Knockananna reach decider

Reds to face Valleymount

KNOCKANANNA COOLBOY 6-09 3-08

KNOCKANANNA and Coolboy served up an entertaining Division 3 play-off game for the right to contest the final of the Division 3 League (for the Johnny Fox Cup) against Valleymount this coming weekend.

The game was played under lights in Annacurra on Sunday last, October 15, on a calm, fine evening but the rainfall of Sunday afternoon left the sod slippery and greasy with ball handling very difficult.

Knockananna settled quickly to the task in hand and had three points on the board from Eddie Bracken (2) and Darren Flynn by 10 minutes.

Coolboy were under a lot of pressure in these early stages but when Dan and Liam Nolan combined for Liam to toe poke home a goal in the 11th minute, it left the sides all square.

A Michael Gregan free put Coolboy ahead a minute later but Tristan Maher brought the teams level again two minutes later.

Three points from P J O’Keeffe, Wayne Kinsella and O’Keeffe again left Coolboy ahead by 1-4 to 0-4 after 21 minutes.

However, the game took a decisive turn in favour of Knockananna as half-time drew near.

Firstly, wing back Keith Corrigan advanced forward to register Knockananna’s first goal after 23 minutes.

Declan O’Keeffe added a point a minute later and then in the space of three minutes Declan O’Keeffe and Darren Flynn added two more goals to put Knockananna firmly in the driving seat.

Kevin Tyrell added another point before Michael Gregan from a free and Dan Nolan closed the Coolboy account for the first half. The score at the break was 3-6 to 1-6 in favour of the Knockananna men.

Knockananna began the second half as they had ended the first with Eddie Bracken having the ball in the net after one minute of play of play.

Nathan Walshe responded five minutes later with a Coolboy goal but almost from the kick out, Knockananna centre back Paddy Byrne went forward and raised his side’s fifth green flag.

The scoring rate slowed considerably for the remainder of the game but we were not finished with goals yet.

Substitute Stephen Hinchey and Kevin Tyrell from a free added two more Knockananna points by the fifteenth minute.

A penalty awarded to Coolboy was expertly put away by Kevin O’Keeffe in the 17th minute.

The score at this stage stood at 6-09 to 3-08 in favour of Knockananna.

When Eddie Bracken scored his second goal of the half for Knockananna after 20 minutes, it finished any chance Coolboy had of winning their way back into this game.

Wayne Kinsella added two more points from frees for the Little Moon side but Kevin Tyrell brought the scoring and the game to an end when he pointed a free with practically the last kick of the game. The final score was 5-9 to 3-8.

Scorers – Knockananna: Eddie Bracken 2-2, Darren Flynn 1-1, Declan O’Keeffe 1-1, Keith Corrigan 1-0, Paddy Byrne 1-0, Kevin Tyrell 0-3, Tristan Maher 0-1, Stephen Hinchey 0-1.

Coolboy: Liam Nolan 1-0, Nathan Walshe 1-0, Kevin O’Keeffe 1-0, Wayne Kinsella, 0-3, Michael Gregan 0-2, P J O’Keeffe 0-2, Dan Nolan 0-1.

Joe Byrne; Michael Byrne, Padraig Lancaster, Aaron O’Neill; Keith Corrigan, Paddy Byrne, Declan Walshe; Tristan Maher, Garry Bradley; Darren Flynn, Derek Kavanagh, Eddie Bracken; Kevin Tyrell, Declan O’Keeffe, Lorcan Tyrell. Subs: Stephen Hinchey for M Byrne, Declan Whelan for Lorcan Tyrell.

Adam Doyle; Niall O’Keeffe, Anthony Holly, Enda Gettings; Nathan Walshe, Aaron Kinsella, Garrett Gregan; Dan Nolan, Wayne Kinsella; Damian O’Keeffe, P J O’Keeffe, Kevin O’Keeffe; Sean Maher, Liam Nolan, Michael Gregan. Subs – P J Mulhall.

Gerry Corbett.