Knock get back into the swing of things in the league
MISSION accomplished, Knocknagree move on and for the first time in 23 years, they take to the stage as an intermediate football team in 2018, their first taste of action is a County Division 5 Football League tie against Millstreet in Knocknagree on Sunday.
That offers an interesting encounter, the first meeting between the pair since a dramatic clash in the 2014 divisional JAFC Final where Millstreet rolled back the years to regain a hold of a gripping contest by overcoming a fancied Knocknagree.
On doing so, Millstreet bridged an eleven year gap since their previous outright win in 2003 by offering a gutsy means on putting their shoulder and grind out a positive result. Having forfeited a second half lead, Millstreet on the defensive trailed by three points with eight minutes remaining.
However, they finished with a 1-5 haul without reply to land the silverware and add a county championship title two months later. It goes without saying, Knocknagree have made up for that bitter disappointment on sweeping to county, provincial and All Ireland honours.
Millstreet’s last competitive action dates back to early September on losing to Mitchelstown by a five point margin in the IFC whilst in the same intervening spell, Knocknagree embarked on a nine game unbeaten run rewarded with the All Ireland JAFC title.
Adding interest to Sunday’s tussle is the involvement of former Kerry great Aidan O’Mahony as Millstreet coach, the Rathmore native taking his first steps into club management.
With neither side likely to field at full strength, it makes for an interesting tussle, Knocknagree by virtue of competitive involvement are fancied to get a new campaign off to winning start.
Meanwhile in Division 2, Kiskeam will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run at home to Ilen Rovers while Newmarket’s visit to Éire Óg holds the prospect of a tasty tussle. From Division 3, Rockchapel are away to Fermoy and Ballydesmond take a trip to Cork city to face St Vincents in Division 4.