Knocknagree go to next level with win over Rangers

Knocknagree 2-10 Gabriel Rangers 1-11

KNOCKNAGREE rubber-stamped their rating as the top seeds in the County IFC, but only after overcoming a terrific challenge from Gabriel Rangers in an absorbing decider at Páirc Uí Rinn last Saturday night.

From a magnificent tussle adorned with some excellent scores, misses and marvellous football thrown in for the margin, Knocknagree survived a late scare when Gabriels searched for a winning goal after whittling down a nine point deficit to just two during the closing 10 minutes.

Maybe not a classic performance from Knocknagree yet the Duhallow men deserved their victory by linking up much more effectively to get the ball into attack for classy scores. Still Gabriels will lose sleep wondering why they failed to make a more productive use of their possession and chances that went abegging including two missed penalties.

All through the football was fast and competitive, Knocknagree might well had added a few more goals, surviving a barrage of late pressure and by the end of added on time, there was an all round acceptance that the better side had prevailed, but it’s fair to say that by a long shot, Knocknagree had endured their toughest obstacle in this campaign.

Though Anthony O’Connor had opened Knocknagree’s account, for the best part to the opening quarter, Gabriels were operating with the greater urgency. It was clear that the Mizen boys were keen to impose themselves, epitomised by the brilliance of veteran Pat Nolan who helped control matters.

Indeed the powerful Knocknagree attack were held in check by a vigilant Gabriels rearguard with David Roycroft and Liam Hegarty standing their ground and team captain Gerald O’Callaghan made telling surges.

With Gabriels holding confidence and belief, they offered the better potential for Seán Kelleher and Eddie Goggin to deliver a brace of points for a 0-4 to 0-2 advantage by the 12th minute.

Significantly, Rangers weren’t to add to the scoreboard again, Knocknagree found their feet and enterprising raids gained points for

O’Connor and Eoghan

McSweeney. With no quarter asked or given, the excitement grew, a great

Knocknagree attack saw

Donagh

Moynihan’s dipping effort come off the crossbar. And in the twinkling of an eye, Gabriels swept upfield, O’Callaghan and Richard Moynihan involved for Jordy O’Brien win a penalty. A short delay and Doyle earned his spurs to save from Mark Cronin.

Indeed, the Knocknagree response was most impressive, a text book goal, John F Daly found Anthony O’Connor in the corner. And an inviting delivery across the goalmouth was touched home by the inrushing McSweeney.

Indeed, Knocknagree might well had added a second strike, Rangers netminder Darren O’Mahony prevented Fintan O’Connor as Knocknagree trooped off leading 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

Gabriels emerged a fired up force upon the restart, breaking a barren 20 minute spell without a score for Chris Moynihan to split the uprights. By ratcheting up the intensity, Gabriels won a second penalty, O’Callaghan, the instigator to set up Goggin, the latter fouled only for Goggin to be denied on Doyle stretching out to turn away Goggin’s blockbuster.

Such inspiration allowed Knocknagree assert their authority and their game proceeded to gather more menace. The play of Kealan Buckley and Danny Cooper did much to blunt the Gabriels attack as Padraig Collins won good ball in the centre.

And an impressive streak surfaced in attack, the play of McSweeney, Daly and Anthony O’Connor combined pace and precision to find the target. The momentum was clearly with Knocknagree now, rewarded on a sublime goal.

Collins fed Fintan O’Connor, a typical foot pass to his brother Anthony fended off despairing tackles and a turn of foot and smash a precision drive to the roof of the Gabriels net in the 52nd minute for a clear 2-10 to 0-7 advantage.

Far from finished, Gabriels answered, Moynihan and Kelleher pointed and when Goggin goaled, Rangers were back in business. And in added on time, Kelleher obliged with a pair of pointed frees to leave two between the sides.

Nervous times for Knocknagree, down to 14 players following a second yellow card picked up by defender Daniel O’Mahony. Despite being pressurised, it was a relieved Knocknagree that heard the full-time whistle.

KNOCKNAGREE: P Doyle; D O’Mahony, M Doyle, G O’Connor; D Cooper, K Buckley, M Mahoney; P Collins, D Moynihan; M Dilworth, E McSweeney 1-3, F O’Connor; Denis O’Connor, J

F Daly 0-1, A O’Connor 1-6 (0-5f) Subs: J Dennehy for Denis O’Connor (33), David O’Connor for D Moynihan (52), G Looney for M Dilworth (57)

GABRIEL RANGERS: D O’Mahony; L Hegarty, D Roycroft, K O’Callaghan; R Moynihan, G O’Callaghan, D McSweeney; S Walden, S Kelleher 0-6(0-3f, 0-1’45);

C Moynihan 0-2,

P Nolan, F Hurley; M Cronin,

E Goggin 1-2,

J O’Brien 0-1

Subs: K Roycroft for P

Nolan (36),

J Donegan for D Roycroft

(47), R Hurley for F Hurley (49)

REFEREE: C Dineen (Douglas)