Daniel O'Mahony: Ballincollig win sets Knockanagree up for Castlehaven showdown

While a tally of 2-18 scored – 2-12 of it in the second half – was the headline takeaway from Knocknagree’s first-ever McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC victory, it was one built on strong defensive foundations.

The Duhallow side limited Ballincollig to 0-13 in Macroom on Sunday, responding well to a defeat by Clonakilty in their maiden top-flight championship appearance. It leaves them facing into their last group game against Castlehaven with a chance to qualify for the knockout stage at the first time of asking.

For Knocknagree and Cork defender Daniel O’Mahony, restoring the team’s traditional defensive obduracy was paramount.

“I suppose we're on the road a while now,” he said. 

“We were very disappointed, to be honest, defensively as a unit with the Clon game.

“We were way off it, so that was one of the things we set out to do in this game. I think it was two seasons ago we didn't concede a goal chance, so we wanted to get back to that defensively.

“To be fair, we tightened it up an awful lot today – again, a bit of luck, but we were very happy defensively.”

While John Fintan Daly’s side had fallen into an early 0-5 to 0-1 deficit, they steadied before half-time and then the goals from Fintan O’Connor and David O’Connor allowed them to establish a considerable advantage.

“We were down two at half-time, I think it was 0-8 to 0-6,” O’Mahony said.

“We went in, to be honest, we were happy enough where we were because we always think playing in Macroom, that's probably the scoring goals, so we slowed it down a bit in the first half.

Savage

“That being said, coming in at half-time, we knew we were going to have to put in a savage performance in the second half. That's kind of what we went out to do, to be honest.

“We got a bit of luck with the rub of the green as well going forward at times there. So, yeah, just delighted.”

They certainly didn’t get the rub of the green with injuries to captain Anthony O’Connor, Denis Mahoney and Timmy O’Connor, but those coming into the side ensured that the levels didn’t drop.

“I don't want to be saying we're a small club, but we don't have a massive selection,” O’Mahony said.

“Denis O'Connor 'Doon' made his debut today at corner-back – we picked up an injury just before the game and he was sent in to mark a very dangerous full-forward line.

I suppose it just speaks to the quality that we have from all the work the boys have been doing over the last few years, so we’re very happy with that.”

It leaves them back in contention after a tough baptism in the Premier SFC but O’Mahony feels they learned from the Clonakilty defeat and will now look to put it up to the Haven.

“I suppose it did, to be honest,” he said, “but I think the step up probably came from… to be honest, there was a bit of pressure on us going into the game, it was our first game up premier senior.

“We didn't get out of the traps at all, we felt flat and performed very poorly. We were way off it, so I suppose it was a step-up in that sense.

“To be fair, we had a long time to reflect on the Clon game and try to right the wrongs, so we were very happy to come with a performance.

“The Haven are one of the best teams in the county, so it's going to be some game.

“Luckily, we have four weeks to prepare for it, we’re very lucky in that sense, really – I don't know how clubs that do both actually do it, it's some going, to be fair to them.

“It’ll be a repeat of the league final here, so that's one to look forward to. We'll definitely have to get the boots on now.”