Knocknagree pull clear of Dromtariffe in thrilling minor final
by the strong play of Conor O’Callaghan, Evan Murphy, Brian O’Keeffe and Killian O’Sullivan.
Powering forward with clever ball, points to Murphy, Tomás Howard and O’Callaghan swept Dromtariffe 0-5 to 0-1 ahead. Steadily Knocknagree grew into the game and availed of back to back points from Denis O’Connor to confirm their potential.
And though Dromtariffe answered with an O’Sullivan point, Knocknagree grew into the game, Daniel O’Mahony pointed before Paul O’Connor netted a goal. Dromtariffe managed to arrest the slide on points to O’Sullivan and O’Keeffe to force parity 1-5 to 0-8 at the break.
Knocknagree took up the running on the restart, a spell of pressure yielded four points to Paul and Denis O’Connor and the Twomey brothers. There was much to enthuse about the game, Dromtariffe roared back into the contest after Killian O’Sullivan found the net with a point by Murphy gathering stalemate.
With no let up in the pace, the game had developed into an absorbing tussle with points traded at either end. However Kniocknagree asserted themselves in the key positions under the prospering play of Daniel O’Mahony in central defence, the industrious presence of Paul O’Connor and Michael Mahoney at midfield with the Twomeys and the outstanding Denis O’Connor effective in attack.
Key breaks were snapped for the latter O’Connor to point as did Glen Vaughan. And it took a fine save from Dromtariffe ‘keeper Shane Buckley to keep O’Connor at bay.
Dromtariffe plugged away, Michael Sheehan posted a point to leave just two between the pair. In the ensuing tension filled finale, Dromtariffe won plenty of possession, a tight marking Knocknagree defence allowed little manoeuvre.
But in the last throw of the dice, Dromtariffe came close to a goal, Murphy’s drive went narrowly wide of the post.