Killygarry claim U20 title against Knockbride

U20 Division 1 League final

Killygarry 3-20

Knockbride 1-14

Killygarry's run of underage success in recent years continued when they had a convincing win over Knockbride in this year's Division 1 U20 league final in Butlersbridge.

Played in summery conditions , Killygarry established an early lead and while Knockbride fought valiantly, They were unable to make any significant inroads in the winners’ lead. County underage stars Darragh Lovett and Cian Keaney did most of the scoring for Killygarry but this was a good team performance.

When a Knockbride player got possession, Killygarry hunted in packs and often achieved the turnover. While disappointing for Knockbride to lose, their feat of reaching a Division 1 final was a boost to the rural club, with lots of talent coming through.

On the day, Lorcan Reilly, Kyle McCabe and Share Galligan were their most impressive players but the losers had to field without the injured Liam Bell and suspended Matthew Flanagan, and they lost Kenzie McCabe to with a broken nose before half-time.

Killygary had four on the board - Keaney, Lovett (two) and Daire Moran pointing before Lorcan Reilly got Knockbride's opening point. Then Keaney got through and shot low to the right corner of the net and Killygarry never looked back .

Two mote each for Keaney and Lorcan Reilly kept the margin at six, then Shane McCabe and Daire Moran points extended the victors’ lead.

Micheál Smith pulled one back for Knockbride after a fine solo run. From them to half-time, each side added three points, Reilly (two) and Micheál Smith for Knockbride, Keaney, McCabe and Lovett for the men in red and black to leave the score at the interval Killygarry 1-11 Knockbride 0-7.

Knockbride needed a good start to the second half but it was Killygarry who got it as Darragh Lovett soloed in from the right and shot to the net.

Share Galligan hit a fine point from play but Keaney more than nullified this score with two points and then a good goal when he fired to the right corner of the net.

The game was now over as a contest but credit To the losers who didn’t throw in the towel and a fine move started by Luke Ratcliffe ended with Galligan firing to the net.

Lorcan and Kenny exchanged pointed frees before Daragh Noonan got his name on the scoresheet for the winners. A foul on Glen Hall in the square resulted In a Knockbride penalty but Cormac O’Reilly’s shot was well saved by Oscar Brady - a much-needed water break separating the awarding of the penalty and the taking of it.

From here to the end, it was all white flags, with four more Lovett points and one from Neil Reilly for Killygary while Knockbride's scorers were Oisin Smith, Barry Cahill, Niall O'Reilly (two) and Darren Clarke.

This was a merited win for Killygarry, their all-round strength and teamwork were too much for a gallant Knockbride outfit.

Killygarry: Oscar Brady, Ciaran Sheridan, Gabriel Cosgrove, Ryan Owens, Freddie McGuigan, Kevin Lovett, Ben Murphy, Cillian Moran, Jamie McDonald, Neil Reilly, Shane McCabe, Daragh Noonan, Daire Moran, Darragh Lovett, Cian Keaney

Subs: Josh O’Hagan, Tomás Gilsenan, Charlie Fallon, Sean McDermott, Ryan Lynch

Knockbride: Luke Reilly, Jamie Shanley, Kenzie McCabe, Darren Clarke, Kyle McCabe, Luke Carolan, Micheál Smith, Mark Cassidy, Barry Cahill, Lorcan Reilly, Gavin Smith, Niall O’Reily, Evan McKeon, Aaron Smith, Shane Galligan

Subs used: Glen Hall, Oisin Smith, Luke Ratcliffe, Cormac O'Reilly, Jakub Kleczkowski

Ref: Raymond Tynan