Pillar to post win for Banteer over Drom’
DUHALLOW JAFC FINAL
Boherbue 1-12 Knocknagree 0-14
BOHERBUE ended a 29 year title famine on reclaiming the E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Duhallow Junior A Football Championship at the expense of great rivals Knocknagree in a thrilling replay in Kanturk.
Just three days earlier there was no separating the pair, the rematch didn’t just live up to expectations but exceeded it much to the delight of a bumper attendance that saw proceedings delayed 18 minutes to accommodate patrons wanting to witness another blockbuster between two great sides.
And from an absorbing tussle that built up to a nerve tingling finish, extra time loomed only for Boherbue top marksman Jerry O’Connor win possession in the centre and with open territory in front of him, O’Connor’s pace cut a dash to loft over the match winner.
For their tireless workrate and honest effort, a more economical Boherbue just about deserved their success and bring an end to a dismal run to collect only their fourth outright title. The outcome was heartbreak for Knocknagree, seeking a hat trick of outright honours yet at times, their shooting was a let down on chalking up 14 wides over the hour.
Indeed poor shot selection greeted a nervous opening, Knocknagree breaking the deadlock from two Anthony O’Connor pointed frees. Boherbue waited to the 11th minute to open their account, O’Connor pointed a free after Richard drove wide of a possible goal.
The standard of play improved, Knocknagree points to Fintan O’Connor and Matthew Dilworth sandwiched a likewise score by Kevin Cremin to Boherbue for the holders Knocknagree lead 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the opening
quarter. However Boherbue conjured up a recovery through stellar performances from Niall Murphy, Kevin Cremin and Daniel Buckley in defence with Adrian Murphy, James Casey and Jerry O’Connor full of endeavour in attack.
Points from O’Connor and Murphy helped force parity before a delightful Casey score nudged Boherbue ahead 0-7 to 0-6 at the break. And Boherbue restarted brightest, Andrew O’Connor bisected the uprights yet they incurred a let off, a Knocknagree counter attack saw Eoghan McSweeney blast narrowly wide.
Indeed an improvement across a number of Knocknagree lines became increasingly apparent, Danny Cooper and Padraig Collins began to exert an influence in the centre with Michael Mahoney, McSweeney and Fintan O’Connor getting on the ball.
For a spell, poor shooting prevented Knocknagree from adding to their tally though John F Daly and Chris White did register points for parity. Challengers Boherbue remained determined, regaining the initiative from flags to Pa Murphy and Jerry O’Connor.
Still a gripping contest remained up for grabs, some precision scores now at either end confirmed on a sublime pair to Fintan O’Connor for Knocknagree that levelled matters. A goal either way could win it and Boherbue received a massive boost in the 50th minute, Tim Murphy’s probing delivery was spilled and the alert Casey benefited from the massive slice of good fortune to net.
Failed to be deterred, Knocknagree rallied magnificently, quick fire points from Anthony O’Connor, Matthew Dilworth and McSweeney tied up the fare for the fifth occasion. As the tension mounted, so did the excitement on the terraces, Knocknagree pressed only to loop ball wide of both uprights.
In the fading light and a question mark regarding extra time, Boherbue grabbed the opportunity in the 61st minute, a kick out from ‘keeper Kevin Murphy was fetched in midfield by Jerry O’Connor and he had the pace to steer clear to deliver the winning point in a most assured and emphatic manner.
Little wonder ecstatic scenes of celebrations greeted the full time whistle for the green and clad Boherbue supporters.
*Duhallow Board Chairman Joe Kearns presented the Championship Cup to Boherbue captain Daniel Buckley. Meanwhile Connie Tarrant, represening sponors E Tarrant & Sons Skoda Dealer, presented the man of the match award to Boherbue defender Niall Murphy.
Hosting a divisional JAFC final for the first time since 2002, the Kanturk ground was in pristine condition and overall arrangements by the host club were first class on two balmy occasions. The Newmarket Pipe Band added to the occasion, and completing the half time entertainment were Go Games from young players from Boherbue and Knocknagree, their presence warmly greeted by the crowd.
