Karl Lacey content to see Kilcoo battle as they progress to Ulster semi-finals

Kilcoo progressed on to the Ulster semi-finals after overcoming Cavan's Crosserlough by 0-15 to 1-10 in Newry.

Karl Lacey's Down champions hadn't it easy against Cavan flagbearers Crosserlough in the quarter-final but came through with two points to spare.

Crosserlough were hampered having been shown three black-cards - Oran Rehill, Kieran Smith and  Dara McVeety - and were aggrieved to lose James Smith to a second yellow, claiming he hadn't been previously booked before being lined by referee Barry Cassidy. 

Kilcoo were one up at the break, 0-8 to 1-4, with James Smith scoring the only goal. However, seven points from Paul Devlin and two each from Ryan McEvoy and Jerome Johnston/

Having had things more or less completely their own way through the Down SFC, boss Karl Lacey was pleased to see his side have to dig it out in the provincial championship. 

“We knew it was going to be a tough game, they weren’t going to come here and lay down,” said the Donegal 2012 All-Ireland winner.

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“Last year we played Derrygonnelly, didn’t really get tested and then we were caught in the next round, so I think that game will stand to us.

“It was a test of character, they are a really good side. They play a nice brand of football, nice attacking football; they are very physical but we dealt with it well. When we needed to win a dirty ball, or for a man to stand up, we got that and it got us over the line.

“Whenever you get tight games like that, you can watch it and find areas of improvement, while in the Down Championship we were going in at halftime six or seven points up, so tonight will hopefully stand to us.”