Knocknagree women in seventh heaven on landing county honours
Knocknagree 7-7 Castlemagner 2-8
KNOCKNAGREE delivered a blistering performance to overcome a gallant Castlemagner to land the County Ladies 13-a-side FC title for the first time after an entertaining hour’s action at Dromtariffe.
A powerful attacking performance allowed Knocknagree land the spoils thanks to a productive display of excellent teamwork that reaped a positive return on the scoreboard.
Far from straight forward, Castlemagner had taken the fight to their Duhallow neighbours only for Knocknagree to wrestle control thanks to hard work, belief and quality high tempo football. Both sides gave it their all and with a local flavour to spice the occasion, it made for an eagerly awaited clash.
Early on, there were no sign of nerves in Castlemagner and though losing a player to the sin bin they performed with a tempo that suggested they were ready for anything that Knocknagree threw at them.
Indeed, Castlemagner looked well placed, points from Shelly Twohig and Susan Falvey preceeded a well taken Gemma Cashman goal. Once settled, Knocknagree discovered a rhythm and began to play with a confidence and conviction that had been missing earlier.
Their cause was helped on a well worked move to allow Mairéad O’Mahony finish to the net followed by a second from substitute Ava Looney. Now Knocknagree held a directness to their approach that neatly complimented their style of play, confirmed on Katie Ring netting a pair for Knocknagree enjoy a 4-4 to 1-2 advantage at the break.
It’s to Castlemagner’s credit that they refused to lose heart and made possession count with Falvey and Cashman getting on the scoresheet. However, there remained power and purpose to Knocknagree, Ring, Looney and Katie Horgan shining lights in their game, the trio contributing all important scores.
And while Castlemagner battled hard in an effort to remain in the hunt, Knocknagree’s workrate never dropped, rewarded on a first time county title, team captain Marie Doyle accepting the silverware from Co. Board Vice Chairman Neilus Carroll.
KNOCKNAGREE: K O’Riordan; M aura O’Mahony, M Doyle; J Sheehan, B O’Connor, S Horgan 0-1; Mairéad O’Mahony 1-0, D O’Connor; L Cronin 0-1, S O’Neill, C O’Mahony; K Ring 3-1, K Horgan
1-4. Subs: A Looney 2-0, M Buckley, S O’Keeffe.
CASTLEMAGNER: M Taylor; Y Coleman, K O’Connor; A Lyons, M Buckley, C Healy; C Taylor, J Cashman 1-2; S Twohig 0-2, N Buckley 0-1, A Foley 0-1; J Lynes 0-1, S Falvey 1-1. Subs: A Carver, S Boyle, G Cassen, L Cronin, D Lynch.
REFEREE: M J O’Keeffe (Dromtariffe)