Kilcoo GAC

Kilcoo Owen Roes (Irish: Eoghan Rúa Cill Chua) is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Kilcoo, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Kilcoo Owen Roes
Eoghan Rúa Cill Chua
Founded:1906
County:Down
Nickname:The Magpies
Colours:Black and White
Grounds:Páirc Eoghan Rua, Kilcoo
Coordinates:54°14′08.70″N 6°01′24.02″W
Playing kits
Standard colours
Senior Club Championships
All Ireland Ulster
champions		 Down
champions
Football: 1 2 21

They are the most successful club in the Down Senior Football Championship having won it 21 times. The club has also won the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship twice and the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship once.

Páirc Eoghan Rua, home to Kilcoo GAC

History

Kilcoo GAC was founded in 1906 although there were records of GAA being played there since the 1880s; a proper club wasn't formed until then. The club's first competitive match took place on 13 January 1907 against local team Liatroim (who were the first club formed in the county). The match ended with Kilcoo 0–0 Leitrim 0–5. Kilcoo won their first Senior County Championship in 1917 defeating Killyleagh in the final. The club won the championship in 1922, then followed the glorious "four in a row" 1925,1926,1927,1928, and success came again in 1932,1933 and 1937.

Patience is a virtue, but Kilcoo had to exercise it for 72 years, finally getting the chance to celebrate a Down senior football championship title again in 2009. This launched an unprecedented period of success winning 8 titles in 10 years including a remarkable six-in-a-row between 2012 and 2017.

2009 Kilcoo started their 2009 Down Senior Football Championship campaign with a tricky tie against local rivals Bryansford. After a hard-working display, Kilcoo came out on top winning 2–9 to 1–9. Next up was county champions Mayobridge in a waterlogged Hilltown pitch. Kilcoo went into this match as underdogs and rallied in the last five minutes to come from six points down to win 1–10 to 1–8. The semi-final against Burren was very tense but Kilcoo prevailed on a scoreline of 0–12 to 0–10 with goalkeeper Stephen Kane saving a penalty in the first half. Kilcoo had now reached their first senior final since 1948 and had the chance to bridge a 72-year gap when they last won the title in 1937. Only Loughinisland stood in their way. Kilcoo settled in the second half and came out on top leaving Loughinisland scoreless in the second half also. Final score 2–9 to 1–4. When the final whistle blew the whole Kilcoo crowd invaded the pitch with a sea of black and white in a scene that sparked wild celebrations and that will go down as one of the most memorable moments in the club's history. Captain Gerard McEvoy collected the Frank O'Hare Cup while Anthony Devlin collected the Man of the Match award. The team arrived back home to Kilcoo that evening to heroes welcome in front of a large crowd who assembled in the village. The team then ventured into their first-ever Ulster Championship campaign with a meeting against St. Eunan's of Donegal. After a great team performance, Kilcoo came out on top on a scoreline of 0–13 to 0–9. Their next opponents would be The Loup from Derry. Kilcoo played extremely well but were unable to hold on to the lead and the match ended Loup 1–12 Kilcoo 1–11. In November 2010, Kilcoo Minors retained their title as they overcame Rostrevor. Kilcoo were in a commanding position from the start and even laterally from Rostrevor's Caolan Mooney wasn't enough for Rostrevor. In the end, Kilcoo running out easy winners, to gain back-to-back titles. Kilcoo won the minor championship for the 3rd year in a row beating Warrenpoint 1–12 to 0–10 and the senior team also won the League beating Mayobridge 2–16 to 1–06.

The Kilcoo team that won the 2009 Down Senior Football Championship

2012 Kilcoo won their second Down county title in four years with a triumph over Mayobridge. The final in Newry got off to a dramatic start when Conor Laverty pounced for a goal in the first minute. Kilcoo withstood some late pressure to beat Mayobridge 2–8 to 1-8 and regain the Down Club Championship.

