Moninne set for final fling

Naomh Moninne Knockbridge 0-16 0-15

A third victory in as many weeks and the hurlers of Naomh Moninne have qualified for their first Championship final in seven years.

This latest victory at Dowdallshill last Thursday evening against Knockbridge, the team the beat in the 2010 final, was well merited and based on the never say die attitude they have shown in each game starting with their nine points victory over holders St Fechins in round one.

Both sides knew that victory on the night would secure a passage direct to the final and even though the village outfit almost did just that at the death when Shane Fennell’s injury time free went over the bar and not under it as he intended, Knockbridge must now prepare themselves for a semi final tussle against the Fechins next week.

Before that the same two teams must meet to decide the destination of the senior league title when they come face to face in that final this Thursday night.

Knockbridge are managed this year by ex player Trevor Hilliard and it was his side that struck the front early when top scorer Shane Fennell fired over a free which was replied to almost immediately by a score from the right wing by Ronan Geoghegan.

The same two players then exchanged points from frees before a further brace of frees from Ronan Byrne and Fennell had Knockbridge leading by two after 12 minutes.

From frees awarded for fouls on Diarmuid Murphy and David Yore the black and amber outfit would find themselves one in front on 17 minutes thanks to the accuracy of free taker Geoghegan, 0-5 to 0-4.

The experienced Murphy doubled his sides lead with a good point from left of the post but Knockbridge quickly got back on level terms with two points inside 30 seconds from the sticks of full forward Gareth Hall and David Kettle.

Moninne finished the half strongly with a point from Andrew Mackin and another brace of frees from Ronan Geoghegan before Shane Fennell rounded off the first half scoring with a good point to leave Moninne in front at the break by 0-9 to 0-7.

David Yore went close to netting the first goal only to be denied by some good defending before young midfielder Feidhelm Joyce, playing his first season at senior level, extended his sides interval lead with a good point from play.

Their lead was cut to two again as Fennell was again on target this time with a point from open play. However Brian Bradys charges went five points in front courtesy of three points between the 34th and 38th minutes from John Martin, Diarmuid Murphy and Geoghegan, the latter two from frees.

This good work was undone by the concession of further frees from which Fennell was able to add to his increasing tally with another brace of points before substitute Ciaran Deane took advantage of a poor clearance by keeper Paul Delaney to leave his side trailing by just 0-13 to 0-11 with still over a quarter hour remaining.

Further Knockbridge pressure was dealt with by some good Moninne defending from the likes of Oisin Drumm, Mattie Fee and Chris Lennon.

The sides shared the next four points before Fennell pointed a free from the half way line to leave the minimum between the teams on 53 minutes. Tempers then began to flare as two players from each team were booked for separate off the ball incidents.

With the game now into injury time veteran Diarmuid Murphy showed all his experience to fire over a terrific score but there was still time for one last effort from Knockbridge to grab a late goal that would possibly win it for them.

They were awarded a 20 metre free which Fennell blasted over despite clearly going for a goal and with it his sides chances of getting through to the final on the night were dashed as Moninne instead held out for for that victory that sees them contest their first county final in seven years. NAOMH MONINNE: Paul Delaney; Paul Challoner, Chris Lennon; Mattie Fee, Oisin Drumm, Johnny Carter; Darren O Hanrahan, Feidhelm Joyce(0-1); Diarmuid Murphy (0-3, 1 free), John Martin (0-1), Andrew Mackin (0-1); Ronan Geoghegan (0-9, 8 frees), David Yore (0-1), Collins Connolly. Subs - Stephen Ryan for C Connolly (39 mins), Donal Connolly for J Martin (58), Donal Lee for J Carter (59), Donal Griffin for R Geoghegan (62).

KNOCKBRIDGE: Kevin McNally; Mark Wallace, Brian Buckley, Stephen Kettle; Gavin Kane, Ronan Byrne (0-1 free), Andrew Smith; James Costello, Liam Molloy; Sean Marry (0-1), Peter Brennan, Gerard McKeown; Shane Fennell (0-10, 8 frees), Gareth Hall (0-1), David Kettle (0-1). Subs - Ciaran Deane (0-1) for Liam Molloy (HT), Robert Wallace for Gareth Hall (38), Sean Brennan for R Byrne (51), Kevin Hearty for J Costello (59), Paraic Marry for D Kettle (63).

REFEREE: Jim O Rourke (Monaghan)