Kilcoo have too much for Derrygonnelly in Ulster

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