Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone) 1-8; Kilcoo (Down) 0-10
Scoring was limited, man to man confrontations were confined to spoiling and marking tightly rather than open play yet somehow this Ulster club football final was compelling viewing from start to finish at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Sunday.
It was a case of the irresistible force which was Kilcoo coming up against the immovable object, a less talented but great willed Tyrone outfit as they demonstrated for the course of the game.
And ultimately, two things decided this game in which there wasn’t a cigarette-paper width between the teams – the sending-off early in the second half of Darryl Branagan for a dangerous tackle and two great points from an unlikely source – the winners’ wing back Peter Óg McCartan who shot huge scores from either side of the posts which forwards would have been reluctant to take on.
McCartan’s first effort helped the men in blue and white to gain parity and his second curled in high from the right to break Down hearts as they sought to bring the game into extra-time.
Errigal celebrated their third title, after winning in 1993 and 2002, as if it was a first - and for Peter Canavan who had experienced such an occasion before, it was extra special as his sons were key players on this time.
A tonic early goal from midfielder Joe Oguzafter on four minutes looked as if it might be a square ball but fortune favored the winners as Darragh Canavan’s cross was palmed to the net.
The Down side looked the slicker outfit with lightning quick movement and accurate short passing carving up their opponents who also struggled to get out against the Kilcoo press. Points from the impressive Eugene Branagan and a Niall Kane-converted long-range free, was quickly followed by a Miceal Rooney point to have the game balanced on a knife-edge.
Tommy Canavan epitomized Errigal’s defiance by putting them back in front at the beginning of the second quarter, but dangerous corner forward Paul Devlin stood up to give the men in black the advantage with two fine score..
The powerful and inspirational center-back Darryl Branagan, would later suffer heartache, but at this juncture shot a fine point to extend the lead. This came only second after Errigal thought they had got a second goal only to see Tiarnan Colhoun’s borderline effort ruled out this time for a square ball. Undeterred Errigal kept the foot on the pedal and it yielded two points from Darragh Canavan to restore parity of esteem at 1-3 to 0-6 at half-time.
Ciaran Quinn came up from deep defensive duties to nudge the Red Hand boys back in front as a cutting edge came into the game with both sides picking petulant moments in the hope of getting the ref Noel Mooney involved to censure their opponents.
He flashed a few yellow cards in the hope of dampening that side of the contest and a point from Eugene Branagan after a brilliant open run edged the favorites back in front.
At this stage they had begun to look the likelier going into the last quarter but in the 44th minute Darryl Branagan saw straight red after his shoulder charge collided with Odhran Robinson head.
A strangely quiet Peter Harte then stood up and scored a magnificent point from distance to lift the Tyrone voices and hearts. From then on it was hard to breach both defenses as they escorted any would be suitors to the sidelines on either side rather than allow them passage down the middle.
As the minutes ticked by, it was Kilcoo who looked as if they had the numerical advantage as they kept possession really well and then regained the advantage on the scoreboard thanks to Anthony Morgan and Paul Devlin, after Peter Óg McCartan had turned up with the first of his priceless brace of white flags.
With time running out and holding a slight advantage the Down men became increasingly defensive in their outlook but when they fouled needlessly, Tommy Canavan stood up to equalize on 59 minutes.
Then with both sets of supporters looking at the ref for the long whistle, Errigal mounted one more charge and when the ball fell to McCartan, who incidentally had also been fouled for Canavan’s levelling score, he was not found wanting as the slotted over a high ball that drifted in from the right before crossing close to the black spot on the radar.
The new Ulster champions will now use the Christmas break to get ready for Kerry and Munster kingpins Dr Crokes in next month’s All Ireland semi-final.
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; Cormac Quinn, A McCrory, Ciaran Quinn (0-1); P Óg McCartan (0-2), N Kelly, T Colhoun; B McDonnell, J Oguz (1-0); T Canavan (0-3f), P Harte (0-1), C McGinley; R Canavan, O Robinson, D Canavan (0-1) Subs: M Kavanagh for Ciaran Quinn (45), P McGirr for Robinson (51), R McRory for McGinley (60).
Kilcoo: N Kane (0-1f); N Branagan, R McEvoy, C Rodgers; M Rooney (0-2), D Branagan (0-1), E Branagan (0-2); A Morgan, R Johnston; J Devlin, A Morgan (0-1), S Johnston; C Doherty, J Johnston, P Devlin (0-3, 0-2f) Subs: C Laverty for J Devlin (48), C Rooney for J Johnston (60).
Ref: N Mooney (Cavan).
