Carrigaline book immediate return to top grade with win over Knocknagree
V Thos Pairc Larry Carrigaline Football Cup After As Lifts Win In The Celebrations Insurance Cummins Knocknagree Maye Chaoimh Pic Carrigaline Supervalu The A The Senior Uí Group Championship: Mccarthy In
A stellar second-half performance, in which they outscored Knocknagree by 0-10 to 0-4, means that Carrigaline have returned to the top table in Cork football at the first time of asking after a gripping McCarthy Insurance Cork SAFC final in SuperValu Pairc Uí Chaoimh this afternoon.
When the Carrigdhoun men regale this tale in years to come, the performance of Éanna Desmond will be quick off the lips. He kicked four second-half points, three of which were off play, and seemed to be everywhere. He was well aided by official man of the match, Niall Quirke, as Carrigaline shut down a Knocknagree attack that kicked 1-7 in the opening half.
That left the Duhallow side ahead by four at the break, but three points from Desmond in the first five minutes of the second half soon had the margin down to one. Anthony and Niall O’Connor then pushed Knocknagree three clear, however, they weren’t to score for another twenty-two minutes.
Brian Coakley’s fourth of the day started the Carrigaline train in motion, Desmond followed suit with his fifth and when he won the resultant kickout, Brian O’Driscoll was on hand to level the game for the first and only time. Niall Coakley then gave them the lead for the first time moments later and he then extended it with a free to leave Carrig 0-14 to 1-9 in front with six minutes to play. They weren’t to surrender it.
David Griffin extended the lead before Eoghan McSweeney finally ended the Knocknagree drought. Captain Jack McCarthy then fed Eoghan Landers who put Carrig three ahead again in injury time and Kncoknagree needed a goal. They peppered the square, but the Carrig defence, led by Quirke, held firm and all they could add was a free from Denis R O’Connor. That meant heartbreak for Knocknagree, once again, while Carrig will be back with the big boys in 2025.
Knocknagree edged an intriguing first half where both side’s differing attitude to re-starts set the tone for the game. Carrigaline were happy to sit back and let Knocknagree make large territorial gains easily while the Duhallow side pushed up constantly on the Carrigaline kickout and reaped the rewards.
A mark from Denis R O’Connor and points off play from Niall and Anthony O’Connor meant that the entire Knocknagree full-forward line were on the scoresheet after seven minutes as they showed their intent from the off. Desmond earned a ’45 that Brian Coakley converted to open Carrigaline’s account before McCarthy broke the Knocknagree press two minutes later, and his bravery was eventually rewarded when Coakley kicked his second of the day.
Niall O’Connor then landed a mark after claiming a precise pass from Eoghan McSweeney before Anthony O’Connor and Niall Coakley traded frees to leave Knock leading by 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of the opening quarter.
A McSweeney point then stretched their lead to three and then their kick-out press really paid dividends. Five times they had already pressed with success, mining three points and when Anthony O’Connor intercepted Callum Dungan’s re-start in the 18th minute, he had both the vision and class to float the ball into an empty net.
Far from being disheartened, Carrigaline then showed their steel, and they had the goal wiped out within five minutes. Brian O’Driscoll broke through for a point from play, Coakley landed another ’45 before an Éanna Desmond free left O’Connor’s goal between them with five minutes to the break. From there to the break, defences were on top, with Knocknagree’s Kealan Buckley impressing before a Denis R O’Connor free left his side 1-7 to 0-6 in front at halftime.
Carrigaline took over from there, and they will now look to make it a year to remember when they play Watergrasshill in the PIHC Final in a fortnight.
E Desmond (0-5, 0-2 frees), B Coakley (0-4, 0-2 ‘45s), N Coakley (0-3, 0-2 frees), B O’Driscoll (0-2), E Landers and D Griffin (0-1 each).
A O’Connor (1-3, 0-1 free), N O’Connor (0-1 Mark), DR O’Connor (0-1 Mark, 0-2 frees) (0-3 each), E McSweeney (0-2).
: C Dungan; C O’Herlihy, N Quirke, K McCarthy; D King, D Griffin, J McCarthy (c); B O’Driscoll, C Barry; L Pope, B Coakley, E Ryle; E Desmond, N Coakley, K O’Reilly.
Subs: A Cohalan for Ryle (40), R Delaney for Pope (45), E Landers for B Coakley (inj, 54), N O’Keeffe for O’Reilly (59)
: P Doyle; M Mahoney (c), K Buckley, G O’Connor; G Looney, D O’Mahony, T O’Connor; T O’Mahony, David O’Connor; K Cronin, E McSweeney, M McSweeney; DR O’Connor, N O’Connor, A O’Connor.
Subs: M Dilworth for N O’Connor (44), D Mahoney for M McSweeney (49), F O’Connor for T O’Mahony (52), JF Daly for Cronin (56), D Twomey for A O’Connor (inj, 58)
: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).