Juniors v Knockmore – County Junior B Final – Match Report
Davitts and Knockmore met in the Final of the County Junior B Championship in Bekan on Friday evening with Knockmore coming out on top by 3-9 to 2-9, after a great battle.
Davitts started off the brighter, and led by 1-2 to 0-1 after ten minutes, Mattie Trench and Liam Noone getting the points and Mattie Trench flicking home the goal after a fine Paul Carey pass. The goal seemed to spark Knockmore into life. They fired over a point and goaled soon after to level the game. Davitts points from Liam Noone (2) and Paul Carey put them three ahead again but Knockmore finished the half in style with three points and a crucial goal just before the break, to lead by 2-5 to 1-5 at the interval.
Davitts introduced Gerald Griffin at the start of the second half and one sensed that it might not be their day when he had to retire with a face injury in the first minute of the half. Knockmore extended their lead with the opening point of the half before a sweeping move involving several players saw Davitts create an excellent goal chance for Shane Treacy who couldn’t believe his bad luck when his piledriver came crashing off the crossbar and was cleared to safety by a relieved Knockmore defense.
The two sides traded points in the next fifteen minutes with Seamus Roche and Liam Noone (2) getting the Davitts scores. Knockmore goaled again in the 52nd minute but Paul Carey spectacularly lobbed a classy goal in injury time to narrow the gap to a goal. Davitts threw everything at Knockmore in the final two minutes but their defense held firm and they deservedly claimed the title.
Credit to both sets of players for their tremendous effort over the hour with the exchanges tough but fair throughout.
Davitts best performers were Patrick Keadin, Micheal Mangan, Donal Ronayne, William Freely, Seamus Roche, Paul Carey and Mattie Trench.
Davitts: David Mitchell, Patrick Keadin, Brian Clarke, Lawrence Daly, Micheal Mangan, Donal Ronayne, Martin Cosgrove, William Freeley, Sean Waldron, Seamus Roche (0-2), Paul Carey (1-1), Shane Treacy, Tommy Clarke, Liam Noone (0-5), Mattie Trench (1-1). Subs used: Gerald Griffin, John Costello, JP Kirrane, Carlos O Gara, Darren Connolly.
