Long awaited divisional JAFC title

nature to fire home a sublime goal that shifted the scoreboard in favour of Boherbue to lead 1-7 to 1-5 at the break.

Again Knocknagree emerged a more forceful side on the restart, Anthony O’Connor netted from the penalty spot that helped secure a 2-11 to 1-9 advantage midway through the second half. Boherbue refused to throw in the towel and sparked a courageous revival. Points to substitute James Casey and Jerry O’Connor cut the deficit to the minimum and in a welter of excitement, Boherbue laid siege on Knocknagree defence, rewarded on Kevin Cremin’s last ditch effort in the 4th min of added on time ensured a return to Kanturk three days later for the next instalment.

The second chance paid dividends for Boherbue on a 61st min winning point from Jerry O’Connor helped divide the sides.

From a thrill a minute spectacle, this was club football at its best, catching the imagination, another bumper attendance delayed the start by 18 minutes. Knocknagree grabbed the early initiative yet Boherbue brought a ferocious intensity to the proceedings, availing on the huge influence of man of the match Niall Murphy, Daniel Buckley, Adrian Murphy, James Casey and Jerry O’Connor to shade the opening half and lead 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.

Driven on by midfielders Danny Cooper and Padraig Collins, Knocknagree roared back into contention only for poor shooting halted the progress of the three in a row seeking champions. Still a gripping contest remained up for grabs for Fintan O’Connor deliver a pair of sublime points to tie up contest at 0-11 apiece.

However Boherbue received a massive boost in the 50th minute from an opportunist goal by James Casey. Again Knocknagree rallied, points to Anthony O’Connor, Matthew Dilworth and Eoin McSweeney gathered stalemate.

As the tension mounted, the excitement and noise hit new decibels, it required something special to drive a wedge between the pair, Boherbue’s O’Connor came deep to collect possession in midfield to sweep forward and pop over the match winner to complete a momentous night for Boherbue on securing their fourth outright title.

While the outcome of a subsequent Co. JAFC quarter final defeat to Iveleary was disappointing, Boherbue can reflect on a successful 2017 to dominate domestic affairs. On the evidence of those performances, Boherbue look good enough to emulate and add to their successes by the end of the upcoming season