Kilcoo ease past Erne Gaels to reach Ulster final

Shealan Johnston scored Kilcoo's third goal in their victory over Erne Gaels

Kilcoo cruised into a fifth Ulster Club football final in six seasons with a 4-12 to 1-10 win over Erne Gaels at the Athletic Grounds.

Two goals in each half, Paul Devlin and Eugene Branagan finding the net in the opening period, then Shealan Johnston and Ceilum Doherty on target in the second, provided the platform for the Down champions.

Two two-pointed efforts from Ryan Lyons and a late goal from Seamus Ryder proved to be a mere consolation for the Fermanagh side.

The Ernesiders also finished with 14 players after forward Shane Rooney was sent-off in second-half injury time after receiving a second yellow card.

Declan Bonner's side were without centre forward Thomas McCafferty who got married in Rome yesterday, however Barry McCann and Lyons both started after taking a late flight back from the Italian capital last night.

Martin Corey's men will hope to go one better than last year where they lost to Tyrone champions Errigal Ciaran after extra-time in the decider.

The Magpies are searching for their first provincial crown since 2021 and remarkably despite the dominance in Down over the last two decades, their third Ulster title.

Kilcoo advance to the provincial final where they will meet the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between Scotstown and Newbridge on the weekend of 6-7 December.

Magpies soar into decider

Kilcoo came into the game as heavy favourites and were quick to exert their dominance, Devlin firing to the net after just three minutes after great set-up work from Ceilum Doherty and Callum Rogers.

Shealan Johnston added a point before Ryan Lyons contributed Erne Gaels' first score after six minutes, landing from two-point range.

The Fermanagh champions would hold possession for long stretches of the half, one of those spells ended with a Brian Mullins point.

Kilcoo went nine minutes without a score before Devlin landed a free, but Michael Og McGarrigle replied for Belleek who had settled well into the contest after a disastrous start.

That steadiness was rocked in the eight minutes before the break, Devlin first struck the post going for goal, before Branagan shot off the laces to the bottom left corner of the net less than 60 seconds later.

Miceal Rooney extended the lead to six before Belleek ended the half with a flourish, Shane Rooney landed a free before Barry McCann scored a two-pointer with the final action of the half. Kilcoo went in leading 2-4 to 0-7 however.

Callum Rogers and Ceilum Doherty fired over quickfire scores at the start of the second half before Dan McCann pointed for Erne Gaels.

As the clock ticked into the final quarter Kilcoo took full control, hitting 2-4 without reply in nine minutes.

Anthony Morgan pointed before two from Ryan Johnston extended the gap out to eight.

It went from bad to worse for Erne Gaels as Brian Ryder's kick-out went straight to Shealan Johnston who raced through, slotting low under Ryder for his side's third goal.

Eugene Branagan added a point before the pick of the goals arrived, Doherty spotting Ryder slightly off his line before lobbing the ball over his head into the top right hand corner of the net.

Martin Corey opted to run his bench with victory well secured, substitutes Jack Devlin and Barra McEvoy adding points after a second two-pointer from Lyons.

Belleek did refuse to give up and their efforts were rewarded with a late goal from Seamus Ryder.

Shane Rooney was dismissed after a tackle on Sean Og McCusker earned him a second yellow card but it will be a mere footnote as Kilcoo eased back into the Ulster final.

Kilcoo: Niall Kane; Tiernan Fettes, Ryan McEvoy, Niall Branagan; Miceal Rooney (0-1), Darryl Branagan, Callum Rogers (0-1); Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan (0-2); Ceilum Doherty (1-1), Ryan Johnston (0-2), Shealan Johnston (1-1); Paul Devlin (1-1 1f), Jerome Johnston, Eugene Branagan (1-1).

Subs: Sean Og McCusker for J Johnston (46), Lorcan Ward for A Morgan (50), Barra McEvoy (0-1 1f) for S Johnston (56), Jack Devlin (0-1) for R Johnston (56), Conor Laverty for P Devlin (57)

Erne Gaels: Brian Ryder; Shane Mimna, Martin Gilfeddar, Ultan O'Reilly; Oisin Kelm, Jack McCann, Barry McCann (0-2 2pt); Michael Og McGarrigle (0-1), Ryan Lyons (0-4 2x2pt); Brian Mullin (0-1), Dan McCann (0-1), Aogan Kelm; Shane Rooney (0-1 1f), Ultan Kelm, Odhran Johnston.

Subs: Seamus Ryder (1-0) for M Og McGarrigle (HT), Padraig Johnston for S Mimna (46), M Og McGarrigle for D McCann (50), Eamon Og Magee for M Gilfeddar (56)

Referee: Diarmuid Boylan (Monaghan)