Knocknagree and Bohebue final promises rousing contest

Boherbue v Knocknagree

ALL the ingredients are in place for a classic E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Duhallow Junior A Football Championship Final when reigning holders Knocknagree and Boherbue cross paths in Kanturk on Sunday (2pm).

This is be the seventh meeting between the sides in a decider, todate, Knocknagree hold the upperhand with five outright wins as against

Boherbue’s lone win in

1988. By virtue of landing four consecutive league titles, Boherbue will enter the fray with confidence yet Knocknagree hold a strong incentive too on searching for another three in a row of JAFC accolades, the only club to have completed the achievement twice in the past.

It goes without saying that the two best teams within Duhallow are coming together for this intriguing clash. Perhaps Knocknagree have taken the limelight in recent years, contesting their 4th consecutive JAFC final and attempting to claim a hat trick of outright honours. However, Boherbue have been pretty consistent too, splendid league campaigns has helped secure four consecutive Ducon Cup titles. Indeed on parade are two vibrant football teams, just a kick of a ball dividing the pair on memorable clashes in the past three seasons.

From the 2015 Ducon Cup Final, Boherbue ability to striking four goals at crucial stages proved crucial to overcoming challengers Knocknagree in a cracking decider. Performing a brand of open and attacking football, there could be no disputing Boherbue emerged worthy four point winners of the JAFL title.

Just a few weeks later , Knocknagree displayed craft and character to carve out a narrow victory over their arch rivals in the JAFC. From a game stuffed with intrigue, the game lived up to its billing, victory was a triumph for hard work and self belief by Knocknagree to prove marginally the better side.

Last season, the met clashed in a quarter final to the championship, holders Knocknagree pulled out all the stops. No mistaking the hunger of each side as two determined teams battled it out to the last whistle and provided a large attendance with a hugely entertaining game.

But when push came to shove, it was the defending champions that provided the bite to take a lead against the run of play in the opening half and maintaining their supremacy as the game progressed.

The great rivalry continued into 2017, Boherbue dug deep to pass a rigoous test to retain their Ducon Cup title from the grasp of challengers Knocknagree. Another absorbing contest, swinging a few different directions until Boherbue grabbed a hold of it to finish strongly and Jerry O’Connor 62nd pointed free helped land a deserved victory by the minimum of margins to clinch an unprecedented four in a row of JAFL titles.

Knocknagree’s hunt for a third consecutive championship title began impressively on seeing off a brave Castlemagner effort, the holders getting over the line thanks to telling goals from Eoghan McSweeney and Anthony O’Connor. And a dominant performance saw Knocknagree secure a comfortable victory over Cullen in the semi final, a pair of O’Connor goals saw the champions make it count where it mattered on the scoreboard.

Given a high profile involvement, Knocknagree possess a strong line up, net minder Patrick Doyle is dependable with Garry O’Connor, Jerry Carroll, Chris O’Leary and Kealan Buckley solid in defence. Elsewhere, consistent team captain Danny Cooper will be joined by Patrick Collins at midfield. And there is plenty of talent in attack, Anthony O’Connor and Matthew Dilworth are proven finishers, well supported by Fintan O’Connor and Eoghan McSweeney.

For their part, Boherbue made light work of Lyre first time out, parading an energy to their game that makes them very difficult to counteract, the highlight surfaced from a David O’Connor goal.

That form continued into a semi final, Boherbue rose their game to a level that Dromtariffe failed to reach with goals in the opening half from Tim Murphy, David O’Connor and Richard Moynihan deciding the outcome.

Team wise, Boherbue hold a strong presence throughout the field with Kevin Murphy in possession of the goalkeeping slot fronted by Alan Guerin, Niall Murphy, Mikie O’Gorman and Daniel Buckley who can stand up admirably in defence.

From the midfield region, the injured John Corkery is a massive loss, Kevin Cremin may be partnered by Billy O’Gorman And in attack, Richard Moynihan and Jerry O’Connor are central figures, David O’Connor may be ruled out though Adrian and Patrick Murphy are capable of lending support.

Boherbue have hit a winning and unbeaten sequence yet they are well aware that only a committed effort will suffice if they are to get the verdict over the reigning holders. Still, Boherbue possess plenty of confidence, getting the measure of their arch rivals in Ducon Cup Finals.

However injuries may limit Boherbue yet they stand a great opportunity of collecting a 4th title. Still the indication is to opt for Knocknagree, their timely preparations have delivered the dividends in the past two campaigns.

The tendency is to believe that the balance and experience of Knocknagree will get them over the line.