Carrigaline v Knocknagree: Huge town against small rural club but picking winner isn't that straightforward

The Cork SAFC final has been advertised as a David versus Goliath task. 

The man behind that billing, John Fintan Daly, summed it up as a town of 25,000 against a parish of 500. Luckily, no more than 15 can take to the field at any one time on Sunday.

Despite their diminutive numbers, there’s no doubting his Knocknagree side deserve their place at this elevated stage. It has been an incredible rise from Junior A in 2017 to the brink of Premier Senior football. All the while, Daly has been keen to emphasise Knocknagree’s evolution.

Of the team that defeated Kanturk in the 2020 Premier Intermediate final, only seven starters have held their jerseys heading into this Senior A decider against Carrigaline.

Experience is considered a most valuable commodity in defence, where six of those returning players lined out. In midfield and attack, the volume of change is wholesale with only Eoghan McSweeney remaining in situ.

Denis R and David O’Connor came on as subs that famous day against Kanturk. Anthony O’Connor had a long-term injury and missed three years of football. Michael McSweeney, Tadc O’Mahony and Killian Cronin were playing U21 last year.

DEPTH

The upshot of that influx gives them a powerful bench choc-full with experience. Fintan O’Connor and John F Daly, the manager’s son, have paid their way back from Australia for the latter stages of the championship. 

Four of their five substitutes against Dohenys were starters four years ago. No football talent is wasted.

“Everyone that can walk in Knocknagree is playing football,” said Daly after the semi-final, “and if you weren’t playing football or had no interest in it, you’d be better off to live somewhere else!” 

Anthony and Denis R O’Connor are an electric inside duo. After kicking one point off the bench in their opener, Anthony has hauled 3-16 in three starts. Denis R has contributed 1-15.

Their half-forward line provided superb service in an outstanding semi-final display, laying on eight points with direct supply, while Eoghan and Michael McSweeney each kicked 0-2.

Their most eye-catching statistic this campaign has been eight goals scored and none conceded.

In defence, the big decision is where to deploy Daniel O’Mahony. Fionn Herlihy took them for 0-8, all from play, in last year’s semi-final defeat against Dohenys. This year, the All-Star nominee was given his number and held Herlihy scoreless.

They poured everything into that revenge mission. Can they reach the same heights in the final?

As for Carrigaline, they exploded out of the blocks with an eight-point victory over Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh following on from their Division 1 Kelleher Shield success against Nemo Rangers.

Their progress has been of the steadier rather than spectacular variety since then. Four points to spare against Kiskeam, two against Cill na Martra and Bishopstown, none against Kanturk where penalties were required.

While they were losing games by those narrow margins on their way to Premier Senior relegation last year, they are holding on to them now.

It hasn’t been without its nervy moments. They switched off against Bishopstown and it could’ve been lights out. The width of the crossbar saved them from a late goal.

ROLLERCOASTER

Their semi-final went down to the wire against Kanturk but Carrigaline came closer to winning in regulation. But for a freak Aidan Walsh point that bounced over the bar and Grantas Bucinskas drawing a boot to a loose ball, the game would’ve ended before any shoot-out.

“When do we do anything easy in Carrigaline? It was a rollercoaster,” said manager Michael Meaney, who has previously guided the blue and gold to county success in 2009 and 2015.

The return of Kevin O’Reilly, scoring 0-4 in extra-time, was a huge boost on top of Brian O’Driscoll’s recovery from a calf issue.

They have a series of powerful runners from defence in Jack McCarthy, Kieran McCarthy, and Ian Sheerin to complement their forward division led by the Coakley brothers, Niall and Brian, and Éanna Desmond.

They have been doing enough on their way to the final and hope to replicate Glen Rovers’ feat of rebounding straight back up to the top tier.

On the other hand, a fifth final in eight years gives Knocknagree a second shot at Premier Senior football in 2025. A decade ago, when their Duhallow Junior A drought was still ongoing, that would have been unimaginable.

David against Goliath won’t translate onto the pitch in what appears a real 50-50 contest. Carrigaline started the year as the best team in the grade. Maybe, just maybe, Knocknagree will finish it as champions.