FL Division 1: Knocknagree move into tie for second after win over Nemo Rangers
Michael McSweeney of Knocknagree tries to get away from Nemo Rangers pair Eoin Kelly and Stephen Cronin during Sunday's McCarthy Insurance Group FL Division 1 game in Knocknagree. Picture: Jim Coughlan
Knocknagree moved into a three-way tie for second place in Division 1 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Football League as they held out against Nemo Rangers on Sunday morning.
Leading by 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time, the home side enjoyed a great start to the second half as a point from tireless wing-back Gearóid Looney was followed by a lovely goal as Fintan O’Connor’s superb delivery was caught by Denis O’Connor before he blasted a shot to the net.
A six-point lead was soon eroded though as Nemo came back well. Conor Horgan sent over two points in quick succession following good work by Ross Corkery and Ronan Dalton and just after the three-quarter mark they had a goal of their own. An overload allowed for a neat exchange of passes and Dalton was the player to get the vital touch despite defensive pressure.
An equaliser remained elusive for the city side, though, with Knocknagree defending doggedly while Micheal McSweeney was always a valuable out-ball. Their talismanic attacker Anthony O’Connor converted a free and then had a lovely point from play after a trademarket dummy. When he turned provider for Denis R O’Connor to fist over on 57, it was 1-13 to 1-9.
That was their last score and they had to work hard to ensure that it was enough. Conor Horgan’s fourth point was followed by a two-point free from the same player and Nemo continued to press in injury time.
When Bryan Hayes was fouled just outside the D, his dropping free led to a scramble in the goalmouth and when the ball dropped out of play, a 45 was the decision of referee Wayne King. Unfortunately for Nemo, Hayes couldn’t find the target.
Knockngree now sit on five points after three games, one behind leaders St Finbarr’s, while Nemo have lost three of four – all by a single point, meaning they still have a scoring difference of six.
Though a nice Hayes point got Nemo off the mark early, Knocknagree soon took control around the middle and David Twomey and Anthony O’Connor both had orange flags as they amassed a 0-6 to 0-1 advantage.
Nemo came back with points from Tim O’Brien and a Hayes free – in between, Damien Browne had to save well to deny Stephen Cronin.
As half-time approached, Knocknagree pushed on again as Killian Cronin and McSweeney pushed them 0-9 to 0-4 in front but Hayes almost had a Nemo goal just that – his shot from Corkery’s pass brilliantly diverted over by Denis Mahoney.
While Nemo finished the half well as Conor Horgan and Hayes cut the lead to two, Knocknagree’s good start to the second period renewed their belief and they ensured that they always held the lead.a
Denis R O’Connor 1-2, A O’Connor 0-4 (1 2pt, 1 f), D Twomey 0-3 (1 2pt), M McSweeney 0-2, K Cronin, G Looney 0-1 each.
C Horgan 0-6 (1 2ptf), B Hayes 0-3 (0-1 f), R Dalton 1-0, T O’Brien, L Horgan, S Cronin 0-1 each.
D Browne; N O’Connor, K Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, D Mahoney, T O’Connor; David O’Connor, T O’Mahony; D Twomey, M McSweeney, K Cronin; Denis R O’Connor, F O’Connor, A O’Connor.
M Dilworth for F O’Connor (43, injured), D Moynihan for O’Mahony (47, injured).
F Dietze; C Moore, M Hill, N O’Shea; L Horgan, S Cronin, T O’Brien; C Molloy, E Kelly; J O’Brien, A O’Donovan, C Horgan; R Corkery, R Dalton, B Hayes.
D O’Sullivan for O’Brien (44), D Quinn for L Horgan (53), E Nation for O’Shea (55).
W King (Banteer).
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