Goalkeeper Andrew Cotter nails two orange flags to help Douglas defeat Knocknagree 

Knocknagree: 0-16 (0-5-6) 

Douglas: 2-12 (2-2-8) 

Douglas finished with a flourish to pick up their first win of the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League campaign after a deserved victory over hosts Knocknagree on Sunday morning.

The city side had lost their first four games, including shipping five goals last time out against Carbery Rangers, but this was far more like the Douglas team we’ve come to expect under Paudie Kissane. 

They showed true grit in what was a full team display from everyone who pulled on the jersey. Even when they trailed by seven points in the first half, there was no panic.

They just kept on to the ball better and improved their shooting. 

Special mention must go to Douglas goalkeeper Andrew Cotter, who nailed two two-point frees, including a late one that proved decisive in securing the win.

Knocknagree’s strong recent run came to an end. They had won their previous two outings and remain on five points after five games. Cork goalkeeper Patrick Doyle and forward Eoghan McSweeney featured for Knocknagree in this one, watched by a healthy crowd that included Cork manager John Cleary.

Eoghan McSweeney showed his quality after just two minutes with a classy two-pointer from long range. The home side pushed further clear with points from Matthew Dilworth and the aforementioned McSweeney.

After 14 frustrating minutes, Douglas finally got off the mark through a Conor Russell free. The sides traded points before an Anthony O’Connor orange flag from a free and a two-pointer from play from the latter pushed Knocknagree 0-9 to 0-2 ahead after 23 minutes.

Douglas, though, were very competitive in what was a cohesive performance. A bit of composure after some wayward shooting paid dividends as Conor Buckley’s charges hit 1-4 without reply in a storming spell. Seán O’Leary was very effective, nailing two points, while Adam Cantwell converted a penalty after Chris O’Keeffe was pulled down in the square.

Knocknagree did get the last score of a very entertaining half when Anthony O’Connor converted a two-point free, leaving it 0-11 to 1-6 at the break.

An outstanding 45 from netminder Doyle restored a three-point buffer on the resumption, only for his opposite number Cotter to better it with an orange flag from a difficult free, making it 0-12 to 1-8 after 39 minutes.

After a lull in scoring, another Anthony O’Connor free from an orange flag was a crucial score for Knocknagree. It was followed by a fisted effort from Gearóid Looney, and it looked like it might be another win for the Duhallow side. But they couldn’t push on, and Douglas finished strongly.

O’Leary goaled after 55 minutes following a Louis Dwan-Fogarty pass, and Russell soon levelled matters at 2-9 to 0-15. A superb two-point free from the excellent Cotter gave Douglas the lead for the first time, and it proved huge as the game moved into added time.

The sides traded points late on, but Douglas held firm for a deserved win.

Scorers for Knocknagree: A O’Connor 0-8 (3 2pt f, 1 2pt), E McSweeney 0-4 (1 2pt), G Looney, D Twomey, P Doyle (45), M Dilworth 0-1 each.

Douglas: S O’Leary 1-2, A Cotter 0-4 (2 2pt f), A Cantwell 1-0 (pen), C Russell 0-3 (0-1 f), E Nash, C O’Keeffe, N Walsh 0-1 each.

KNOCKNAGREE: P Doyle; N O’Connor, K Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, D Mahoney, T O’Connor; T O’Mahony, David O’Connor; D Twomey, M McSweeney, E McSweeney; R O’Connor, M Dilworth, A O’Connor.

Subs: K Cronin for R O’Connor (h-t), Denis D O’Connor for N O’Connor (58), Denis R O’Connor for K Cronin (61).

DOUGLAS: A Cotter; C Kenny, J O’Callaghan-Maher, D O’Callaghan; S Aherne, J Burke, C Kingston; D Buckley, A Cantwell; K Shanahan, L Dwan-Fogarty, E Nash; C O’Keeffe, C Russell, S O’Leary.

Subs: H Quilligan for E Nash (32, inj), D Mac Pháidín for D Buckley (43, inj), N Walsh for J Burke (47, inj), J Mouret for C O’Keeffe (48), A O’Hare for S O’Leary, C Mac Pháidín for C Kenny (both 56), P McGrath for K Shanahan (61).

Referee: Jerry Kelleher (St John’s).