SAFC: Knocknagree into semi-finals again after getting better of neighbours Kanturk
Knocknagree's Kealan Buckley in pursuit of Kanturk's Ian Walsh during Saturday's McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC quarter-final at Kilbrin. Picture: Noel Sweeney
Knocknagree remain on course for a third McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC final in four years, but not without having to show their credentials against Kanturk on Saturday evening.
Before a good crowd at Kilbrin, this unofficial Duhallow title decider threatened to go one way and then the other, with Kanturk looking to have made a decisive surge in the closing stages of normal time.
Brian O’Sullivan’s point, brilliantly set up by Tomy Walsh had them 0-19 to 1-14 ahead with 54 minutes and moments after that they had a let-off of Gearóid Looney’s surging run led to a quarter-chance of a goal for Fintan O’Connor, but the ball flashed across so quickly to him at the back post that he couldn’t set himself.
Both Knocknagree players would still play key parts, though: O’Connor cut the gap to a point as the end neared and then, after a Kanturk wide, Looney exchanged passes with David O’Connor before fisting over to level.
After an even and largely positive game on such a fine night, extra time was welcomed rather than dreaded, but Knocknagree found their second wind quicker than their divisional opponents.
A superb Eoghan McSweeney pass to Fintan O’Connor led to an Anthony O’Connor point before another sub, Matthew Dilworth, profited from good McSweeney play to make it 1-18 to 0-19. A goal might have resulted from that move but they didn’t have long to wait as Denis O’Connor – who scored six from play – the tireless Looney and yet another of their replacements, Killian Cronin, combined for Michael McSweeney, superb throughout, to fire to the net on 57.
With Kanturk unable to pierce the Knocknagree rearguard, where Daniel O’Mahony really came to the fore, it would prove to be the decisive score.
The sides had been level on three occasions in the first half when a super two-pointer by Anthony O’Connor – who enjoyed a good tussle with Tommy Walsh – put Knocknagree 0-7 to 0-6 in front, the lead immediately buttressed as David O’Connor played a one-two with Niall O’Connor and got his shot away just as he was challenged – it flew beyond Ronan Cashman and they were four in front.
By half-time, they still held a 1-9 to 0-9 advantage but, with the help of the slight breeze in the second half, Kanturk established a grip on the game. Wing-back Mark Healy was very prominent and captain Paul Walsh made some big plays – after a two-point free from Cashman was followed by a nice Grantis Bucinskas point, the Cork star’s individual effort put his side 0-15 to 1-10 ahead on 39 minutes.
Despite Kanturk having the midfield supremacy, Knocknagree were still able to nick scores and Looney scored one as well as setting one up for Eoghan McSweeney to put them back in front, 1-14 to 0-16, as the final quarter dawned.
They could have had a goal, with Cronin’s pass just astray as he looked for David O’Connor, and Kanturk make the most of the let-off. Paul Walsh levelled and they won the kickout, allowing Colin Walsh to set up Bucinskas before Brian O’Sullivan opened up the two-point advantage.
It wouldn’t last, though, and in extra time Knocknagree had the legs. But for some wasteful shooting, they might have established a bigger advantage in the second period but, even so, they were four to the good before Cashman’s late two-point free for Kanturk proved to be the last action.
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