DOWN SFC FINAL: Kilcoo 2-9 Loughinisland 1-4:KILCOO BRIDGED a 72-year gap when they overcame Loughinisland to win the Down title in Páirc Esler, Newry, yesterday.

Loughinisland finished the game with 13 players. Senior county captain Dan Gordon received a straight red card four minutes from time along with Kilcoo’s Aidan Brannigan while two minutes later the ’Island’s Séamus O’Hare received a second yellow.

Scores were slow in coming in the opening quarter after which Kilcoo led by 0-3 to 0-1.

Nine minutes from the interval Jamie O’Reilly shot Loughinisland ahead and he also added a point as they led by 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time but were fortunate when Kieran Gordon saved Conor Laverty’s penalty kick.

It was all Kilcoo in the second half. Dominic McEvoy scored their first goal after 39 minutes to regain the lead and from then on they were in complete control. Paul Devlin, with a goal from a penalty, made the game safe.

KILCOO:S Kane; S O'Hanlon, N Morgan (0-1), N McEvoy; B O'Hanlon, A Brannigan, G McEvoy; D McEvoy (1-1), P Greenan; P Devlin (1-1), C Laverty (0-1), B Kane (0-1); A Devlin (0-1), F McGreevy, D Kane (0-3). Subs: M McClean for D McEvoy, G McAvoy for B Kane, N Brannigan for N McEvoy, A McEvoy for A Devlin.

LOUGHINISLAND:K Gordon; R Carvill, Conor O'Toole, J Grant; Cormac O'Toole, A Molloy, J Doran; D Gordon, J McCarthy; M Valentine, B OReilly, M Doran; S O'Hare (0-3), J O'Reilly (1-1), R Stranney. G Johnson for B O'Reilly; C Killen for B O'Reilly.

Referee:G Tumelty (Bright).