2013 Three injury-time points helped Kilcoo snatch a 0–9 to 0–7 victory to retain their Down Club title in Newry. Burren led by 0–7 to 0-6 as three minutes of stoppage time was signaled and Darragh O'Hanlon converted a huge 50-meter free to draw the sides level. Paul Devlin then landed the decisive free and added an insurance point from play with the last kick of the game. Burren captain Dan McCartan was sent-off for a second yellow card offense during a frantic last few minutes. It was Kilcoo's third Down county title in the last five years.[1]

2014 Kilcoo completed a three-in-a-row of Down SFC titles with an emphatic victory over Burren in Newry. Goals in each half by Ryan Johnston and late ones from Conor Laverty and Donal Kane helped Kilcoo ease to an easy win.[2]

2015 Kilcoo won the Down Senior Club Championship title again with a convincing win against Castlewellan with a final score of Castlewellan 0-11 Kilcoo 3–10.[3]

2016 Kilcoo completed a historic five-in-a-row in Down when they defeated Clonduff 3–11 to 0–9 in the final in Pairc Esler. [4]

2017 Kilcoo clinched a sixth successive Down Football title as they edged out Burren 0–13 to 0–11 at Newry. Four Donal O'Hare points helped Burren lead 0–7 to 0–6 at half-time and the St Mary's club still led 0–9 to 0-8 five minutes into the second half. However, Kilcoo hit five of the last seven points as Dylan Ward and Paul Devlin both finished with four points. [5]

2018–present In the 2018 county final, Burren prevented Kilcoo from landing a record seventh straight Down SFC title with a 2–12 to 2–9 win.[6]

Mickey Moran took over as Kilcoo manager ahead of the 2019 season.[7] The Magpies regained their county title thanks to a Dylan Ward goal on the 51st minute to see off a valiant St. Peter's Warrenpoint. In a tight match, Kilcoo emerged victorious by 1–12 to Warrenpoint's 0–14.[8] Kilcoo went on to reach the Ulster club final for the third time.[9] On 1 December 2019, Kilcoo won their first Ulster Club title with a narrow 2-11 to 2–9 win over Naomh Conaill.[10]

In 2021, Kilcoo claimed their third consecutive Down title after defeat of Burren.[11] The Magpies went on to win their second Ulster title after a comfortable win against Derrygonnelly in the final.[12] After getting past St Finbarr's in the semi-final, Kilcoo reached the All-Ireland final for the second time.[13] On 12 February 2022, Kilcoo faced Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes in the All-Ireland final. Jerome Johnston's late goal in extra-time secured a one-point win and the club's first All-Ireland title.[14]

Honours

Kilcoo Senior Football Teams 2019

Down Senior Football Championship Final Martin McCourt; Darryl Branagan, Niall Branagan, Niall McEvoy; Miceal Rooney, Aidan Branagan, Aaron Branagan; Ryan McEvoy, Dylan Ward; Anthony Morgan, Paul Devlin, Ryan Johnston; Eugene Branagan, Jerome Johnston, Conor Laverty.

Ulster Senior Football Championship Final M McCourt; N Branagan, Aaron Branagan, N McEvoy; S Johnston, D Ward, R Johnston (0-02); A Morgan, Aidan Branagan (1-00); D Branagan (1-02), P Devlin (0-02, 1f), E Branagan (0-02); R McEvoy (0-01, f), J Johnston (0-01), Conor Laverty (0-01).

Subs: J Clarke for E Branagan (56), F McGreevy for R McEvoy (64).

See also

References
  1. "Kilcoo snatch late win over Burren". BBC Sport.
  2. "Kilcoo defeat Burren in Down final". BBC Sport.
  3. "Three in row for Kilcoo after easily seeing off Down". Belfasttelegraph.
  4. "Down SFC: No stopping Kilcoo's drive for five - HoganStand".
  5. "Kilcoo clinch six-in-a-row in Down". BBC Sport.
  6. "Burren claim honours in Down to shatter Kilcoo's seven-in-a-row dreams". RTÉ. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  7. "Mickey Moran appointed as Kilcoo boss for 2019". Gaelic Life. 16 November 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  8. "Back to black: Kilcoo return to Down throne after edging out Warrenpoint". The Irish News. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  9. "Kilcoo hold their nerve to reach another Ulster decider". RTÉ. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. "Kilcoo crowned Ulster champions for first time after thrilling win over Naomh Conaill". The42.ie. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  11. "Kingpins Kilcoo hold off late Burren fightback to take Down title again". The Irish News. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  12. "Kilcoo too strong for Derrygonnelly as they defend their Ulster title". RTÉ. 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  13. "Kilcoo reach final after titanic battle with St Finbarr's". RTÉ. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  14. "Kilcoo snatch All-Ireland from Kilmacud in dramatic fashion with 81st minute winning goal". The42.ie. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
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