THE moustache might bring a bit of Burt Reynolds gravitas but, even at 28, Ceilum Doherty could still be asked for ID on a night out.
Perhaps it’s the fact it still feels like he is one of the new flock that just came in under the wing of men like Conor Laverty, Aidan Branagan and Paul Devlin. Maybe just the boyish looks that haven’t changed too much since he first sat on the senior bench 11 years ago.
It’s funny how the wheel turns as, back in 2014, Doherty watched on while a Clontibret side containing current Kilcoo manager Marty Corey dumped the Magpies out of Ulster thanks to a late Dessie Mone goal.
Fresh off completing a hat-trick of Down title wins, ambitions were trending towards Ulster by then. Making any headway, however, was harder than anticipated with Sleacht Neill, Crossmaglen and Scotstown all jockeying for position.
It would be another seven years before the provincial breakthrough finally arrived, heralding a golden period that saw the Seamus MacFerran Cup spend a couple of winters in the village – then the big one, the All-Ireland crown, arriving on the most dramatic of February days.
Doherty has become a central figure for club and county throughout that period; from energetic wing-forward to raiding wing-back, man-marker designate, detailed to snuff out opponents’ main men, he has carried all out with maximum efficiency, and minimum of fuss.
Now, as one of the most experienced heads on the side, it is up to him to show the way as youngsters like Barra McEvoy and Ruairi Madine force their way into the frame.
“I’ve been here quite a while now, so it’s all about providing support to the younger lads and just making sure they’re prepared and ready for what’s ahead.
“There’s a good crew of people, and there’s a lot of boys older than me as well, so you’re always learning as well as providing support to the younger lads.
“A lot of boys on our team are able to deal with whatever way the game ebbs and flows, so it’s not just one person, but we have a lot of great players and a lot of boys that have been here and soldiered on, so it just could be anyone.”
It is sometimes forgotten too that, before Kilcoo finally got their hands on the Frank O’Hare Cup in 2009, they had endured years of near misses as Mayobridge dominated the domestic landscape.
Doherty, like the hordes of youngsters who flood the field at the end of every game Kilcoo play, looked up to all those men – eventually playing alongside many of them, while the likes of Laverty remain part of the panel.
Memories of those barren days are why moments like these, with the Magpies going for seven in-a-row against Carryduff on Sunday, will never be taken for granted at Pairc Eoghan Rua.
“It always was a great group. Obviously, you had Anthony Devlin, Gary McEvoy, Gerard McEvoy, Sean O’Hanlon, Conor [Laverty], Aidan [Branagan]… all them men were statesmen that had soldiered, had went to the well, so you always looked up to them.
“And then when you got to play with them, it was a big moment. When you were a young boy, all you wanted to do was play for the senior team in Kilcoo, so when you got that moment, or you got that call at minor level, you were chomping at the bit just to get going.
“Then you had to be on it every night in training, because the standards were always set - you just had to follow in.
“You feel very lucky and blessed to be playing for this team but, especially our age group, because we won nothing underage, we did have that hurt. It wasn’t a case of winning everything, so you just be so appreciative, because you never know when that time can elapse.
“You need to make sure you’re taking every opportunity with both hands, and we’re so appreciative to be in this position currently.”
Having come up against Burren in the last two Down deciders, Carryduff represent a different kind of challenge.
And among Sunday’s opponents is one of Doherty’s good friends, Daniel Guinness - the pair having come on the county panel around the same time and hit it off, even going on lads’ holidays together.
“Yeah, I’m great friends with Daniel.
“Physically he’s always been a big lad, always looked after himself, and he’s very professional in what he does, very diligent. Daniel’s a top player, but he’s only one of many players that Carryduff have.
“He’s a great player, especially for us in Down, and he had a massive season where our journey went to, and he’s obviously a massive player for Carryduff as well.”
Doherty was the man in the right place at the right time when Kilcoo needed him in a tight, tense semi-final against Clonduff – firing home their first half goal, then popping up with what turned out to be the winning point in added time.
It could have been so different, however, had Charlie Carr’s late two-point free attempt not drifted just outside the upright. Instead, the Magpies lived to fight another day, with Finnian Moriarty’s men standing between them and that history-making seventh title.
“Listen, it’s probably one of them ones where you’re praying and saying the rosary many times,” he says of Carr’s wide.
“And just luckily, for our sake, it went the other side of the post. It was more relief than anything, especially when it’s out of your hands, where they have the opportunity to win the game.
“But Carryduff have been the best team in the championship, make no qualms about that. They’ve been brilliant. They won a league a few years ago, and have always been building, then when you have a strong management that’s been about a couple of years, he’s obviously developed a lot of players.
“People maybe from outside wouldn’t know what Carryduff’s strengths are, but people inside of Down would know how good of a team they are, and how strong they’ve been over the past number of years.
“You have to take your hat off to them.”
