Boherbue and Knocknagree square off in Ducon Cup decider
ANOTHER thrilling episode in the rivalry of Boherbue and Knocknagree promises to be enacted in the Ducon Cup Final in Kiskeam on this Saturday evening. Without doubt, two of the top contenders in Duhallow Junior A Football square up in this appealing showdown.
It’s no secret that both Knocknagree and Boherbue are targeting championship honours later in the summer yet neither side will be keen to spurn the opportunity of adding a league title in the third clash in a decider between the sides.
Both teams have samples success in this competition in recent years as Boherbue go in search for an unprecedented four in a row. The pair last met in a Ducon Cup decider back in 2015 where Boherbue’s ability to net four goals at crucial stages proved crucial to the outcome.
Indeed Boherbue hold a good record in league finals, their initial victory dates back to 1988 where they secured a 2-4 to 0-8 win. Over recent years, its been either Knocknagree or Boherbue, 2013 saw Knocknagree easily account for Millstreet in the Ducon Cup Final only for the roles to be reversed in last season’s JAFC Final.
Meanwhile, Boherbue regained a hold of the 2014 Ducon Cup for the first time since 2001 on overcoming Castlemagner. However, their championship interest ended on a defeat to Knocknagree in a semi final.
Interestingly, Knocknagree and Boherbue enjoyed a consistent run in the 2014 county league to reach the decider, Boherbue again emerging on top to record a merited win. From 2015, Boherbue retained the Ducon Cup to again better Knocknagree before a late surge overcame Lyre last season to complete a three in a row.
From this Ducon Cup campaign, Knocknagree enjoyed a productive run in the preliminary series,
coming unstuck on a lone defeat to Cullen. However, Knocknagree gained ample revenge in a semi final thanks to a six point win on Cullen, the play of Kealan Buckley, Tadgh Long, Eoghan McSweeney and Anthony O’Connor key aspects to their game.
Holders Boherbue recovered from an indifferent start but a series of consistent wins swung the focus in a positive direction. And when Boherbue came up against Dromtariffe in a semi final, they were boosted by the input of Daniel Moynihan, Michael O’Gorman, Kevin Cremin , John Corkery and Jerry O’Connor to hold the firepower necessary to win a knockout tussle.
Bigger prizes will be the ambition later in the season yet expect Boherbue and Knocknagree go all out in search of a confidence booster. Given the competiveness of both teams, it suggests a tasty decider in the pipeline.