Knocknagree 2-19 

Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh 1-10

NOEL HORGAN REPORTS

TO take down Knocknagree in the McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A Football Championship semi-final was always likely to be a tall order for Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh.

Runners-up to Carrigaline last year, the Duhallow side would have been fancied to make a bold bid to go one better at the start of the current campaign, and their progress to the last four confirmed they’d be a hard nut to crack.

Yet, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh’s form en route to the semi-finals had been sufficiently encouraging to suggest an upset wasn’t entirely out of the question in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday.

It turned out to be a chastening experience for the Gaeltacht men, however, as they were completely outgunned in a contest that had lost its competitive edge long before the finish.

They were 2-10 to 0-5 in arrears at half time, and, as Knocknagree continued to pile on the punishment, the gap had been stretched to a massive 18 points before Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh bagged an unanswered 1-3 late on. 

They started promisingly enough, with midfielder Seamus Ó Tuama getting them off the mark, and Conchuir Ó Loinsigh pushing them two points up after Ó Tuama had plucked a ball from the clouds to create the opening in the fifth minute.

They led again when Ó Loinsigh made it 0-3 to 0-2 five minutes later, but their prospects went steadily into decline as the first half progressed.

A goal from full-forward Con O’Connor enabled Knocknagree to hit the front for the first time entering the second quarter. They were 2-5 to 0-4 to the good after Anthony O’Connor bagged their second goal in the 25th minute.

Although roaming corner-forward Conchuir Ó Loingsigh quickly pulled a point back, Knocknagree had little difficulty in consolidating their advantage as the first half drew to a close.

There was to be no change in the pattern of the play on the resumption. After Seamus Ó Tuama negated a Denis R O’Connor point for Knocknagree in the 34th minute, the Muskerry side didn’t add to their tally until substitute Ben Seartan converted a free at the three-quarter mark.

The winners had tacked on another five points in the interim. Holding most of the aces, they appeared to be toying with the losers for much of the second half.

Only Seamus Ó Tuama, wing-back Donagh Seartan and the ever-industrious Conchuir Ó Loingsigh performed up to scratch for Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh during what amounted to a mismatch rarely seen at such an advanced stage of any championship.

To their credit, they never gave up the fight, and a point from Ó Loingsigh was followed by two from Diarmuid MacThomais in the closing stages.

MacThomais completed the scoring with a goal, resulting from good work by Ó Loingsigh in stoppage time, which served to spare their blushes to some extent.

Scorers - Knocknagree: A O’Connor 1-6 (2f, 1 2pt); DR O’Connor, M McSweeney 0-4 each; C O’Connor 1-0; T O’Connor 0-2; M O’Mahony, F O’Connor, E McSweeney 0-1 each. Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh: D MacThomais 1-2; C Ó Loinsigh 0-4; S Ó Tuama 0-2; D Seartan, B Seartan (f) 0-1 each.

Knocknagree: P Doyle; M O’Mahony, C Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, Daniel O’Mahony, T O’Connor; M McSweeney, E McSweeney; T O’Mahony, D O’Connor, C Cronin; DR O’Connor, C O’Connor, A O’Connor.  Subs: F O’Connor for Daniel O’Mahony (41), Denis O’Mahony for Buckley (53), M Dilworth for DR O’Connor (53), P O’Connor for D O’Connor (57), D Moynihan for Cronin (57).

Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh: M Ó Riordain; B Ó hArgain, S Ó Donnchu, C Ó Nuanain; D Seatan, E Ó Duinnin, P Ó Tuama; D Ó Briain, S Ó Tuama; Daire Ó Ceallacháin, S Ó Luasa, G Ó Laoire; D MacThomais, C Ó Duinin, C Ó Loinsigh.  Subs: Diarmuid Ó Ceallacháin for O’Luasa (36), B Seartan for C Ó Duinnin (36), S O’Muimheacháin for Daire O’Ceallacháin (36), N Ó Laoire for Ó Luasa (46), C Ó Tuama for O’Briain (53).

Referee: A Long (Argideen Rangers).