Knocknagree 2-17

Cill na Martra 0-17

NOEL HORGAN REPORTS

NINE points adrift at half time, it speaks volumes for Cill na Martra’s resilience that they pushed fancied Knocknagree all the way in the McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A Football Championship final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.

After cutting the deficit to four points inside the last ten minutes, they had the chances to make further inroads on Knocknagree’s advantage before the finish.

Much to their frustration, the normally reliable Jason MacCarthaigh was narrowly off-target with a brace of two-point attempts from frees, while Daniel Ó Duinnin had a shot at goal from close-range foiled by Knocknagree goalkeeper Patrick Doyle.

So, the Duhallow side, runners-up to Carrigaline last year, held out for the win. In fairness, it would be hard to argue the laurels didn’t rest where they belonged at the end of the hour.

Not only were Knocknagree by far the more convincing side in the first half, they continued to hold the whip-hand on the resumption, stretching the gap to 11 points by the 37th minute.

While obviously disappointed with the outcome, Cill na Martra manager Morgan O’Sullivan agreed Knocknagree were the better team on the day.

‘I thought our lads showed great character to bring the lead down to four points in the second half, but, fair play to Knocknagree, they kicked on again after that, and fully deserved their victory,’ he admitted.

Despite their precarious position, O’Sullivan didn’t feel Cill na Martra’s cause was beyond redemption at half time.

‘I had every faith in these players. No matter what situation they’re in in a game, I always believe they’re capable of getting a result. They battled with everything they had in the second half,’ said O’Sullivan, who guided his home club Castletownbere to a county intermediate title in 2012.

Cill na Martra's Daniel Ó Duininin is challenged by Knocknagree's Daniel O'Mahony and Tadhg O'Connor.

Looking a little out of their depth, it seemed as if Cill na Martra might be completely overwhelmed by the sheer quality of Knocknagree’s play in the first half. It yielded goals from Daithi O’Connor and influential full-forward Niall O’Connor as they powered into a 2-7 to 0-3 lead with 20 minutes gone.

Cill na Martra’s return at that juncture comprised two Jason MacCarthaigh points from frees, both won by Daniel Ó Duinnin, and one from play by Damien Ó hUrdail after Ó Duinnin had created the opening. The latter was one of the few Cill na Martra players to make his presence felt in the first half.

Others especially defiant in the face of Knocknagree’s first-half tour-de-force were midfielder Gearoid Ó Goillidhe and wing-back Seán Ó Foirreidh, while Jason MacCarthaigh capped his input from frees with a well-taken score from play in stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Mícheál Ó Deasuna also did his bit to keep the ship afloat, saving superbly from Knocknagree’s Denis R O’Connor midway through the first half.

Knocknagree were by no means flattered to lead by 2-9 to 0-6 at the interval. Such was their superiority before the break, it seemed unlikely they’d be hard-pressed to keep Cill na Martra at bay even when playing against a strong wind on the turnover.

There was little to suggest otherwise during the third quarter when Cill na Martra were relieved not to concede two more goals. As it was, the Mid Cork men were 2-13 to 0-8 in arrears before they finally built up some momentum, resulting in a sequence of five scores completed by a two-pointer from Daniel Ó Duinnin in the 49th minute.

Another two-pointer from highly impressive substitute Cianie Ó Foirreidh, in reply to a Denis R O’Connor score for Knocknagree, left Cill na Martra trailing by 2-14 to 0-16 three minutes later. But failure to make the most of their chances put paid to their gallant bid to pull the game out of the fire on the run-in.

Scorers

Knocknagree: N O’Connor 1-3; D O’Connor 1-0; DR O’Connor 0-3; A O’Connor 0-3 (2f); D Twomey, E McSweeney, G Looney 0-2 each; P Doyle (45), M McSweeney 0-1 each.

Cill na Martra: J MacCarthaigh 0-6 (5f); D Ó Duinnin 0-4 (1 2pt, 1f); S Ó Duinnin, C Ó Foirreidh (2pt) 0-2 each; D Ó hUrdail, D Ó Conaill, T Ó Corcora 0-1 each.

Knocknagree: P Doyle: M O’Mahony, C Buckley, G O’Connor; T O’Connor, D O’Mahony, G Looney; M McSweeney, D O’Connor; C Cronin, E McSweeney, D Twomey; DR O’Connor, N O’Connor, A O’Connor.

Subs: F O’Connor for Twomey (49), M Dilworth for DR O’Connor (54), T O’Mahony for D O’Connor (62), D O’Mahony for T O’Connor (62).

Cill na Martra: M Ó Deasuna; F Ó Faolain, D MacLochlainn, T Ó Corcora; S Ó Foirreidh, D Ó Conaill, C Ó Meachair; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goillidhe; D Ó Duinnin, C Ó Duinnin, J MacCarthaigh; S Ó Duinnin, D Ó hUrdail, E Ó Conaill.

Subs: C Ó Foirreidh for E O’Conaill (25), C MacLochlainn for Ó hUrdail (51).

Referee: C Murphy (Glanmire).