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'There are no words' - Conor Laverty on special day for Kilcoo

For the first time ever Down's Kilcoo will contest the AIB All-Ireland Club Football Championship...



'There are no words' - Conor L...
Football

'There are no words' - Conor Laverty on special day for Kilcoo

For the first time ever Down's Kilcoo will contest the AIB All-Ireland Club Football Championship final.

There were emotional scenes at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan this evening as they beat 2016 All-Ireland champions Ballyboden St Endas on a scoreline of 2-8 to 0-11.

Speaking to Off The Ball after the match, Kilcoo forward Conor Laverty said that it was a special moment as he struggled to put the achievement into words.

"I don't have to say anything. The smile on our faces - a picture says a thousand words.

"We're just delighted to get over that, it was a battle with the conditions and playing into that breeze in the second half."

They'll now face three-in-a-row chasing Corofin in the decider in two weeks after they saw off Nemo Rangers by six points earlier on in Ennis.

Laverty knows they have a massive task ahead of them as they prepare to take on the champions and he's targeted improvement.

"There are still areas for us to improve for the next day. We'll be happy with a lot of areas but there are still areas to improve on.

"We've played like that since we were wee boys, that's just our style of play and thankfully it came through today."

It's the first time ever the club, which is based in a small village in Down, will feature in the showpiece and Laverty had particular praise for their supporters after today's game.

"The support has been brilliant all year. We're a very well supported team, everybody in the village comes out and supports us brilliantly in the good days and also in the bad days.

"To be honest that's even more important, whenever things were going wrong they were there for us. The supporters deserve their day in Croke Park equally as much as the players."

This is Mickey Moran's first-year in charge of the side and the former Derry, Sligo, Donegal, Mayo and Leitrim manager has clearly made a massive impact upon this side.

Laverty had nothing but praise for the Derry native.

"He's a special man. I can't put my finger on it he's just a very special man.

"We've had great heart over the years but Mickey's added something different to us. We've really knuckled down this year, we're in the shape of our lives and we've never been as confident going into games."

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AIB All-Ireland Club Football Championship Kilcoo Mickey Moran