Knocknagree 1-9
A powerful first half from Kanturk proved the platform to register a worthy victory over Knocknagree in the opening round of the Castlecor Potatoes Duhallow Junior A Football Championship at Ballydesmond.
Though just three points separated the pair at the finishing line, Kanturk emerged rightful victors after enjoying the more productive spells of supremacy. In fairness, Knocknagree mounted a solid recovery after operating second fiddle in the opening spell , they tried gamely to revive their challenge in the closing stages but a resolute Kanturk defence held firm for a merited win.
Right from the off, Kanturk clicked into gear, the play of Eoghan and Denis O'Connor in defence typified Kanturk's approach as did Kryle Holland and Brian Healy while upfront Cian Clernon emerged a ball of industry, well supported by Grantas Bucinskas and Gavin Kenehen.
Indeed Clernon was proving a handful to shoot a run of points, that contrasted sharply to Knocknagree passing up chances with poor shooting. And Kanturk were in the driving seat once Kenehen fired home a cracking goal.
Indeed Kanturk might well have added a second green flag only for Clernon to be denied by a smashing save from Knocknagree 'keeper Damien Browne. In arrears 1-5 to 0-0, Knocknagee faced a stiff incline yet they improved after Chris White gathered their initial score from a point on 19 minutes.
Though Clernon responded with a brace of excellent points, Knocknagree received a ray of hope from a Cathal O'Connor goal to cut the leeway 1-10 to 1-2 at the short whistle.
For much of the second-half, Kanturk found themselves on the backfoot as Knocknagree paraded much more urgency through the encouraging play of Cathal O'Connor, his namesakes Richard and Denis along with Paud Dineen.
Steadily Knocknagree chipped away at the arrears on points to David Twomey, Dineen and Tadc O'Mahony. Kanturk waited until the 48th min to open their second-half account from a Holland point only for Knocknagree to mount a series of raids for Twomey and White add points.
With the deficit down to two and Knocknagree sniffing around dangerously, Kanturk broke on the counter for Kenehen to split the uprights.
KANTURK: R Cashman; E McAulliffe, E O’Connor, A Murphy; D O’Donoughue, Denis O’Connor, Dylan O’Connor; K Holland 0-1, B Healy; C Vaughan, G Bucinskas 0-1, G Kenehen 1-2; C Carroll, C Clernon 0-8, E Guiney Sub: S Moylan for E Guiney,
KNOCKNAGREE: D Browne; D O’Connor, S Daly, P Roche; N O’Connor, D Mahoney, C O’Connor 1-1; T O’Mahony 0-1, K Cronin; T Long, P Dineen 0-1, C White 0-2; R O’Connor, D Twomey 0-4, K Barry Sub: D Murphy for R O'Connor
REFEREE: J Kelleher (St. John’s)
Lyre 4-14
Newmarket 1-7
Three goals in the opening half set Lyre on their way to easily overcome Newmarket at the initial hurdle to the Castlecor Potatoes Duhallow JAFC at Castlemagner. Far more clinical as a team, Lyre operated at a different level by controlling the proceedings and benefiting from purple patches.
Newmarket were down a number of players to injury and further restricted on their first team utilising substitutes against O'Donovan Rossa in the County SAFC encounter.
Calm and composed in possession, Lyre raced into the lead from early points to Kevin Tarrant, Liam O'Brien and Alan Coughlan. Indeed Lyre bossed the possession stakes with James McAulliffe, Rory O'Connell, Colm Coughlan and Thomas McAulliffe to the fore in defence with Martin Kearney and Liam O'Brien showing plenty of spark up front.
Showing a high work ethic, goals from O'Brien and Kearney confirmed Lyre's superiority. A contrast between the sides saw Lyre punch holes in the Newmarket rearguard whereas the latter were finding it very difficult to discover opportunities.
Briefly Newmarket lifted the siege with points to TJ Bodie and Shane Murphy only for Lyre to respond and a second goal from O'Brien helped his side to a commanding 3-7 to 0-3 advantage at half time.
The start of the second half continued in a similar vein with Alan Coughlan and Tarrant landing two points apiece. Credit Newmarket on serving notice of an improvement generated by Michael O'Leary, Paudie O'Sullivan, Bodie and Shane Murphy that helped add a couple of points to the scoreboard.
However, Lyre continued to be involved in the more productive passages of play and a fine move yielded a goal from Paudie Ryan.
Again Newmarket mounted a rally and though struggling to convert possession, their brave efforts yielded a fine goal from Murphy. That proved a consolation, for even with the game won, Lyre refused to take their foot off the gas with points from the O'Briens' and Darren Murphy coppen-fastened a decisive win.
A perfect start to the campaign for Lyre, their next outing in the round robin series of games is a meeting against Kanturk.
LYRE: L Philpott; C O’Keeffe, N Twomey, T McAulliffe; R O’Connell, C Coughlan, J McAulliffe; K Tarrant 0-3, C O’Keeffe; E O’Brien 0-1, M Kearney 1-1, A Coughlan 0-4 (1f); L O’Brien 2-4, P Ryan 1-0, B O’Keeffe Subs: D Murphy 0-1, A Kearney, E Wilson
NEWMARKET: B Newman; M O’Leary, B Stack, E Walsh; Sean Murphy, J O’Connor, E Hourigan; M Lane, P O’Sullivan 0-2; K O’Connor, T J Bodie 0-3 (2f), E Allen; R Stack 0-1, Shane Murphy 1-1, L McCarthy
REFEREE: J Hartnett (Boherbue)
