A tale of three penalties as Knockbride secure their status
ACFL Division 2 relegation play-off
Knockbride 1-14
Denn 0-14
In all games, they say it’s the result that matters and this was especially true when Knockbride and Denn clashed in Dolan Park, Virginia on Saturday last, with the losers facing Division 3 football next season.
Knockbride emerged victorious in a game which they led from start to finish but with the margin down to three points in the latter stages, they nor their supporters couldn’t relax till the final whistle – particularly as Denn had a full-forward line of Thomas Edward Donohoe, Cavell Keogan and Ben Conaty who tormented Knockbride in last year’s championship and who had all been missing when Knockbride won their league game back in April.
Conditions were ideal for football, on a warm cloudy evening, and the winners got off to a flying start with the excellent Seanie Burns getting two points from play in the first two minutes.
Soon, Denn got offr the mark when Cavell Keogan pointed well from out on the right.
Burns pointed again with an effort that could have gone under the bar, following a fine run by Liam Fay.
Keogan then took a mark and pointed but this score was balanced by a Patrick Rogers free from the right. The next Denn attack culminated with Conaty pointing.
One of the decisive moments in the match came in the 14th minute. A long ball from Matthew Traynor was well fielded by Niall McCabe, he was hauled down and from the resultant penalty, Burns goaled, striking low to the left corner.
Rogers pointed again to put Knockbride five ahead. Conaty and Traynor traded points, Oisin Kiernan pointed from a mark, Roy Donohoe and Conaty got balancing points from play.
Then, in the 25th minute, another turning point emerged. Denn’s James Brady was fouled in the square, Keogan took the penalty, smashed it against the upright, the ball rebounded back to him and he too was fouled.
This time, Conaty took responsibility but his low shot to the left was brilliantly saved by James Lynch.
Knockbride finished the half strongly though three of their four shots went wide, leaving the half-time score Knockbride 1-8 Denn 0-6.
The opening minutes of the second half saw the same pattern continue; Knockbride were creating chances but recorded three wides and the only score was a Traynor point.
Denn upped the tempo from then on, quickly adding points from Keogan and Donohoe (free) but the winners brought the margin back to six with points from Ciaran Smith and Rogers (free).
Donohoe (free) and Conaty responded with Denn points and frees from Burns and Keogan kept the difference at four points. Then, a Rogers free from so close to the sideline that it was practically a line ball put Knockbride five up.
Again, Keogan and Donohoe (free) chipped away at the would-be winners’ lead with points but in injury time, scorers-in-chief Burns and Keogan each pointed frees to conclude the scoring.
From winning last year’s county and Ulster junior titles, it’s a big fall for Denn back to Division 3 but like Cavan with Division 4 of the National League, they’re probably too good to be there and their stay at the lower level should be short-lived.
Knockbride found themselves in the relegation zone largely because of losing games that they had led in but failed to hold out for victory. Happily for them, this determined performance saw them cut the error count in the latter stages and secure Division 2 status.
Knockbride: James Lynch, Declan Nulty, Philip Nulty, Daniel McGuinness, DJ Cassidy, Micheál Clarke, Roy Donohoe, Patrick Rogers, Jordan McCabe, Liam Fay, Philip Rogers, Ciaran Smith, Sean Burns, Niall McCabe, Matthew Traynor
Subs: Fergal Smith for C Smith, Shane Carolan for D Nulty
Denn: Mark Fegan, Andrew Cusack-Smith, Micheál Gaffney, Leon Cobey, James Brady, Caolán McCabe, Mark McSherry, Cormac Cusack-Smith, Brandon Keogan, Shane Galligan, Oisin Kiernan, Jamie Reilly, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Cavell Keogan, Ben Conaty
Subs: Cian Courtney for McSherry, Sean Donohoe for C Cusack-Smith, Breachan McGivney for S Donohoe
Ref: Raymond Tynan