Dennehy goal in extra time secures Kiskeam the Duhallow Ducon Cup (JAFL) title

Kiskeam 3-11

Knocknagree 0-17 

(aet) 

GOALS proved decisive for Kiskeam to edge Knocknagree after extra time in a thrilling Duhallow Ducon Cup (JAFL) Final played at Cullen.

A cracking contest hung in the balance right up to the last whistle, no disputing the passion and endeavour on show. 

But when the need was greatest, Kiskeam dug deep for corner forward Anthony Dennehy to claim a fortuitous match winning goal to decide a close contest.

Knocknagree had come charging out of the blocks, Tadc O’Mahony and David O’Connor demonstrating early promise in the centre. 

Offering attacking instincts, points from Denis O’Connor and David Twomey swept Knocknagree ahead 0-6 to 0-0 inside seven minutes.

Kiskeam got to grips with the task once Michael Herlihy placed Dennehy for the first of his two goals that helped reduce the arrears 0-8 to 1-3 at the interval. 

Again, Knocknagree took up the running for the second half with points from Niall O’Connor, Twomey and Kevin Barry.

However Kiskeam offered an increased work effort, delivered from the input of Shane Carroll, Jack O’Connor, Tomás Dennehy and man of the match Herlihy. 

And Kiskeam were right back in the hunt, Rob Carroll and Anthony Dennehy combining for Conor O’Leary to slip home a goal.

Now the initiative lay with Kiskeam, follow up points from Carroll, Tomás Dennehy and Jack Daly earned a narrow lead. 

Knocknagree pressed, a point by David O’Connor from an acute angle squared up matters 0-13 to 2-7 at the end of the regulation hour.

Into extra time, Knocknagree offered early promise, enterprising attacks yielded points from Twomey, James Dennehy and Denis O’Connor to hold a narrow 0-16 to 2-9 grip at the end of the first period. 

On the changeover, Kiskeam made inroads for Paul O’Callaghan and Carroll points to alter the scoreboard.

Both sides lost players to indiscipline as an exciting contest came to the boil, O’Connor squaring up the contest for Knocknagree. 

Up for grabs, momentum swung in Kiskeam’s favour when Anthony Dennehy’s effort for a point dipped under the Knocknagree crossbar for the match winner.

Scorers for Kiskeam: A Dennehy 2-1, C O’Leary 1-1, R Carroll 0-3 (0-1f), P O’Callaghan 0-2, J O’Connor, T Dennehy, J Daly, J Carroll 0-1 each.

Knocknagree: D Twomey 0-6, D O’Connor 0-4 (0-2f), N O’Connor 0-2, T O’Mahony 0-2 (0-1f), G Looney, K Barry, J Dennehy 0-1 each.

KISKEAM: B Daly; S Carroll, J O’Connor, J Carroll; D Murphy, J Daly, P O’Callaghan; T Dennehy, M Collins; C O’Leary, R Carroll, J McAuliffe; J Murphy, M Herlihy, A Dennehy. 

Subs: S O’Riordan for J McAulliffe, D Fitzgerald for J Murphy.

KNOCKNAGREE: D Browne; D D O’Connor, S Daly, Neal O’Connor; T Long, T O’Connor, S O’Connor; T O’Mahony, David O’Connor; J Dennehy, Denis O’Connor, G Looney; D Twomey, Niall O’Connor, K Barry.

Subs: R O’Connor for T Long, C O’Connor for S O’Connor, D Murphy for D Twomey.

Referee: J Hartnett (Boherbue).