Errigal Ciaran 1-8 Kilcoo 0-10
Peter Og McCartan sent Errigal Ciaran soaring to Ulster glory with a dramatic stoppage time winner to settle a gripping decider at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.
Fourteen-man Kilcoo looked like they were about to hang on and send the game to extra-time, but the Tyrone champions pressed feverishly in search of that precious score.
It was Errigal's third provincial title, adding to the triumphs of 1993 and 2002, and they remain the only team from the county to have been crowned champions of Ulster.
Errigal got off to the perfect start with a Joe Oguz goal after just four minutes, the big midfielder getting forward to palm to the net from Darragh Canavan’s cross to cancel out Eugene Branagan’s long range opener.
The Down champions’ heavy press on the opposition kick-out paid dividends as goalkeeper Niall Kane converted a long range free, followed by a Miceal Rooney point.
But as the Tyrone men attacked in numbers, Kilcoo dropped all fifteen men behind the ball to negate the attacking class possessed n the men from Dunmoyle.
Tommy Canavan edged Errigal back in front at the beginning of the second quarter, but once again, the men in black countered to regain the lead through Paul Devlin.
Their dynamic half back line contributed four points in that first half, with inspirational centre back Darym Branagan firing over a beauty for a two points lead, moments after Tiarnan Colhoun had an Errigal goal disallowed for a square ball infringement.
But it was the Red Hand champions who scored the last two points of the half, displaying excellent ball retention for Darragh Canavan to bring them level, 1-3 to 0-6 at the break.
Corner back Ciaran Quinn edged Errigal back in front and as tensions threatened to boil over, a handful of skirmishes prompted referee Noel Mooney to calm the atmosphere with a couple of yellow cards.
Kilcoo momentum off the runners from deep continued to stretch the Errigal cover, as Eugene Branagan landed hi second score to edge them back in front.
But in the 44th minute they suffered a blow when centre back Darym Branagan was shown a straight red card following a clash with Odhran Robinson.
Peter Harte immeditely shot the Tyrone title-holders level, but scores were hard-earned by both sides, turnovers preventing the completion of promising moves, with Errigal’s Mark Kavanagh and Kilcoo’s Eugene Branagan excelling in dispossessing opponents.
The Down men displayed immense courage to twice regain the lead through Anthony Morgan and Paul Devlin, after Peter Óg McCartan had sliced over a gem for the Red Hand side.
Defending a slender lead, Kilcoo played a dangerous game in the final few minutes as they attempted to hodl possession in their own half to run down the clock.
And it backfired as Ben McDonnell won a turnover and McCartan won a free from which Tommy Canavan equalised on 59 minutes.
And in the fourth minute of stoppage time, it was McCartan who landed a spectacular winner to break Kilcoo hearts and claim the Seamus McFerran Cup for a third time.
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; Cormac Quinn, A McCrory, Ciaran Quinn (0-01); P Og McCartan (0-02), N Kelly, T Colhoun; B McDonnell, J Oguz (1-00); T Canavan (0-03, 3f), P Harte (0-01), C McGinley; R Canavan, O Robinson, D Canavan (0-01).
Subs: M Kavanagh for Ciaran Quinn (45), P McGirr for Robinson (51), R McRory for McGinley (60)
Kilcoo: N Kane (0-01, f); N Branagan, R McEvoy, C Rodgers; M Rooney (0-02), D Branagan (0-01), E Branagan (0-02); A Morgan, R Johnston; J Devlin, A Morgan (0-01), S Johnston; C Doherty, J Johnston, P Devlin (0-03, 2f).
Subs: C Laverty for J Devlin (48), C Rooney for J Johnston (60)
Referee: N Mooney (Cavan).
