Third time lucky as Knocknagree show their mettle in gripping Cill na Martra battle
THE CLIMB CONTINUES: Knocknagree captain Anthony O'Connor and his team celebrate their win in the McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A fotball championship final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Dan Linehan
It would be easy to say that Knocknagree’s journey to the top has been complete - but they will no doubt still see new worlds left to conquer.
In 2017, they were a junior A side - and beaten in the Duhallow final that year by Boherbue before bouncing back to win the county, Munster and All-Ireland titles.
From there, it has been a case of collecting silverware, reaching the senior A grade after winning the Premier IFC in 2020. Two final appearances followed and at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, they made it third time lucky, but not without having to show their mettle.
Leading by 2-9 to 0-6 at half-time having played with the wind, they pushed 2-12 to 0-7 in front when captain Anthony O’Connor scored his fourth point, but the battling qualities of Cill na Martra could never be discounted.
Having seen an early lead wiped out when the clubs met in the group stage, the Gaeltacht side had earned a draw with a late fightback and slowly they began to chip away at their deficit here. Points from Tadhg Ó Corcora and Dan Ó Duinnín had the gap down seven before the latter landed a two-pointer - while the excellent Michael McSweeney and Gearóid Looney combined to set up Denis O’Connor for a relieving Knocknagree point, another orange flag from Cill na Martra sub Cianie Ó Forréidh had them within four, 2-14 to 0-16.
But Knocknagree were not going to let it slip. In 2022, the second-tier final was a new experience and they faced a St Michael’s side that had endured plenty of heartbreak in their quest to reach the top grade. Last year, Carrigaline - seeking an immediate return to premier senior - were slightly better.
Their two Cork seniors, Daniel O’Mahony and Eoghan McSweeney, stood tall when needed most and a point from the latter was followed by one from his brother Michael, capping a man-of-the-match display.
In injury time, Dan Ó Duinnín went close to a goal that would have halved the deficit, denied by a wonderful Patrick Doyle save, and while Ó Duinnín had had advantage and sent over the close-range free, Knocknagree’s last attack ended with Niall O’Connor scoring the clincher.
It would be easy to point to the flowing attack and their ability to kick scores but that is only one part of the whole unit, one which has become more and more refined on the journey from junior A.
From the accurate, powerful kicking and deft hands of goalkeeper Doyle through the ever-dependable defending of Daniel O’Mahony and the mix of strength and skill brought to midfield by Michael McSweeney, it is a unit with a strong foundation that allows rest to flourish.
They had scored two of the first three points when Eoghan McSweeney’s long pass found Niall O’Connor, who in turn did well to find the run of midfielder David O’Connor. While he was under pressure from Gearóid Ó Goillidhe, he did brilliantly to thread a shot from a tight angle beyond Micheál Ó Deasúna but inside the post.
It set the tone for much of the first half as Knocknagree found space with ease. A 45 from Doyle after Denis R O’Connor’s shot been saved by Ó Deasúna had them 1-7 to 0-2 in front - and they were even able to afford Anthony O’Connor stepping just inside the arc as he landed a free after Cill na Martra had been in breach of the three-up rule.
After a Jason Mac Cárthaigh free for Cill na Martra, Knocknagree made their position even more secure. When a defensive free was turned over, Daniel O’Mahony’s lovely lobbed pass found Niall O’Connor - the defence stood off him for a split-second in anticipation of an easy point and he readjusted to blitz a shot to the top corner.
While Mac Cárthaigh did kick some late frees before half-time for Cill na Martra - for whom Gearóid Ó Goillidhe had done well, swimming against the tide - a 2-9 to 0-6 advantage at the break was not less than was deserved.
It was a lead that was tested, but they came out the other side and premier senior football awaits.
N O’Connor 1-3, A O’Connor 0-4 (0-2 f), David O’Connor 1-0, G Looney, E McSweeney, Denis R O’Connor, David Twomey 0-2 each, M McSweeney, P Doyle (0-1 45) 0-1 each.
J Mac Cárthaigh 0-6 (0-4 f), D Ó Duinnín 0-4 (1 2pt, 0-2 f), S Ó Duinnín, C Ó Forréidgh (2pt) 0-2 each, D Ó hUrdail, D Ó Conaill, T Ó Corcora 0-1 each.
P Doyle; M Mahoney, C Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, Daniel O’Mahony, T O’Connor; M McSweeney, David O’Connor; D Twomey, E McSweeney, C Cronin; Denis R O’Connor, N O’Connor, A O’Connor.
F O’Connor for D Twomey (49), M Dilworth for Denis R O’Connor (54), T O’Mahony for David O’Connor, Denis O’Mahony for T O’Connor (both 60+3).
M Ó Deasúna; F Ó Faoláin, D McLochlainn, T Ó Corcora; S Ó Forréidh, D Ó Conaill, C Ó Meachair; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goilllidhe; J Mac Cárthaigh, C Ó Duinnín, D Ó Duinnín; S Ó Duinnín, D Ó hUrdail, E Ó Conaill.
C Ó Forréidh for O’Conaill (25, injured), C Mac Lochlainn for Ó hUrdail (51), A Ó Duinnín for Ó Cuana (59, injured).
C Murphy (Glanworth).
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