostrevor team; Padraig Mulholland; Gary
Magee, Paul Magee, Jarlath Farrell;
Eddie Magee, Martin Cole, Kevin McGrath;
Colm Murney, Niall Farrell; Lloyd Parr,
Sean Parr, Turlough Murphy; Martin
Sherry, Joe Fegan, Adrian Mackin.
Kilcoo team; Emmett Devlin; Niall
McAvoy, Sean O’Hanlon, Gerard McEvoy;
Brian O’Hanlon, Roger Morgan, Conor
Morgan; Paul Greenan, Phelim McGreevey;
Donal Kane, Dominic McEvoy, Damien
Grant; Gary McEvoy, Anthony Devlin,
Conor Laverty.
Referee; Leo White [Mayobridge]
