Knock have 'More than Agha in late surge
Knockmore, U16 'E' champions. Picture: SJ Walsh Photography
A late surge from Knockmore saw them eventually see off the challenge of a gutsy Aghamore at MacHale Park last Wednesday night.
Aghamore played their part in what was a tenacious battle, and when the sides were deadlocked at 3-9 to 2-12 on 63 minutes following Adam Cunnane’s equalising goal for the East Mayo side, extra-time seemed a real possibility. But some guile and creativity by Knockmore during what was a frantic finale, proved crucial in the end.
Knockmore’s Jack Naughton opened the scoring inside a minute with a neat effort from an acute angle but Lady Luck favoured Aghamore shortly after as Oisín Sweeney’s speculative punt towards the Knockmore goal bizarrely ended up in the back of Cillian Butler’s net.
Aghamore’s Adam Cunnane and Ben Higgins slotted over points, before two points from James McLoughlin (one free), helped get a shaken Knockmore back on track.
Aghamore’s Cunnane and Knockmore’s Alex Mescal traded singles, before they once again punished some slack marking in the Knockmore rearguard as a ‘45’ taken by Noah Curry dropped short and was deftly flicked to the back of the net by the poaching Higgins.
Both sides then exchanged a volley of points, as Knockmore’s McLoughlin (two, one free) and Curry forced the umpires into action - as did Conor Holmes and Aghamore corner-forward Ben Higgins.
Trailing 2-5 to 0-7 after 24 minutes, Knockmore upped it a notch during the final moments of what was an intriguing first half with their dynamic full-forward McLoughlin kicking two late points (one free), but Aghamore still led 2-5 to 0-9 at the short whistle.
The East Mayo side continued their impressive display on the resumption and notched early points courtesy of Curry, a free, and Peadar McLoughlin, with Knockmore replies by McLoughlin and Matthew Monaghan (free). The pendulum swung in the Saffron and Blue’s favour on 42 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Ryan Coldrick was felled inside the area. McLoughlin took the spot-kick and his effort rustled the back of the net to nudge his team-mates in front by the bare minimum.
Three minutes later, a resurgent Knockmore were in dreamland as Sam Reddington collected possession and slalomed his way past the Aghamore defence before zipping an unstoppable effort into the far corner of Adam Loftus’ net.
Aghamore’s Higgins (free) and Knockmore’s Conor Holmes exchanged points, and Curry reduced the Red and White’s arrears to just three points on 52 minutes, before they netted the levelling score on 53 minutes. A slick Aghamore move resulted in Adam Cunnane bursting past the static Knockmore cover and the busy midfielder unleashed a sumptuous finish past the despairing dive of Butler.
It appeared that Aghamore now had the crucial momentum at a pivotal period in the game, but quick-fire pointed replies by Knockmore super-sub Dara Blewitt and McLoughlin (free) were the prelude to Aghamore conceding a morale sapping and game changing third goal on 56 minutes. In a move which was instigated by a side-line ball from Knockmore’s Nathan Coldrick, Holmes fed a tidy pass into the path of Monaghan and the latter finished with aplomb.
During the dying embers of the tie, Knockmore copper-fastened the victory courtesy of McLoughlin (two, one free) and Monaghan, as a crestfallen Aghamore were left to wonder what might have been.
Aghamore: Adam Loftus; Conn Delaney, Oisín Sweeney, Adam Ruane; Dylan Greally, Pierce Keadin, Zack Greally; Adam Cunnane, James McLoughlin; Finley Neylon, Noah Curry, Peadar McLoughlin; Dylan Hunt, Mark Higgins, Ben Higgins.
REF: James Regan (Ballaghaderreen).
