Knocknagree were in Division 7 in 2017 and are now competing for the Kelleher Shield

Over the past decade, Knocknagree have been on one almighty journey and there could to be a few more chapters left yet in their remarkable tale.

Knocknagree have risen from the Junior A ranks in 2017 to the Premier Senior Football Championship.

On Friday night in Ovens Knocknagree produced an impressive display to record a 3-17 to 0-11 victory over Éire Óg in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League.

Right throughout this performance, Knocknagree gelled well collectively and also produced some lovely score taking on numerous occasions. Scoring 2-5 on the night, Denis R O’Connor in particular summed up the ruthless and clinical streak shown on the night from Knocknagree. 

This was a fine all-round collective effort, one which shows why Knocknagree have the potential to be more than competitive in the Cork PSFC.

Knocknagree manager John Fintan Daly was full of praise for the character and effort produced by his side. 

“We had a very sudden death at home. Very close to all of the team and some of the players are closely related in relation to this death.

“So coming here, honestly I thought we would be under pressure because Éire Óg are a good side.

We had to produce a performance for the ages. I think they showed big character and big culture here tonight, in winning a game against all of the odds.” 

Victory for Knocknagree was their third win of the Cork SFL Division One campaign, in a highly competitive league that sees just three points separating Clonakilty in first place to St Finbarr’s currently in seventth.

“This league is up and down. It is the most amazing Kelleher Shield I’d say in history, because by the time it is over, the teams that qualify for the final might only be three points above the teams at the drop zone for relegation. So that is how tight it is."

Knocknagree continue to use the league to sharpen up ahead of a big few months ahead of championship action.

“We are a team that take the league very seriously, therefore when we come to championship we are at championship pace," outlines Daly.

“Going back to 2017, we won the old County Junior League, which is now Division 7. So we have gone from Division 7 to Division 1 in about eight or nine years. So that speaks for itself.

“To stay in contention here now tonight is just brilliant.” 

DREAMING

In the summer, Knocknagree are in a group containing Castlehaven, Ballincollig and Clonakilty. 

For Knocknagree, this is stuff which would only have been a pipedream a decade ago.

Daly is hugely proud of the journey Knocknagree as a club have undertaken over the last nine years.

He was back in Killarney on Sunday for radio commentary duty for C103 for the Munster SFC final between Kerry and Cork, watching on at three of his Knocknagree players on the Rebels matchday squad in Patrick Doyle, Daniel O’Mahony and Eoghan McSweeney.

“It is the stuff of dreams from a small place,” declares Daly.