Slaughtneil book Ulster final clash with free-scoring Kilcoo
Derry’s Slaughtneil will play Down’s Kilcoo in the Ulster club SFC final.
Slaughtneil swept aside Killyclogher by 1-11 to 0-8 at the Athletic Grounds, with Meehaul McGrath’s 33rd minute goal giving them the buffer to control the game.
The Tyrone champions were starved of possession as the Derrymen picked them off with carefully constructed scores in the second half after Paul Bradley first half frees had laid a solid foundation.
Padraig Cassidy curbed the running threat posed by Tiernan McCann, and Brendan Rogers and Keelan Feeney were excellent at the back.
Kilcoo romped to a 4-13 to 0-12 win over Maghery at Pairc Esler, the five-in-a-row Down champions making short work of first-time Armagh winners.
Kilcoo had way too much craft and once Ryan Johnston's stylish opening goal put them 1-8 to 0-3 up after 28 minutes, it was game over.
Then Maghery shot themselves in the foot with Aidan Forker's red card.
Ceilum Doherty palmed home a second goal three minutes after the restart.
Stefan Forker tried to kick Maghery back into it in the second half but the damage was already done.
Two goals inside a minute from sub JJ McLoughlin and another from Doherty gave Kilcoo a 13-point win that didn't flatter them.
