Knocknagree come good to see off Kilmurry in cracking Tom Creedon Cup contest

Knocknagree: 0-16 (0-1-14) 

Kilmurry: 0-12 (0-2-8) 

Knocknagree eked out a win in a cracking game with Kilmurry in the Tom Creedon Cup semi-final at the Castle Grounds in Macroom on Tuesday evening.

John Fintan Daly’s team, favourites for the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC, had to use all their experience and quality to come through here played in front of a fine attendance.

They trailed by a point at half-time and then led by a point going into the last 10 minutes before finishing strong to win by four points.

Last year’s Premier JFC winners Kilmurry, now operating at Intermediate A level, will take huge encouragement and positives from this game. They went toe-to-toe with a team two championship grades above them.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable outing with both teams near full strength, including Knocknagree’s three Cork senior footballers, Patrick Doyle, Daniel O’Mahony and Eoghan McSweeney. 

Kilmurry were the better team early on but didn’t truly make it count on the scoreboard.

The Muskerry men had the aid of a slight breeze, but after two wides and one dropped short, Galway native Ruadhán Ó Curraoin converted a free for Brian Harte's charges.

Anthony O’Connor did draw Knocknagree level, but Kilmurry were in the driving seat, Tomás Collins set up the outstanding Dinny O’Mullane to restore his side’s lead.

The sides traded points before Knocknagree went on a scoring burst, landing five unanswered points, with Denis R O’Connor’s effort from an acute angle following a trademark Knocknagree move the pick of the bunch, 0-7 to 0-3 after 17 minutes.

Knocknagree would only score one point in the remainder of the half, their opponents showing their long-range kicking with two successive two-pointers from the O’Mullane brothers, John and Dinny, to level proceedings.

The green and gold would raise two of the remaining three white flags of the half to deservedly lead 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time.

Knoncknagree were struggling to penetrate a teak-tough Kilmury defence with William Ronan, Kyle Kelleher and Alexander Asling very effective.

The Duhallow side would add points on the resumption from Niall O’Connor and a Denis R O’Connor free before an Anthony O’Connor two-point free pushed his team 0-12 to 0-9 ahead after 36 minutes.

Kilmurry weren’t going away and white flags from Dinny O’Mullane and Ó Curraoin left a point in it.

The latter then had the only real goal chance of the game when his effort smacked off the crossbar, a let off for Knocknagree.

A Niall O’Connor point was a settler for the winners, but when Ó Curraoin converted a free to leave the minimum between the teams again, it looked like the game would go the distance. Kilmurry wouldn’t score again, 0-13 to 0-12 after 47 minutes.

Knocknagree would bisect the posts on three successive occasions to see off a well organised Kilmurry team.

Ideal preparation for both teams ahead of their respective second championship group games in just over two weeks’ time.

The team in blue and white also have a Tom Creedon Cup final to look forward to where they will play either the holders Macroom or Naomh Abán, with that semi-final contest taking place on Sunday in Macroom at 11am.

Scorers for Knocknagree: A O’Connor 0-4 (1 2pt f), D R O’Connor (0-1 f), E McSweeney 0-3 each, Niall O’Connor 0-2, G O’Connor, G Looney, M Mahoney, D Twomey 0-1 each.

Kilmurry: D O’Mullane 0-6 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), R Ó Curraoin 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), John O’Mullane 0-2 (1 2pt).

KNOCKNAGREE: P Doyle; Neil O'Connor, D Mahoney, G O’Connor; G Looney, D O’Mahony, M Mahoney; P O’Connor, T O’Mahony; D Twomey, E McSweeney, M Dilworth; D R O’Connor, Niall O’Connor, A O’Connor (c).

Subs: D O’Connor for T O’Mahony, D Moynihan for P O’Connor, K Cronin for D Twomey, K Buckley for Neil O’Connor (all h-t), D Twomey for K Cronin (54).

KILMURRY: J McDonnell; A O’Mahony, W Ronan (c), B Hinchion; T Collins, K Kelleher, A Asling; James O’Mullane, C Kelleher; Joe O’Mullane, R Ó Curraoin, L Asling; S O'Leary, John O'Mullane, D O'Mullane.

Subs: R Duggan for James O’Mullane (14, inj), M O’Leary for S O’Leary, O McDonald for Joe O’Mullane (both 46), L Wall for C Kelleher (51), P Hinchion for T Collins (56).

Referee: Jerry Kelleher (St John's).