Cork Draghunting: Knock's Boy finishes in style to win Keith O’Callaghan Memorial Senior Draghunt

A superb finish by Knock’s Boy of Griffin United paved the way for him to win the Keith O’Callaghan Memorial Senior Draghunt at Watergrasshill on Sunday.

The one guarantee, the hounds get on this terrain is good open clean running and reports from the various vantage points suggested they were driving the hunt at the pace.

In the drive to the tape the winner showed his experience and class to win from the Ger and Jennifer Kenneally trained Knockane Jack of Southern/Carrigaline harriers.

Another Griffin United hound in the shape of High Miss ran a cracking draghunt to fill third ticket.

There was natural elation in the winner’s camp as trainer Ger McCarthy praised his quality hound.

“We have had some great fun with Knock’s Boy over the years and to see him finish in that manner today was very pleasing,” said Ger McCarthy.

In the Senior Maiden draghunt there was another popular winner as the Denis and late Anthony Wall charge Don’t Panic Lad of Mayfield won in style to complete his term in this grade.

Now trained by Troy O’Mahony the winner will now compete in the Senior grade after securing his fourth win crossing the tape ahead Blue Lad trained by Trina and Ken Long of Southern/Carrigaline harriers.

Pixie’s Mexican Dream secured third for Gerry Murphy and Sheila Cummins of Shanakiel harriers.

Keith O’Callaghan sadly passed away in 2021 and it is fitting that his family remember with this memorial meeting that attracted a huge attendance.

In the Puppy draghunt championship leader Slievemish Duchess produced another solid finish to cross the tape ahead of the Gerry Murphy and Sheila Cummins trained Mexican Jet of Shanakiel harriers.

Casey’s Jack is improving as the season matures under the Southern/Carrigaline harriers father and daughter training partnership of Ger and Jennifer Kenneally as she filled third ticket.

By virtue of this win the winner has stretched her lead to 11 points at the top of the Puppy championship and trainer Damien Wade was very pleased with his hound’s performance.

“Slievemish Duchess is making fewer mistakes in her last few draghunts and when she gets a clear run on the finish we are always in with a chance of winning,” Damien Wade said.

There was a big cheer for the winner of the Puppy Maiden draghunt when the Michael ‘Nipper’ O’Brien Griffin United trained A J’S Girl crossed the tape for her first win of the season.

The winner has been sidelined for many weeks through injury but she took her chance on the finish to win from the Shanakiel harriers duo of Tiger’s Belle and Mossgrove Dodger.

The Fair Hill club and the O’Callaghan family would like to thank the farming community of Watergrasshill for allowing them the use of their land for this meeting.

Senior: 

1. Knock’s Boy (Griffin United); 2. Knockane Jack (Southern/Carrigaline harriers); 3. High Miss (Griffin United); 4. Wolfe Tone Lass (Northern Hunt); 5. Wolfe Tone Lady (Northern Hunt); 6. Honeysuckle (Clogheen).

Senior Maiden: 

1. Don’t Panic Lad (Mayfield); 2. Blue Lad (Southern/Carrigaline harriers); 3. Pixies Mexican Dream (Shanakiel harriers); 4. Not now Betty (Clogheen); 5. Misty (Shanakiel harriers); 6. Viper Whizz (Northern Hunt).

Puppy: 

1. Slievemish Duchess (Clogheen); 2. Mexican Jet (Shanakiel harriers; 3. Casey Jack (Southern/Carrigaline harriers); 4. Border Mystery (Shanakiel harriers); 5. Guinness Boy (Shanakiel harriers); 6. Kempes (Shanakiel harriers).

Puppy Maiden: 

1. A J’s Girl (Griffin United); 2. Tiger’s Belle (Shanakiel harriers); 3. Mossgrove Dodger (Shanakiel harriers); 4. The Dreamer (Shanakiel harriers); 5. Danganmore Tommy (Mayfield).

(only 5 finihsed).