Knockananna in flying form as they pass Rathnew test
at Pearses’ Park, Arklow with anything Rathnew could throw at them, though the early loss of James Hunter severely blunted the Rathnew attack when he had to leave the field through injury.
Rathnew led at half-time by five points to four but the warning signs were there early that Knockananna could get scores.
Straight from the throw-in midfielder Tristan Maher sliced through the Rathnew defence and his pass to a colleague led to a goal chance and a wonderful save by Dylan Keogh in the Rathnew goal. It was only when Knockananna goalkeeper Joe Farrell came up to take the 45 that some people realised the ball in fact had not nestled in the top corner.
Something similar happened later in the first half when Rathnew were easily carved open but again Dylan Keogh was equal to the task.
Knockananna regularly got past the Rathnew half-back line to create chances and put the full-back line under fierce pressure. They didn’t capitalise on it in the first half and had to rely Lorcan Tyrell’s frees but the scores came in the second. Tyrell converted three of Knockanana’s four first half points through frees and punished any defensive indiscretions.
At the other end Dale Franey was doing the same thing for Rathnew and he converted all but one of his side’s first half point tally too. He demonstrated some unerring accuracy from placed balls including a lovely point from a very tough angle on the right hand side of the posts for a right footed kicker.
Brian Murphy scored the other Rathnew point of the half with a monster of a point from 43 metres without much of a run up to give his team a five points to four lead at half time.
Knockananna quickly turned that deficit around in the second half though to take the lead and never look back. A couple of points regained the lead before Lorcan Tyrell got an all important goal to put breathing space between the teams. Dylan Keogh kicked a short kick out that was originally won by one of his defenders but possession was soon lost to Knockananna on the Rathnew 21-metre line. Tyrell was momentarily left unmarked in front of goal and he calmly slotted the ball underneath the advancing Keogh for a goal.
The second Knockananna goal came at a crucial time too. There was five points between the teams at the time and the next score was important.
Rathnew were caught playing around with the ball in a dangerous defensive position and a very disciplined Johnny Wybrant tackle turned over possession and he gladly took his goal to open a 2-08 to 6 point lead.
The game was pretty much over by that stage and while Rathnew launched attack after attack in search of a goal they couldn’t find any way past the strong defence.
Knockananna go on to face Enniskerry in the final on Saturday and will be favourites to win.
Scorers – Knockananna: Lorcan Tyrell (4f) 1-05; Johnny Wybrant 1-02; Stephen Hinchy, Damien Byrne 0-02 each, Patrick Byrne (1f), Darren Flynn, Derek Kavanagh 0-01 each.
Rathnew: Dale Franey (7f) 0-07; Brian Murphy 0-02; Danny Quinn 0-01.
Knockananna: Joe Farrell: Patrick O’Keefe, Ronan Byrne, Keith Corrigan; Declan Whelan, Garry Bradley, Patrick Byrne; Tristan Maher, Padraig Lancaster; Stephen Hinchy, Lorcan Tyrell, Johnny Wybrant; Kevin Tyrell, Damien Byrne, Darren Flynn. Subs: Derek Kavanagh for Garry Bradley (22 mins, BC); Eddie Bracken for Derek Kavanagh (46 mins); Aaron O’Neill for Paddy Byrne (48 mins); Derek Kavanagh for Kevin Tyrell (50 mins); Declan O’Neill for Damien Byrne (52 mins); Alan Byrne for Stephen Hinchy (59 mins).
Rathew: Dylan Keogh; Eric Doyle, James Manley, Patrick O’Connor,; Luke Corcoran, Lee Kavanagh, Wayne Devlin; Jason Stafford, Brian Murphy; Philly O’Neill, Barry Mernagh, Danny Quinn; Michael Doyle, James Hunter, Dale Franey. Subs: Keith Doyle for James Hunter (20 mins, inj.); Christopher Murphy for James Manley (25 mins, BC); James Kavanagh for Luke Corcoran (26 mins); Brefffni Doyle for Michael Doyle (35 mins); Mick Nolan for Wayne Devlin (41 mins); Dean Breen for Christopher Murphy (52 mins, inj.).
Referee: Mattie Dowling