Brian Hurley fires late, late winner as Castlehaven beat Knocknagree in classic Division 1 league final
Castlehaven’s Brian Hurley fires a point over Gary O’Connor of Knocknagree. Picture: Noel Sweeney
A Brian Hurley stoppage-time goal secured Castlehaven the McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Football League Division 1 crown following a cracking contest against Knocknagree.
With both teams impressive throughout the league campaign, this was an eagerly anticipated decider which took place in Macroom on Friday evening. Without question, it lived up to the pre-match billing.
A few days on from the Cork defeat against Mayo at Croke Park, both Knocknagree and Castlehaven had their inter-county contingent on duty. That quality was on show in the opening stages, as Brian Hurley landed over a lovely free to open the scoring account for his side. Knocknagree opened their scoring through a fisted point by Killian Cronin.
The sides traded blow for blow as the opening half progressed. Mark Collins curled over a lovely score for the Haven, with Jamie O’Driscoll also pointing just shy of the quarter of an hour mark.
Knocknagree were keeping right in touch, with a score by Denis R O’Connor seeing the sides level at 0-4 each after 15 miinutes. Then Castlehaven landed the opening goal of the game, with Jamie Walsh finishing clinically from close range after a lovely assist by Collins.
The Haven's tails were now up, with Jack Cahalane and Hurley pointing to extend their advantage to four points. But in typical Knocknagree fashion, they found the right response.
A lovely move involving David Twomey and David O’Connor was finished by Niall O’Connor neatly to the net. The sides were level at 1-9 apiece at the break, in what was turning into a compelling league decider.
Knocknagree had a purple patch at the start of the second half. Included in this scoring spree were Anthony O’Connor and Michael McSweeney converting with lovely two-point scores from distance.
Castlehaven then made a strong response, with Hurley and Jamie O’Driscoll pointing.
But another Knocknagree two-pointer from Anthony O’Connor saw his side lead 1-16 to 1-12 after 40 minutes.
Although Michael Maguire responded with a point, Knocknagree gathered momentum, with John Fintan Daly’s side leading 1-20 to 1-13 midway through the second half as Eoghan McSweeney pointed.
At 50 minutes on the clock, Knocknagree led by five points at 1-21 to 1-16 and it seemed like victory as going to be theirs.
Castlehaven were not going to let this one go easily though. A low finish to the corner of the net by Conor Nolan reduced the deficit for Castlehaven down to two points.
Points from Cahalane and that man Hurley saw Castlehaven back on level terms.
Knocknagree went two points in front by second-half stoppage time , thanks to Gearoid Looney and Gary O’Connor.
But with the last kick of the game, Castlehaven won in the most dramatic of fashion. Collins played a lovely ball into the path of Hurley, who found the back of the net with a cracking finish to the corner.
B Hurley 1-9 (2 2pt f, 0-1 f), C Nolan, J Walsh 1-0 each, J Cahalane, M Maguire, J O’Driscoll 0-2 each, J O’Neill, S Browne, M Collins 0-1 each.
A O’Connor (2 2pt), D R O’Connor (1 2pt) 0-5 each, M McSweeney 0-4 (1 2pt), E McSweeney 0-3 (1 2pt), N O’Connor 1-0, K Cronin 0-2, T O’Connor, D Twomey, G O’Connor, G Looney 0-1 each.
D Cahalane; C O’Callaghan, J Bohane, S Walsh; J O’Driscoll, M Collins, J O’Neill; A Whelton, J Walsh; S Browne, B Hurley, C Cahalane; J Cahalane, M Hurley, M Maguire.
R Maguire for Walsh (40), C Nolan for Browne (50), D Whelton for M Hurley (54), W O’Donovan for O’Driscoll (58).
P Doyle; D Mahoney, K Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, D O’Mahony, T O’Connor; David O’Connor, M McSweeney; D Twomey, E McSweeney, K Cronin; Denis R O’Connor, N O’Connor, A O’Connor.
M Dilworth for N O’Connor (47), F O’Connor for Twomey (50).
Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).
App?
