A very enjoyable double header tonight. The dramatics of the first game and the beautiful attacking play of the 2nd game made for some great entertainment.
Carrigaline were deserving victors I felt tonight, as tight as the game was. Niall Quirke at full back for Carrigaline was for me, the most impressive player on the pitch. He is a huge man and well able to move. He is strong and robust and solid on the ball. Their super sub Kevin O Reilly scored 4 outstanding points too. Alan Walsh caught some wonderful ball too for Kanturk.
A lot of mileage on the clock and Kanturk still fought to the bitter end. The final whistle should have been blown when Aidan didn't score that late free but Grantas got the chance to equalise to bring it to penalties. Frustrations and argy-bargy at the full time whistle resulted.
It is Kanturk's 2nd year in a row losing on penalties I'm lead to believe. Cruel for them (or any team who loses by penalties) and maybe a replay at this grade would have been the fairest since there is no Munster campaign for the winner. But fair play to the Carrigaline goalkeeper. He was the hero making 4 excellent saves in the shoot out.
In the 2nd game, Knocknagree came out of the blocks at 100 miles an hour and it took Dohenys 20 minutes before they realised they were in a semi final. But Knocknagree's anticipation for the ball, their tenacity in the tackle and most obvious, their quick moving attacking play supplemented by their clinical finishing was so so impressive.
Daniel O’Mahony's battle with Fionn Herlihy was intriguing. The shooting from Anthony O'Connor and Denis O'Connor in the full forward line was exquisite. Eoghan and Michael McSweeney effective on the counter. Their movement on the kickout looks seamless. Again, I always enjoy watching John Fintan Daly's teams. I still think there is a Cork football management role for him before he hangs up his Bainisteoir bib.
I slightly tip Knocknagree in the final based on what I saw tonight. Carrigaline will be without Kevin Kavanagh and possibly Brian Coakley through injury but Knocknagree looked thr best team of the lot tonight.
