Kilcoo GAC

Kilcoo Owen Roes GAC (Irish: Eoghain Rúa Cill Chua) is a Gaelic Athletic Association club who play at Pairc Eoghan Rua, Kilcoo, County Down, Ireland.

Kilcoo Owen RoesGAC
Eoghain Rúa Cill Chua
Founded:1906
County:Down
Nickname:The Magpies
Colours:   Black and white
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: 0 1 18

Known as being part of the "Big Three" in Down football alongside Mayobridge and St. Mary's Burren they have won 18 Down Senior Football Championships, including eight since 2009.

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 2012-2017.


The club today

Kilcoo GAC is one of the most successful clubs in County Down today. The club has a camogie team, a ladies' football team, and football teams at Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, Minor, Seconds, Thirds, Under-21, and Senior Level. The Senior team competes in Division 1 and play in the Down Senior Football Championship. Kilcoo is regularly represented on Down GAA teams.

2005

In 2005 three Kilcoo players were on the Down Under 21 football team who reached the All-Ireland Final.

2006

In 2006 Kilcoo had a good run in the Down Senior Football Championship reaching the semi-finals. In their first-round match, they faced Division Two side Downpatrick in Castlewellan. In what would be a tough match Kilcoo prevailed on a scoreline of 1–10 to 1–7 with corner-forward Sean Kelly scoring 0–3. Next up was Castlewellan in the quarter-final in Downpatrick. These two teams met at the same stage a year earlier with Castlewellan gaining the victory. This time Kilcoo won by seven points on a scoreline of 1–13 to 1–6. Conor Laverty came on as a substitute and scored a goal and two points. The semi-final was next and would be against Mayobridge who had won the last two championships. The Kilcoo players knew they were facing the best club team in Down and that they would be up against it. Kilcoo started brightly and scored a goal in the first ten minutes. However, Mayobridge's experience more than anything else carried them through for the victory with the score 0–13 to 1–9. It was a cruel blow for Kilcoo but knew that they pushed the county champions to the limit. In the league, Kilcoo finished in first place but were beaten well by Burren in the semi-finals of the Division 1 playoffs.

2007

In 2007 Kilcoo played Leitrim in the first round of the Down Senior Football Championship and defeated them after a replay. Kilcoo were beaten in the quarter-finals by eventual finalists Longstone. The club reached the All-County Division One League Final after defeating Burren after extra time in the semi-final. Kilcoo were defeated in the final by An Riocht on the scoreline of 3–7 to 1–10. Returning Australian Football League player Martin Clarke scored 2–1 for An Riocht in the final.

2008

The 2008 season started off against the team that beat Kilcoo in the League Final. This time Kilcoo earned an easy victory. Their next match saw them play Burren where they were defeated. Kilcoo finished second in the league table behind Mayobridge. In the Championship, Kilcoo's opponents were An Riocht again with Kilcoo running out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 3–15 to 0–3. Next up was Burren. The match was played in slippery conditions and Kilcoo were lucky to escape with a draw on a scoreline of 1–6 to 1–6. Paul Greenan grabbed the vital goal for Kilcoo. In the replay, Kilcoo were well beaten. After the disappointing championship exit, Kilcoo were able to focus on the league. After finishing second to Mayobridge, Kilcoo entered the play-offs. In the semi-final, Kilcoo were up against Rostrevor under lights at Páirc Elser. Kilcoo gained a hard-earned win with a 1–7 to 0–7 with Paul Devlin scoring 1–4. The final in Newry again was against county champions underdogs as "The Bridge" was looking to do the double. In an excellent display of football, Kilcoo ran out easy winners in the end with the result 3–14 to 1–7. Paul Devlin was the star of the show again scoring 0–8. Captain Gerard McEvoy accepted the cup and dedicated the win to Arthur Morgan, club president who died the previous week.

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.

Kilcoo Senior Championship winning team 2009

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

Burren prevented Kilcoo from landing a record seventh straight Down SFC title in the 2-12 to 2-9 final defeat at Pairc Esler. Burren's victory prevented Kilcoo from bettering the six-in-a-row also achieved by the St Mary's outfit between 1983 and 1988.

2019

This has been an unprecedented year for Kilcoo with the senior team winning the Ulster Senior Club Football Championship, Down Senior league, Down championship, and the senior sevens. The Premier reserve team won the league and championship. The minor team won the minor-league and championship as well as the ladies teams winning the championship.

The Magpies remarkably picked up their seventh Down championship in eight years 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 1-12 to Warrenpoint 0-14.

Kilcoo won their first Ulster Club SFC title with a narrow win over Naomh Conaill at Healy Park, with the final score Kilcoo 2-11 Naomh Conaill 2-9.

[6]

Honours


  • Down Minor Football Championship: 5
    • 1998, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019
  • All-County Football League Division 1 winners: 6
    • 1958, 2003, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2019
  • All-County Football League winners Division 3 winners: 1
    • 1984
  • All-Ireland Under 14 Feile: 1
    • 2006
  • Down Under 14 Feile: 2
    • 2006, 2007

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), C Laverty (0-01).

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

See also

References
  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24604126
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gaelic-games/29481799
  3. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/three-in-row-for-kilcoo-after-easily-seeing-off-down-31600963.html
  4. http://www.hoganstand.com/county/down/article/index/261274
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gaelic-games/41461480
  6. https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/down-sfc-final-kilcoo-win-tight-contest/
  7. O'Brien, Brendan (1 December 2019). "Ulster club SFC final: Kilcoo make the breakthrough". Hogan Stand. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  8. "Down SFC final: Kilcoo upset the odds". Hogan Stand. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  9. "Down SFC final: Down SFC final: Devlin sinks 14-man Burren". Hogan Stand. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  10. "Kilcoo complete Down three-in-a-row by beating Burren". BBC News. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  11. "Down SFC final: Kilcoo ease to four-in-a-row". Hogan Stand. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  12. "Kilcoo stroll to fifth Down title in a row". Irish Independent. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  13. "Down SFC final: Six-in-a-row for Kilcoo". Hogan Stand. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  14. "Down SFC final: Ward goal crucial as Kilcoo return to summit". Hogan Stand. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
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