Late Padraig Collins goal allows Knocknagree collect Junior B title

force parity on two occasions. Faced with a test of character, Knocknagree rose to the challenge and the Collins goal settled the issue.

It surfaced from a delivery by Shane O’Connor found Chris White to accelerate away from the Boherbue rearguard and Collins showed coolness to finish with aplomb.

Though the sides exchanged early points, Knocknagree proceeded to dominate the exchanges through the solid workrate of Paul O’Connor, Donal Leader, Daniel Murphy and Tadgh Long in defence with Tomás Cooper, John O’Keeffe and Chris White prominent upfield.

Two points apiece to Shane O’Connor, John O’Keeffe and Chris White swept Knocknagree 0-6 to 0-1 ahead with 20 minutes elapsed. Indeed Knocknagree might well had been further ahead only for the vigilance of Boherbue ‘keeper Daniel Murphy to produce a series of brilliant saves.

Boherbue came to grips with the task on hand and a series of raids gathered points for David O’Connor and Billy O’Gorman to cut the leeway 0-7 to 0-4 at the break.

And Boherbue picked up where they left off on the restart, growing into the ascendency from the encouraging pursuits of Kieran O’Connell, Dermot Hickey, O’Gorman and Bryan Herlihy. As the impetus sided with the holders, points to Herlihy, O’Connor and O’Gorman helped force parity.

And a deadlocked situation was maintained with Shane O’Connor’s lead point for Knocknagree answered by namesake Andrew. Unfortunately, a series of missed chances halted Boherbue from taking a vital lead.

With the scores tied at 0-9 each, a stalemate developed in the tense exchanges before the game turned in Knocknagree’s favour. Slackness in the Boherbue defence allowed Knocknagree’s Collins capitalise to net the all important goal.

A follow up point to O’Keeffe gave Knocknagree some breathing space. However Boherbue were ready to relent, Andrew O’Connor’s white flag left the issue up for grabs yet Knocknagree saw their task to a successful conclusion to allow team captain Denis Murphy lift the silverware.

Dan Dennehy, Treasurer of Duhallow Junior Board, receives sponsorship towards the Kanturk Co-Op Mart Duhallow Junior A Hurling Championship presented by John Cott, Chairman Kanturk Co-Op Mart, in the presence of Tony McAulliffe, Secretary of Duhallow Junior Board; Joe Noonan, Vicechairman of Kanturk Co-Op Mart; Joe Kearns, Chairman Duhallow Junior Board, and Seamus O’Keeffe, Manager of Kanturk Mart. Photo by John Tarrant