O’Connor point delivers Knocknagree extra-time win
Knocknagree 2-13 Sliabh Luachra Gaels 1-15
BREATHTAKING stuff from start to finish before Knocknagree came good in extra-time to better neighbours Sliabh Luachra Gaels in a thrilling Central Stores, Kanturk Duhallow U-21 ‘B’ Football Chsmpionship round 2 clash at Kiskeam.
Thanks to an all important goal deep into injury time at the end of the extended hour, Knocknagree fought back to force extra time. Indeed the near neighbours kept everybody in suspense on a chilly night until Denis O’Connor pointed a match winning free close to the finish.
From a game that ebbed and flowed, O’Connor led the way shooting wise, his sequel of points matched by Gaels Daire Moynihan, Kevin O’Connell and Tomás Casey for deadlock for the fifth occasion in the opening half.
However the tide turned to a breeze assisted Knocknagree, availing of good work from Tadgh and Daniel O’Mahony, Seán Twomey and Michael Mahony. And the ploy of feeding long ball into team captain Paul O’Connor at full forward paid dividends, the number 14 fetching brilliantly and smash the ball to the net for a 1-6 to 0-5 advantage at the break.
Though main talisman Denis O’Connor added to the Knocknagree tally from a massive effort directly upon the restart, Gaels perked up, helped enormously by the introduction of key player Seán Meehan.
Indeed, the direction of the game swung to the Ballydesmond and Kiskeam combination, Meehan well supported by Jack Daly, Jack Collins and O’Connell. Their cause was helped, a sweeping move allowed O’Connell net for parity.
And though O’Connor regained the lead for Knocknagree, Sliabh Luachra came forward in waves for Moynihan and Maurice Casey to point. Trailing by three going into added time, Knocknagree looked to be exiting the championship.
However in one last ditch effort, the long ball again paid a handsome dividend, O’Connor’s inviting delivery touched on by big Paul O’Connor for Glen Vaughan to net from close range for stalemate at 1-12 to 2-9.
Into extra-time, the Gaels shaded the first period only for Knocknagree nudge ahead from Denis O’Connor and Daniel O’Mahony points. Again Gaels answered, Meehan obliging, a replay looked on the cards before O’Connor struck the match winner.
KNOCKNAGREE: A O’Sullivan; T O’Mahony, M Doyle 0-1 ‘45’, P Lock; S Twomey 0-1, D O’Mahony 0-1, G Looney; D O’Connor 0-9 (7f), M Mahony 0-1; G Vaughan 1-0, D Twomey, T O’Connor; N O’Connor, P O’Connor 1-0, E Herlihy. Sub: K Cronin for E Herlihy.
SLIABH LUACHRA GAELS: P O’Keeffe; J Daly, J O’Connor, J Collins; S Murphy,. D Murphy, K Murphy; K O’Connell 1-2, C O’Leary 0-1; A Dennehy, M Casey 0-3f, M O’Riordan; J O’Leary, D Moynihan 0-2, T Casey 0-5 (4f). Subs: S Meehan 0-1 for M O’Riordan, K Carroll 0-1 for J O’Leary.
REFEREE: D Hickey (Millstreet)