BOHERBUE: K Murphy; D Buckley, N Murphy, B Buckley; M O’Gorman, M O’Connor, K Cremin, 0-2 A Guerin, B O’Gorman; J Casey 1-1, A O’Connor 0-2, T Murphy 0-1; R Moynihan, A Murphy 0-2, J O’Connor 0-4 (2f). P Murphy 0-1 for M O’Connor (41), C J O’Sullivan for Guerin (49), D O’Connell for A Murphy (55). S Daly, A Sheehan; T Long, K Buckley, M Mahoney; D Cooper, P Collins; E McSweeney 0-4, M Dilworth 0-2, P O’Connor; F O’Connor 0-3; A O’Connor 0-3 (2f, 1 ‘45’), J F Daly 0-1. Sub: C White 0-1 for Long (22, bc).
REFEREE: C Lane (Banteer) MAIN MAN
Niall Murphy typified the defiance that Boherbue brought to the challenge, the source of so much enrichment for the new champions, his reading was superb at full back, shutting out potential danger, very much a case of being in the right place at the right time.
TURNING POINT
In a game of twists and turns between two well matched sides, one decisive burst decided the outcome of the spoils. That defining score surface in injury time, Kevin Murphy’s kick out was fetched by Jerry O’Connor and with acres of open spaces, Boherbue’s danger man outpaced the Knocknagree rearguard to direct the ball over the crossbar for the match winner.
ENTERTAINMENT
Another top drawer clash, credit both Knocknagree and Boherbue for serving up a magnificent tussle. Not for the first time, a Duhallow JAFC caught the imagination, the droves in attendance thrilled with a spectacle that went down to the last kick of the game.
Banteer 3-13 Dromtariffe 0-10
DRENCHING rain failed to deter Banteer from serving up a workmanlike performance to better Dromtariffe in the Kanturk Co-Op Mart Duhallow Junior A Hurling Championship semi-final at an inclement Kilbrin on Saturday evening.
It was a pity that the dreadful weather descended on the proceedings because this contest held all the ingredients of being a cracker. Driving rain and wind put open and fluent hurling out of the question yet a physically stronger Banteer surfaced to secure a fully deserved win.
For the best part, Banteer’s experience shone through and their ability to score goals at the most opportune time proved pivotal to the destination of the spoils. In fairness, Dromtariffe didn’t make it easy but for the best part, last season’s Co. Junior B champions struggled to make headway in the conditions againt more experienced opponents.
With the backing of the elements, Banteer got the scoreboard ticking nicely from the outset, Denis Roche shooting a trio of points and another from Kevin Tarrant inside the opening three minutes laid a solid foundation. Dromtariffe got off the mark courtesy of Seán Howard pointed frees yet Banteer retained a grip on the proceedings.
That stemmed from Martin Kearney, Richard O’Connor and Brendan Weathers holding a vice like grip in defence with David McAulliffe, Tarrant and Roche operating with gusto going forward. And their hopes received a boost from a David Murphy goal to confirm their all round supremacy.
Dromtariffe answered from points to Conor Cremin and Horward to reduce the leeway 1-9 to 0-4 at the break. With no let up in the weather, again Banteer took a hold of the proceedings on the turnover, helped by a goal in the 39th min., Tarrant saw his effort blocked only for Tadhg Sexton follow up to net.
Though Dromtariffe lost Daniel O’Keeffe to a second yellow card, they mounted a brave rally with three consecutive points to Howard and Jack Murphy. However Banteer were always able to negoiate a few sticky situations, Roche pointed off play and a placed ball before turning provider for Sexton to grab his second goal and rubberstamp a ticket to the decider.
BANTEER: K Roche; K Sexton, M Kearney, J Twohig; D Kearnrey, R O’Connor, B Weathers; C Coughlan, D Murphy 1-0; E O’Flynn 0-1, K Tarrant 0-2, D McAulliffe; B O’Keeffe, T Sexton 2-0, D Roche 0-10 (5f). Subs: C O’Keeffe for B O’Keeffe.
DROMTARIFFE: D Cremin; D Dennehy, M O’Brien, J Buckley; M O’Gorman, K Cremin, S McSweeney; D O’Connor, D O’Keeffe; E Murphy, J Murphy 0-2, S Howard 0-7f; M O’Connor, A Daly, C Cremin 0-1. Subs: D O’Donoughue for M O’Connor. B O’Gorman for D O’Connor.
REFEREE: S Stokes (Tullylease)