Knocknagree (Cork) 2-9
Naomh Colmcille (Donegal) 0-7
Conor McKenna reports from TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar
KNOCKNAGREE ADVANCED TO the AIB All-Ireland junior club football final after a comprehensive victory over Donegal side Naomh Colmcille.
Anthony O’Connor opened the scoring for the Cork outfit with a short-range free, before James Dennehy got the game’s first goal. It had more than an element of fortune, with Dennehy aiming for a point and the ball ending up in the back of the net.
Naomh Colmcille would concede another sloppy goal shortly afterwards, with a poor pass from Alex Devenney finding its way to John F Daly. He found Anthony O’Connor, who found the net from close-range.
Willie Gillespie reduced the deficit to seven points with a free, but it was Knocknagree who had the advantage at half-time, leading on a scoreline of 2-4 to 0-3.
Knocknagree cruised home to victory in the second half against a Naomh Colmcille side who ended the game with 13 men, with Lynch brothers Michael and William both sent off in stoppage time.
Donagh Moynihan’s fisted effort proved to be the final score, with his side advancing to face Westmeath’s Multyfarnham in the final at Croke Park on 3 February.
Croke Park awaits @MultyGAA ! Super stuff well done all! #thetoughest @AIB_GAA @gaa #thetoughest pic.twitter.com/Qk7WWeNGPy
— westmeathgaaofficial (@westmeath_gaa) January 20, 2018
The Leinster Champions overcame Lahardane MacHales of Mayo by 1-14 to 2-9 in today’s other semi-final at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon.
Emmet Feerick scored the crucial goal for Multyfarnham as they overcame John Maughan’s side.
Scorers for Knocknagree: James Dennehy and John F Daly 1-0 each; Anthony O’Connor (2 frees), Donagh Moynihan, Eoghan McSweeney and Fintan O’Connor 0-2 each; Chris White 0-1.
Scorers for Naomh Colmcille: Willie Gillespie 0-4 (4 frees), Matthew Crossan 0-2, Danial Clarke 0-1.
Knocknagree
1. Patrick Doyle
2. Michael Mahoney
3. Paul O’Connor
4. Gary O’Connor
5. Karl Daly
6. Keelan Buckley
7. Donagh Moynihan
8. Danny Cooper
9. Padraig Collins
10. James Dennehy
11. John F Daly
12. Eoghan McSweeney
13. Matthew Dilworth
14. Anthony O’Connor
15. Fintan O’Connor
Subs:
17. Andrew Sheehan for Karl Daly (28, B/C)
22. Chris White for Cooper (HT)
20. Tomas Cooper for McSweeney (56)
19. Chris O’Leary for Collins (61)
21. Tadgh Long for John F Daly (61)
Naomh Colmcille
1. John Roulstone
2. Gerard Curran
3. Alex Devenney
4. Paul Friel
5. Ricky Hegarty
6. Ciaran Devine
7. Kevin Gallagher
8. Michael Lynch
9. Danial Clarke
10. John Fullerton
11. Ryan McErlean
12. Oran Hilley
13. Matthew Crossan
14. Willie Gillespie
15. William Lynch
Subs:
20. Michael Friel for Curran (HT)
19. Eddie Gillespie for Gallagher (37)
Referee: John Gilmartin (Sligo).