Knocknagree clip late two-pointer to secure draw with St Finbarr's side featuring Ian Maguire
Bill O'Connell of the Barrs and Fintan O'Connor of Knocknagree scramble for possession. Picture: Noel Sweeney
It ended all square between St Finbarr’s and Knocknagree in their McCarthy Insurance Group Division One Football League clash at Togher on Sunday.
The Barrs are the defending league champions and they were boosted by the availability of the Cork captain Ian Maguire who was suspended from inter-county action.
He played 45 minutes and was influential in some of their scores as well as scoring a point himself over that time.
Overall, a draw was probably a fair result with both sides having their periods of dominance as they battled the elements as much as each other.
Knocknagree had the wind in the first half and made it show with two early two-pointers, but the Barrs kept their heads to get a few crucial first-half points.
Cillian Myers Murray led them in the scoring stakes, ending with eight points, two of which were two-pointers.
Denis R O’Connor opened the scoring for Knocknagree with a two-pointer and Anthony O’Connor added a second two-pointer, to put them 0-4 to no score in front.
Myers Murray got the Barrs of the mark from a free and he added another, again from a free, to make it 0-4 to 0-2 after eight minutes play.
David O’Connor increased Knocknagree’s lead, with Bill O’Connell replying at the other end to keep two between the sides.
Matthew Dilworth was on target for Knocknagree, before Denis R O’Connor had a shot come back off the crossbar.
Maguire got the Barrs' fourth point, before Fintan O’Connor and James Dennehy combined to set up Gearoid Looney for Knocknagree’s seventh point. Adam Lyne and Myers Murray combined for the latter to score, with Denis R O’Connor replying for his side.
Just before half-time, Ciaran Doolan played a great ball to Myers Murray and he duly slotted over the bar to see his side trail by two at half-time, 0-8 to 0-6.
Now playing with the advantage of the wind the Barrs started the second half strongly, with O’Connell reducing the deficit to one. Another Myers Murray point had the sides level after 35 minutes, 0-8 each.
A minute later and the Barrs took the lead for the first time when Cian O’Sullivan scored, before Anthony O’Connor replied from a free for Knocknagree. Ian O’Callaghan put the Barrs back in front, but again Knocknagree responded, this time Denis R O’Connor on target for them.
O’Sullivan was on target again for the Barrs, before a superb two-pointer from Myers Murray put the Barrs three to the good, 0-13 to 0-10.
But Knocknagree didn’t panic with Anthony O’Connor reducing the deficit to two.
Myers Murray scored again for the Barrs, after 55 minutes as it looked like they were going to run out winners.
But another Anthony O’Connor free put only two between the sides and he scored a late two-pointer to see it end level after a highly entertaining game, despite the atrocious weather conditions.
C Myers Murray 0-8 (2 2pt), C O’Sullivan, B O’Connell 0-2 each, I Maguire, I O’Callaghan 0-1 each.
A O’Connor 0-7 (2 2pt), D R O’Connor 0-4 (1 2pt), D O’Connor, M Dilworth, G Looney 0-1 each.
C Haines; A O’Connor, J Burns, M Aherne; B Hennessy, C Doolan, E Dennehy; I Maguire, L Hannigan; C Crowley, A Lyne, B O’Connell; C O’Sullivan, I O’Callaghan, C Myers Murray.
D O’Kelly for C Doolan (39 inj), J Kenefick for E Dennehy (42), S Kirby for I Maguire (45).
D Browne; N O’Connor, K Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, D Mahoney, K Cronin; T O’Mahony, D O’Connor; D Twomey, M Dilworth, F O’Connor; D R O’Connor, J Dennehy, A O’Connor.
D Moynihan for J Dennehy (42), C O’Connor for G Looney (56 inj).
Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers).
App?
