SAFC: Knocknagree overcome Béal Áthan Ghaorthaidh to reach semi-finals

Knocknagree 0-10

Béal Áthan Ghaorthaidh 0-8

Knocknagree progressed to the semi-finals of the Bon Secours Hospital Cork SAFC with a battling display against Béal Áthan Ghaorthaidh at Clondrohid on Saturday evening.

Last year’s beaten finalists led from the moment Anthony O’Connor kicked the game’s opening point in the second minute and had advantages of 0-4 to 0-0 and 0-8 to 0-3 but their Gaeltacht opponents never gave in, despite playing most of the second half with 14 players.

As injury time ticked on, Knocknagree held a 0-10 to 0-7 advantage, with Béal Áthan Ghaorthaidh knowing that window of opportunity was reducing quickly. A delivery from Amhlaoibh Ó Loingsigh was almost touched to the net by sub Leonard Ó Conchúir before O’Connor missed a chance from a free that would have given Knocknagree a four-point advantage.

Béal Átha had one last chance to bring the ball up the field but, unfortunately for them, the impressive Conchúir Ó Loingsigh’s ball goalwards had too much power and went over the bar. It reduced the deficit but there was no time for anything else.

Knocknagree, the junior A champions in 2017, IFC winners in 2019 and Premier IFC victors in 2020 are a game away from repeating the achievement of last year and making the second-tier final. They will face Newmarket or Dohenys, depending on whether Newcestown or Kanturk win Sunday’s quarter-final, and improvement will be needed but the key thing is that they are there.

On a difficult evening for football, the Duhallow side were able to break even during the ten-minute period in the first half when they were down to 14 after Killian Cronin’s black card. By that stage, they had put together four points by four different players but Aindrias Ó Coinceannáin and Donagh Seartan halved the deficit in the immediate wake of the temporary dismissal. However, a fine 45 from Anthony O’Connor was followed by an excellent Denis R O’Connor point before Cronin’s return and Michael McSweeney ensured they had a healthy 0-7 to 0-2 half-time advantage.

Anthony O’Connor extended the lead to five on the resumption and things got worse for Béal Átha as Diarmuid Mac Tomáis – unable to start but introduced at the break – was sent off following an off-the-ball incident.

Despite the numerical disparity, the Muskerry men produced a good initial response as Ben Seartan pointed a free before Ó Coinceannáin set up Ó Loingsigh for a well-taken point. When the evergreen Ó Coinceannáin rounded off a lovely move on 41, the difference between the teams was down to just three.

A rejigging by Knocknagree allowed them to use Cork star Daniel O’Mahony more as the spare man and good passages of possession led to points from Denis R O’Connor and Timmy O’Connor – the defender’s second of the game – for a 0-10 to 0-5 lead with ten minutes left.

While that proved to be a declaration from Knocknagree as they didn’t score again, they made it difficult enough for Béal Átha that scores were hard to mine at the other end. Leonard Ó Conchúir, influential after coming on, did knock over a point from a tight angle before a brilliant Cian Ó Duinnín interception in his own half-back line set in train a move that saw the ball worked through the hands of John Ó Donnchú, Conchúir Ó Loingsigh and Donagh Seatan before Ben Seartan pointed.

That left a goal in it, but that goal remained elusive for Béal Átha and Knocknagree march on.

Scorers for Knocknagree: A O’Connor 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 45), T O’Connor, Denis R O’Connor 0-2, David O’Connor, E McSweeney, M McSweeney 0-1 each.

Béal Áthan Ghaorthaidh: A Ó Coinceannáin (0-2f), C Ó Loingsigh, B Seartan (0-1f) 0-2 each, D Seartan, L Ó Conchúir 0-1 each.

KNOCKNAGREE: D Browne: G O’Connor, K Mahoney, T O’Connor; M Doyle, D O’Mahony, K Cronin; Donagh O’Connor, David O’Connor; J Dennehy, E McSweeney, M McSweeney; A O’Connor, N O’Connor, Denis R O’Connor.

Subs: D Cooper for Dennehy (46), T O’Mahony for Cronin (55).

BÉAL ÁTHAN GHAORTHAIDH: D Ó Coill; C Ó Nuanáin, J Ó Donnchú, É Ó Duinnín; B Ó hArgáin, A Ó Loingsigh, N Ó Laoire; C Ó Duinnín, A Ó Coinceannáin; S Ó Luasa, C Ó Tuama, D Ó Ceallacháin; C Ó Loingsigh, B Seartan, D Seartan.

Subs: D Mac Tomáis for Ó Tuama, L Ó Conchúir for D Ó Ceallacháin (both half-time), L Ó Críodáin for Ó Laoire (39), M Ó Ríordáin for Ó hArgáin (47), S Ó Muimhneacháin for Ó Luasa (50).

Referee: C Murphy (Glanworth).