Football teams play it again with Boherbue and Knocknagree drawn to meet in JAFC opener
CHAMPIONS Boherbue will make their bow in the opening round of the E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Duhallow JAFC with a clash against great rival Knocknagree. That follows the opening round draws hosted in Kanturk where some exciting clashes are on offer. At domestic level, Boherbue are the kingpins, landing league and championship honours in 2017, both at the expense of Knocknagree in respective deciders.
Of course, Knocknagree’s subsequent journey is well documented, breathing life back into their challenge after incurring a dramatic defeat to Boherbue in a championship final replay.
Summoning up a spectacular recovery and availing of a route that allowed runners up in divisional finals remain involved, Knocknagree passed all subsequent tests to claim county, Munster and All Ireland honours.
Without hesitation, Knocknagree put their hand up for a second team to participate in 2018 Junior A ranks. Much will depend on players utilised at intermediate level yet with young talent progressing from a successful minor team, Knocknagree are sure to be competitive.
Looking at the upcoming championship, Boherbue have proved they possess real belief, knocking on the door for a few years before landing the divisional spoils last season. The trick now is to see if they can repeat their domestic supremacy, wearing the favourites tag to do so and hoping to translate their potential onto a county stage.
Of course, others will have a say in the destination of the spoils, none more so than Dromtariffe and Lyre drawn in the opening round. That recalls a quarter final from last season where Dromtariffe delivered telling blows.
As events transpired, a pair of goals in quick succession at the start of the second half proved the match defining scores. On doing so, Dromtariffe made light of adversary for the restart where both the creation and execution of the goals were calculated to drive them on to victory.
Taking stock of the previous season will be the benchmark for teams in the next few months and that applies to the clash of Cullen and Castlemagner. The sides clashed in a semi final two years ago where Cullen summoned up every ounce of their experience and conviction to thwart a late Castlemagner charge.
At key stages, Cullen emerged the more probable winners, none more so than directly after the break on extending a five point lead to eight. And though Cullen failed to contribute to the scoreboard again in the remaining 28 minutes played, they had enough in reserve to secure a passage to the decider only to falter to Knocknagree.
From a seven team involvement in this season’s championship, Kanturk’s second team received a bye where their Round 2 opponents will be determined once the opening round is completed by the close of April.
The Duhallow JAFC is arguably the most competitive in the county, Kanturk, Rockchapel, Millstreet and Knocknagree have enjoyed productive runs in the current decade that culminated on county glory with Knocknagree adding All Ireland accolades.
That’s sure to allow Boherbue, Castlemagner, Cullen, Dromtariffe and Lyre head into a new season in an optimistic mindset.