Eoghan McSweeney determined to finally get over final hurdle with Knocknagree

Knocknagree are final bound once again, familiar territory for them.

The Duhallow team easily dispatched Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh in the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night. Knocknagree won 2-19 to 1-10, a handsome 12-point winning margin for John Fintan Daly’s charges.

After defeats at the final hurdle at this grade in 2022 and ’24, Knocknagree have another chance of moving up on Sunday week against Cill na Martra.

“We are back where we wanted to be at the start of the year,” Cork footballer Eoghan McSweeney said to The Echo after Knocknagree's comfortable victory over Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh.

“But there’s no cup won tonight. We have another job to do in two weeks and it’s going to be a humdinger of a final. Look, we are absolutely delighted. We can’t complain. Everyone came through tonight and we are happy out.

“I suppose in the second quarter we racked up a big tally, it was crucial. We were kicking shots wide before that and I was thinking that this is going to be one of those days. We drove on then.

“A bit disappointed with the end of the game, I won’t lie. We all probably dropped off as a team. But, again, it’s great to have won, it was just about getting over the line and thank God we have.

“We have stuff to work on now during the week and for the week after. It’s great for the parish to be back in another final.” 

Knocknagree were excellent for the majority of the game on Saturday night. They led by 18 points late on before an unanswered 1-3 from Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh did put some respectability on the scoreline.

Ultimately, it was just about winning for the Duhallow outfit. They know that there’s a huge carrot at the end of this championship if things go well for them.

McSweeney and his fellow team-mates know that too, but aren’t underestimating their next opponents.

“Look, it’s going to be a massive challenge against Cill na Martra in the final,” he says.

“We know that. Cill na Martra are an outstanding team. We drew with them the first day out in the group stage. I remember coming off the field that day and saying to a few that we might meet again.

“I didn’t see much of their game earlier against Éire Óg because we were preparing for our game, but they looked like they won by four points, a commanding enough win.

“So, look, they are a fantastic team. They’ll have no fear of us. It’s just going to be all down to us bringing a performance.

“Cill na Martra want to play football. They’re a hard and physical team. They have great runners and great pace around the middle.

“I found that out when we played them in Clondrohid back in July. They’re a pacey, hard and tenacious team. It’s going to be a toss of a coin.” 

It has already been a fantastic season for Knocknagree. Gaining promotion from Division 2 of the league was huge for them, but the one they really want is the championship trophy.

Never before have they played in the top-tier championship. They were only a Junior A side in 2017.

“We are back in the final. But as I said inside in the dressing room, finals aren’t for losing. We have to win the next day. People aren’t going to remember the fellas that were beaten in the final.” McSweeney ended.