Comfortable Knocknagree into third final in four years
Gearoid O Luana in action for
Knocknagree are back in the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork SAFC final after they comfortably defeated Béal Átha ‘n Ghairthaidh in SuperValu Pairc Uí Chaoimh tonight. They will play Cill na Martra in the final, as they did in the opening round of the competition back in July.
It will be their third final in four years, and they were full value for their win here with Anthony O’Connor and Denis R O’Connor outstanding in attack, kicking 1-10 between them. Eoghan McSweeney and Michael McSweeney gave them an edge around the middle of the field on a night that just got away from the Gaeltacht men.
Anthony O’Connor gave a sign of things to come after 43 seconds when he got let fly from thirteen yards out. Matt Ó Riordáin proved equal to the task, and the Gaeltacht men then went two points clear through Séamus Ó Tuama and Conchúr Ó Loingsigh. Points from Anthony O’Connor and Timmy O’Connor soon had Knocknagree level before Ó Loingsigh’s second point put Béal Átha ahead again in the tenth minute.
That was about as good as things got for them for the remainder of the half. On the quarter hour a peach of a pass from Cillian Cronin found Niall O’Connor, and the full-forward slotted home to put Knocknagree ahead for the first time. They weren’t to be led again. Denis R O’Connor and Donagh Seartan traded points, but with Knocknagree taking control around the middle, it didn’t take them long to push further clear. Anthony O’Connor put four points between them before he revealed his inner opportunist.
Eoghan McSweeney took aim from under the North Stand, and when his effort dropped dangerously around the square, O’Connor was there to palm home. Ó Loingsigh did respond for Béal Átha, but Knocknagree kicked the next five, with Anthony O’Connor raising the first orange flag of the evening, to leave them 2-10 to 0-5 in front at the break.
That second O’Connor had left Béal Átha shell shocked, and the second half just slipped away from them. Ó Tuama and Ben Seartan had a couple of points for them in the opening quarter, but Knocknagree had far too much scoring power. O’Connors Anthony, Denis R and Fintan all found their range, as did Michaels Mahoney and McSweeny to make it 2-15 to 0-7 with fifteen to go.
Then the benches emptied, as did the stands as the game petered out towards inevitability. The Duhallow men kicked four-in-a-row before a point from Ó Loingsigh and 1-2 from Diarmuid Mac Thomáis brought things to a conclusion.
They will face Gaeltacht opposition again in the final, it promises to be a far stiffer challenge.
A O’Connor (1-6, 0-2 2ptr, 0-2 frees), M McSweeney and DR O’Connor (0-4 each), N O’Connor (1-0), T O’Connor (0-2), F O’Connor, M Mahoney, and E McSweeney (0-1 each)
D Mac Thomáis (1-2), C Ó Loingsigh (0-4), S Ó Tuama (0-2), D Seartan and B Seartan (free) (0-1 each).
P Doyle; M Mahoney, K Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, D O’Mahony, T O’Connor; M McSweeney, E McSweeney; D Twomey, D O’Connor, C Cronin; DR O’Connor, N O’Connor, A O’Connor (c).
Subs: F O’Connor for O’ Mahony (inj, 41), D Mahoney for Buckley (53), M Dilworth for DR O’Connor (53), P O’Connor for David O’Connor (56), D Moynihan for Cronin (56)
M Ó Riordáin; S Ó Donnchú, P Ó Tuama, C Ó Nuanáin; E Ó Duinnín, D Seartan (c), B Ó hArgáin; D Ó Briain, S Ó Tuama; D Ó Ceallacháin, C Ó Loingsigh, G Ó Laoire; D Mac Thomáis, C Ó Duinnín, S Ó Luasa.
Subs: D Ó Ceallachain for P Ó Tuama, B Seartan for C Ó Duinnín and S Ó Muimhneacháin for Ó Laoire (all 35), N Ó Laoire for Ó Luasa (46), C Ó Tuama for Ó Briain (53)
Alan Long (Argideen Rangers).
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