Kilcoo turn it around after half-time to secure sweeping victory

Kilcoo 4-12 Burren 2-7 Kilcoo secured a comprehensive victory over Burren in Páirc Esler yesterday. The work was done in a prolific eight-minute spell just after half-time when the champions hit an unanswered 1-4.

Ryan Johnston scored his second goal in the 37th minute with Conor Laverty and Donal Kane adding further goals in the last 10 minutes. Burren were in all kinds of trouble in the opening 10 minutes as Kilcoo raced into a three-point lead, Paul Devlin scoring two of their points.

Donal O’Hare got Burren’s first score with an 11th minute free and he scored a goal after 19 minutes. That put Burren ahead at 1-2 to 0-4 and Conaill McGovern tagged on another point for Paddy Carr’s side to move them two points ahead.

However Kilcoo got a touch of good fortune when Ryan Johnston’s attempt for a point dropped into the corner of the net after 21 minutes for a 1-6 to 1-5 lead at the interval.

Purple patch

Kilcoo effectively won the game during their purple patch after the break, and there was no luck about the Johnston’s second goal.

Niall Branagan received a black card for dragging down Donal O'Hare and Burren briefly got themselves back into the game with Eamon Toner's 43rd minute goal. However Kilcoo finished strongly with Conor Laverty registering their third goal in the 49th minute and Kane tagging on a fourth four minutes later. KILCOO: S Kane; N Branagan, N McEvoy, D Branagan (0-1); D O'Hanlon, A Branagan, Gerard McEvoy (0-1); P Greenan, R Johnston (2-0); A Morgan, M Devlin (0-1), P Devlin (0-4, 0-2 frees); J Johnston (0-3), F McGreevy, C Laverty (1-1). Subs: J McClean (0-1) for N Branagan (Black card, 42 mins), D Kane (1-0) for McGreevy (48 mins), Gary McEvoy for D Branagan (53 mins), S O'Hanlon for M Devlin (58 mins), D McEvoy for Greenan (58 mins), A Devlin for J Johnston (60 mins). BURREN: C Murdock; J McGovern, G McGovern, B Murphy; D Rooney, K McKernan, Ciaran McGovern; C Toner, Conaill McGovern (0-1); P Murdock, C Foy, S McArdle (0-1); S Murdock, E Toner (1-1), D O'Hare (1-3, 0-3 frees). Subs: D McEntee (0-1) for Foy (38 mins), B McKernan for P Murdock (47 mins), R McGovern for Murphy (51 mins). Referee: Kieran Trainor.