Knocknagree see off Béal Átha to march back into final four 

WET DAY FOR IT: Knocknagree player Eoghan McSweeney sets up an attack during the quarter final of the Bons Secours SAFC game between Ballingeary v Knocknagree at Clondrohid, Co. Cork. - Pic: David Creedon

Cork SAFC QF: Knocknagree 0-10 Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh 0-8

Knocknagree are back into the semi-final of the Bons Secours Cork SAFC after they defeated Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh by two points at a rain-sodden Cloindrohid this evening. 

Last year’s defeated finalists began the game minus the services of goalkeeper Patrick Doyle and full-back Kealan Buckley, but they still did enough to pip the Gaeltacht men who didn’t find their rhythm until after Diarmuid Mac Tomáis received a red card three minutes into the second half.

Mac Tomáis, who was hampered by injury, had only come onto the field at half time with his side trailing by 0-7 to 0-2. Knocknagree’s Anthony O’Connor then stretched their lead to a comfortable six points before the red card seemed to end the hopes of Béal Átha. It had the opposite effect, however, as Aindrias Ó Coinceannáin, Ben Seartan and Conchúr Ó Loingsigh kicked the next three scores to make it a three-point game with fifteen minutes to go.

The Duhallow men were struggling to manage their numerical advantage, but a pair of points from Denis R O’Connor and Timmy O’Connor settled them down. Béal Átha weren’t going away though, and scores from Seartan and Leonard Ó Conchúir ensured a nervous finale for the Knocknagree faithful.

Their hearts were in their mouths when a long delivery from Amhlaoibh Ó Loingsigh was met at the edge the square by Ó Conchúir, but his effort went agonisingly wide, and though Conchúr Ó Louingsigh did swing over another point, there was to be no fairytale ending.

As the first half unfolded such excitement seemed unlikely with Knocknagree controlling the game as Béal Átha struggled to find their feet. White flags were raised by O’Connors Anthony, David and Timmy and Eoghan McSweeney put them into a deserved four-point lead after eleven minutes.

Ó Coinceannáin and Donagh Seartan finally got Béal Átha up and running after Killian Cronin was black carded for Knocknagree, but John Fintan Daly’s men went onto manage the ten minutes extremely well. Anthony and Denis R O’Connor cancelled out the Béal Átha salvo, Cronin came back on the field and Michael McSweeney kicked a fine score to give his side a 0-7 to 0-2 lead at the interval.

They only managed three more from there, but it was enough to secure them a date against either Dohenys or Newmarket in the final four.

Scorers for Knocknagree: A O’Connor (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 ’45), DR O’Connor and T O’Connor (0-2 each), David O’Connor, E McSweeney and M McSweeney (0-1 each).

Scorers for Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh: A Ó Coinceannáín (0-1 free), B Seartan (0-1 free) and C Ó Loingsigh (0-2 each), D Seartan and L Ó Conchúir (0-1 each).

KNOCKNAGREE: D Browne: G O’Connor, K Mahoney, T O’Connor; M Doyle, D O’Mahony, K Cronin; Donagh O’Connor, David O’Connor; J Dennehy, E McSweeney, M McSweeney; A O’Connor, N O’Connor, Denis R O’Connor.

Subs: D Cooper for Dennehy (45), T O’Mahony for Cronin (55).

BÉAL ÁTHAN GHAORTHAIDH: D Ó Coill; C Ó Nuanáin, J Ó Donnchú, É Ó Duinnín; B Ó hArgáin, A Ó Loingsigh, N Ó Laoire; C Ó Duinnín, A Ó Coinceannáin; S Ó Luasa, C Ó Tuama, D Ó Ceallacháin; C Ó Loingsigh, B Seartan, D Seartan.

Subs: D Mac Tomáis for Ó Tuama, L Ó Conchúir for Ó Ceallacháin (both h/t), L Ó Criodáin for Ó Laoire (39), M Ó Riordáin for Ó hArgáin (47), S Ó Muimhneacháin for Ó Luasa (49).

Referee: Ciarán Murphy (Glanworth).