Kilcoo Prove Too Strong For Loughmacrory

Sunday 09.11.2025

Championship Football

Loughmacrory 0-11 Kilcoo 0-16

Kilcoo proved too strong for Loughmacrory at Healy Park on Saturday evening with a composed display as they booked an Ulster semi-final clash with Fermanagh’s Erne Gaels. The Down champions recovered from a sluggish start when they fell two behind but from then until the final whistle they were too strong for the Loch.

Kilcoo are a very experienced and very talented group of players. They have won thirteen out of the last fourteen Down championships in 13 of the last 14 seasons and they drew on all that experience in seeing off the challenge of the Tyrone champions.

Kilcoo’s Anthony Morgan opened the scoring but Loughmacrory moved ahead with a Pauric Meenagh two pointer and a Ruairi McCullagh score. However Kilcoo showed no signs of panic as they found their rhythm early on and unsettled their opponents with their intensity and workrate.

A converted Paul Devlin free and a brace of Shealan Johnston efforts put the Down champions in a strong position. Centre back Darryl Branagan burst forward to fire over and put his team ahead. Ryan Johnston added another Kilcoo point to put his side two clear for a 0-6 to 0-4 lead after 20 minutes.

Loughmacrory were enjoying plenty of possession and opportunities but found scoring chances hard to come by. Perseverance and hard work produced points from Cathaoir Gallagher and Pauric Meenagh.

Kilcoo reached the break ahead by two 0-7 to 0-5 but early second half scores from Paul Devlin and Daryll Branagan made it 0-10 to 0-0-5. McElholm and Mc Cullagh fired over points before Mc Elholm set up Cathaoir Gallagher for another score. Kilcoo replied in confident manner with a Miceal Rooney point which was followed up by a superb two pointer from Shealan Johnston.

As the game entered the final quarter, the Down side established a six point lead and appeared to be in complete control. Leading 0-14 to 0-8, the Magpies looked set to stretch their lead.

Loughmacrory had to press hard to create scoring chances which were converted by McElholm and Cathaoir Gallagher but the Down side remained resolute and resilient affording little time or space to their opponents. Gareth Donaghy came close to a major with a superb shot which forced an excellent save from Kilcoo keeper Niall Kane and the Down side made it through to another Ulster semi final.

Loughmacrory: O O’Kane; D Curran, N Kelly, A Macidulskas; S Dobbs, R Fox, S Conway; A Donaghy, C Donaghy; G Donaghy (0-01), E McElholm (0-02), C Gallagher (0-03, 1f); P Meenagh (0-03, 1tp, 1f), R McCullagh (0-02, 2f), M McNamee.

Subs: E Donaghy for Fox (52), R Grimley for Meenagh (52)

Kilcoo: N Kane; A Branagan, R McEvoy, N Branagan; M Rooney (0-01), D Branagan (0-02), C Rogers; Aaron Morgan, Anthony Morgan (0-01); C Doherty (0-01), R Johnston (0-01), S Johnston (0-04, 1tp); P Devlin (0-05, 2f, 1tp), J Johnston, E Branagan.