Kilcoo dig deep in extra time to make history

Kilcoo 2-08 Kilmacud Crokes 0-13 (aet)

A Jerome Johnston goal at the end of the extra time saw Kilcoo defeat Kilmacud Crokes and become All-Ireland club champions for the first time ever, following a highly absorbing decider.

With no competition last season, Kilcoo had an extra year of heartbreak to temper after Corofin defeated them in the last played final pre-pandemic.

As the game moved towards a climax, the Down champions found themselves staring down the barrel of further heartache. But when they found themselves two points down in injury time against an excellent Crokes side, that never-say-die Kilcoo attitude again, came to the fore.

All three Johnston brothers combined for Jerome to fire home the winner after Shealan cleverly found Ryan unmarked only for his shot to be saved on the line and the rebound dropped to Jerome who blasted to the net.

Kilmacud will wonder how they didn't clinch their third title, as they dominated for large periods but simply could not put Kilcoo away. Three points in succession during extra time looked to be enough and so did a powerful opening half in normal time.

The Dublin champions settled into things quickest, Rory O'Carroll who was immense in the early stages helped to clam his side with his presence alone and used all his experience to work the ball directly to his attackers.

Given Kilcoo's method of play, Kilmacud had to be quick and direct. Kilmacud captain Shane Cunningham opened the scoring with a mark with that methodology firmly in their minds.

Paul Devlin was uncharacteristically wayward both from play and from an early free, so Kilcoo relied on Darryl and Aaron Branagan to propel themselves into the showpiece. They did so valiantly but five wides clocked up mid way through the