Juniors v Knockmore – Match Report
An understrength Davitts Junior team were defeated by 2-12 to 0-9 away to Knockmore on Sunday in Div 4 of the Senior League. With a lot of players unavailable Davitts fielded a team full of experience and were trailing by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break but the homeside, with a distinct edge in fitness levels, finished the game strongly to win by nine points.
Davitts first half points came via Liam Griffin, Joe McNamara, Tom Garvey, Derek Byrne and a superb Jimmy Kilkenny effort after a sixty metre run. A fortuitous goal by Knockmore just before the break, when a long ball was misjudged by Davitts otherwise excellent keeper John Noone, was a big setback to the visitor’s chance of victory.
Davitts began the second half well and three early points from Jimmy Kilkenny, Joe McNamara and Paddy Glynn put the sides level but Knockmore stepped up a few gears and pulled away. Their second goal came from the penalty spot after Gabriel Prendergast had cynically tripped a Knockmore midfielder as he was bearing down on the Davitts goal. Prendergast deservedly received a black card and although John Noone got both hands to the ball from the penalty kick, he couldn’t stop it hitting the net.
Davitts only score for the remainder of the game came from a Michael Hynes free kick from all of 65 metres.
Davitts best players on this occasion were Pat Hickey, Liam Griffin, Tommy Brogan, Jimmy Kilkenny, Seamus Daly and Francie Kelly.
Davitts: John Noone, Tommy Brogan, Frank Lyons, Pat Hickey, Seamus Daly, Liam Griffin (0-1), Michael Hynes (0-1), Tom Garvey (0-1), Gabriel Prendergast, Joe McNamara (0-2), Jimmy Kilkenny (0-2), Derek Byrne (0-1), Paddy Glynn (0-1), Joe Ryan, Francie Kelly. Subs used: Kevin Connolly, Tommy Fallon, John Hennigan, Tony Robinson, Christy Canny.