Knockmore finish strongly to win thrilling Junior A final
Knockmore's Dylan Coleman holds off the tackle of Westport's Ben Doyle during the Junior A Championship Final. Picture: Conor McKeown
Knockmore went one better than last year’s final defeat to Claremorris as they clinched the Primary Junior A title after a strong finish saw them defeat Westport in a thrilling encounter.
Westport enjoyed the better start and got the game’s opening goal on 12 minutes, with Darragh Hoban scoring the first of his two goals as he was in the right place at the right time to fire in the rebound after Joey Holmes saw his initial effort saved.
A pair of scores from Kevin Keane, who finished with seven points to his name, put them 1-5 to 0-2 up at the end of the first quarter before man of the match Dylan Coleman got the first of his eight-point tally with a two-point free off the ground. He shortly followed it up with a single free but Westport responded with their own two-pointer, coming from Pat Lambert.
However, Knockmore responded with 1-2 before the break, Brian Durkan finding the net after good work by Ronan Melvin, to leave the sides deadlocked at 1-7 apiece.
Knockmore got their second goal after a flowing move down the field was finished by Darragh Holmes two minutes into the second half. Kevin Keane responded with a pair of singles before Mikey Lowther put the Saffron and Blue in the driver seat with their third goal on 35 minutes.
Sean Ruttledge and Dylan Coleman looked to have put this beyond Westport but the introduction of Ray Walsh off the bench had an impact for the Coveys. Walsh, John Grady, Kevin Keane and Conor Calvey all pointed before Darragh Hoban got his second goal on 52 minutes to put them a point in front with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
But as the finishing line drew near, Knockmore never panicked and points from Coleman, Charlie Bourke, Sean Ruttledge, Conor Flynn and Tadhg Staunton saw them victorious.
Scorers – Knockmore: Dylan Coleman 0-1-6 (1 tpf, 3f), Charlie Bourke 0-0-4, Brian Durkan, Darragh Holmes and Mikey Lowther 1-0-0 each, Conor Flynn 0-0-3, Sean Ruttledge 0-0-2, Tadhg Staunton 0-0-1.
Westport: Kevin Keane 0-0-7 (2f), Darragh Hoban 2-0-0, John Grady 0-0-3, Pat Lambert 0-1-0 (1 tp), Joey Holmes, Ray Walsh and Conor Calvey 0-0-1 each.
Knockmore: Brian McMahon; Martin Orme, Keith Ormsby, Adam Battle; Darragh Holmes, Ryan Casey, Davie McHale; Mikey Lowther, Tadhg Staunton; Ronan Melvin, Conor Flynn, Brian Durkan; Dylan Coleman, Charlie Bourke, Sean Ruttledge. Subs: Adam Naughton (for Ormsby 40), Oran Timlin (for D Holmes 52), Alan Loftus and Ronan Holmes (for Melvin and Durkan 60+1), Keith Langan (for Battle 60+3).
Westport: Patrick Kerrigan; Lorcan Silke, Leon Askin, Cian Grimes; Ben Doyle, Liam Shevlin, Malcolm McEvilly; Ryan Askin, Conor McGraynor; Joey Holmes, John Grady, Danny Brennan; Darragh Hoban, Kevin Keane, Pat Lambert. Subs: Tom Lambert (for L Askin 11), Ray Walsh (for McGraynor 32), Michael Geraghty (for Shevlin 44), Evan Durkin (for P Lambert 47-52 temp sub), Conor Calvey (for Brennan 50).
REF: Barry McDonnell (Moy Davitts).
