Free-scoring final suits Knocknagree perfectly
JUNIOR CLUB FC FINAL KNOCKNAGREE’S All-Ireland Club JFC triumph should have been much more convincing, but it mattered little to their players and supporters celebrated with gusto at Croke Park.
The Cork men led by ten points at various stages of a game that was settled long before the finish, but Leinster champions Multyfarnham never gave up the fight, and were rewarded with two stoppage time goals through substitute Mark Fallon.
The Munster side capitalised on their opponents’ defensive set-up to push extra men forward, and reaped the rewards with a first-half scoring spree, and despite Max Brady’s best attempts to keep Multyfarnham in touch with his second point, they conceded two goals in a minute.
Corner back Michael Mahoney, pushing up on sweeper Ian McGovern, created the first for Fintan O’Connor, and finished the second himself like an accomplished predator, sweeping the ball past Henry Reilly from Eoghan McSweeney’s assist.
They reached the break with a 2-8 to 0-5 lead, all but one of the Westmeath side’s scores coming from Brady.
Multyfarnham struck for a goal through David Wallace, but despite the dismissal of full forward Anthony O’Connor, Knocknagree got back on top, and a fortuitous third goal, direct from goalkeeper Patrick Doyle’s ’45, had them eleven clear.