Limerick champions Knockainey bow out of Munster Junior B club football contention

A STRONG second-half performance from Cork side Ballyphehane ended Knockainey’s provincial adventure in the Munster Junior B Football semi-final on a 1-14 to 0-6 scoreline in Knockaderry on Sunday afternoon.

The Limerick champions  were first to impact the scoreboard with Rory Reale lofting a lovely free over the bar from off the ground.

However, Reale obtained a black card soon after with Knockainey reduced to 14 for the subsequent ten minutes.

Craig Murphy then put Ballyphehane back level two minutes later before Adam O’Donoghue defied a strong breeze to put the Cork side in front, 0-2 to 0-1, after eight minutes.

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An Alan Buckley 45 metre effort levelled proceedings again soon after but this would prove to be Knockainey’s last score of a frustrating opening half.

Some good combination play between Cian O’Brien and Adam O’Donoghue saw the Cork champions carve open the Knockainey defence which allowed Jamie Thompson to slot over from the right hand side.

Another Craig Murphy free ended a lengthy 13-minute period without movement on the scoreboard. An enticing ball from Thompson then put teammate Aaron West through on goal, but West took the sensible option and chipped his effort over
the bar as Ballyphehane led 0-5 to 0-2 at half-time.

An Ethon Varian free then opened the second half scoring before Ballyphehane pounced on the resulting kick-out with Alex Cummins finishing off a sweeping move.

Another Murphy free was followed by a Rory Reale score from a placed ball which was badly needed for Knockainey. Liam Burke then executed a brilliant effort using the outside of his right boot in the 40th minute.

However, a pair of two-point frees from Murphy, who expertly guided his efforts with the aid of a strong breeze, increased Ballyphehane’s lead to eight points.

Michael Leo had a glorious chance for Knockainey in the 47th minute after an excellent ball from Sean Carroll found Leo
on his own. However, Leo's effort flashed over the bar.

Carroll then followed with a score from a free before Murphy and substitute Danny Kiely secured Ballyphehane’s place in the decider with 11 points to spare at full-time. 

SCORERS: Ballyphehane: Craig Murphy 0-8 (0-4 frees, 0-2 2pt frees), Sean Fielding 1-0, Jamie Thompson, Aaron West, Alex Cummins, Adam O’Donoghue (0-1 free), Ethon Varian (0-1 free), Danny Kiely (0-1 free) 0-1 each. Knockainey: Rory Reale 0-2 (0-2 frees), Michael Leo, Sean Carroll (0-1 free), Liam Burke (0-1 free), Alan Buckley (0-1 45’) 0-1 each.

BALLYPHEHANE: Luke Towler, Dylan Holland, Jamie Geasley, Timmy Walsh, Cian O’Brien, Danny Moore, Shane Keating, Troy O’Sullivan, Ethon Varian, Jamie Thompson, Adam O’Donoghue, Aaron West, Craig Murphy, Alex Cummins, Brian O’Leary. Subs: Jamie O’Brien for Danny Moore (40 mins), Sean Fielding for Brian O’Leary (46 mins), Danny Kiely for Alex Cummins (51 mins), Owen Sweeney for Timmy Walsh (53 mins), Tadgh O’Mahony for Adam O’Donoghue (60 mins).

KNOCKAINEY: Tom Clancy, Ger Donworth, Stephen O’Donnell, David Cooke, Alan Buckley, Daniel Buckley, Conor Fitzpatrick, Colin Buckley, Liam Burke, Michael Leo, Pa Reale, Michael O’Grady, Rory Reale, Brian Blackwell, Sean Carroll. Subs: Eoin Cleary for Rory Reale (54 mins), Gareth Cooke for Michael O’Grady, Fionnan Leahy for Brian Blackwell (58 mins).