Over the moon Fintan Daly already looking ahead to clash with Multifarnham

KNOCKNAGREE took the chill out of a bitterly cold Cusack Park in Mullingar to continue on their winning ways.

Operating at a higher level than their Donegal opponents Naomh Colmcille, Knocknagree showed a higher degree of commitment throughout, prevailing in most of the individual battles and offered an appetite to prolong their involvement to a long campaign that now features just more hurdle to land a potential All Ireland crown.

Another job well done and Knocknagree boss John Fintan Daly expressed reasonable satisfaction with his team’s showing.

“It wasn’t our most polished performance but conditions were difficult, a few miles out the road, there was a cover of snow. I was terrified for our team and supporters who had travelled such a long journey that the game might be cancelled, thankfully, that didn’t occur,” he said.

“That probably explains why our scoring rate wasn’t quite its normally, you play what’s front of you, Naomh Colmcille were Ulster champions, deserved a lot of respect. Our focus was much better, for I banned the use of two words over the past two weeks, Croke Park, if you didn’t win this game, you might as well had been a million miles away.”

Daly’s counterpart Ryan McKinnley agreed Knocknagree offered the hunger required to win the contest.

“You’ve to hand it to Knocknagree, they were fastest out of the starting blocks, a series of enforced errors saw us concede goals which isn’t good enough

TOP SCORE

ENTERTAINMENT

NEXT UP at this level. Knocknagree were deserving winners and let’s hope they can go forward and win the All Ireland,” he said.

The Knocknagree manager paid tribute to his complete panel of players with 28 players out of a 32 man panel seeing championship fare since last spring. And Daly is enthusiastic about the club championship and applauded the concept initiated by former President Seán Kelly.

“The powers that be should come down to the grassroots, our players and supporters loved the concept of an All Ireland semi final in January. We deserve to be in a final for our commitment over a long period of time, this team has been so committed as a group, some defeats are engrained in our heads such as a loss to Gabriel Rangers in a county semi-final in 2016,” he said.

“On that occasion, we left a good half time advantage slip, today we were up seven points, we led from the front and there was no way that were going to sit on our lead.”

It’s onwards to Croke Park in the biggest day in Knocknagree’s history, Daly hopeful his charges can complete the journey against Multifarnham.

“It’s now down to the last two, its great to be there, no doubt, we’re coming against another formidable side, they defeated the much spoken about John Maughan team from Mayo.

“It’s going to be a race to the finish, but Croke Park may suit a kicking and skills team such as ourselves, of course, that may also apply to the opposition, a week or so will reveal all,” he said. MAN OF THE MATCH

McSweeney and Daly in the running in attack yet the Knocknagree defencewas magnificent throughout, none more so than wing-back Donough Moynihan, repeating his county final performance, unbelievable workrate, perfect distribution and storming forward to point in both halves.

TURNING MOMENT

Goals are crucialinany game and from a low scoring opening half, to concede two is sure the drain the confidenceofany team. Credit Anthony O’Connor for a major turn over inside the Colmcille rectangle for John FDaly apply the sweetest of finishes,Knocknagree ahead by seven points at the break.

Knocknagree’s more creative moves weren’t reaping the rewards, probably owing to a lackofcompetitive games over the New Year, it resulted on a hatful of wides recorded, Eoghan McSweeney proved the exception, steering over a pair of delightful points in the opening half from long range, quality scores.

With both sets of supporters embarking on three hour journeys,Knocknagree fans were more than pleased, on top from the first whistle, their industry and dominance was rewarded to enjoy acomfortable victory from aNaomh Colmcille side that never reached their Ulster form.

Knocknagree become the first Cork team since Canovee in 2008 to reach Croke Park, their opponents Multyfarnhamof Westmeath, equally determined in searchofa first time All Ireland triumph on Saturday, February 3.