AIB All-Ireland Club Championship Semi-final



Connaught Telegraph GAA News 26 February 1997


KNOCK, KNOCK KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR

Knockmore 3-14---------------- Eire Og 0-5

John Melvin
reports from Mullingar

Knockmore are knocking on Heaven's All-Ireland door. And compelling evidence, that Knockmore have both the substance and the class to become all Ireland champions, was provided at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday, where Leinster champions Eire Og, were not only humbled, but, in the end, humiliated before a massive crowd of around 8000.

The Connacht and Mayo champions were a step quicker than their opponents in both mind and body, and while an eighteen point winning margin in itself was a crushing defeat, it would not have flattered the winners in the least, had that margin been extended by two further goals.

What ever crumbs of condolences Eire Og might have picked up had the accepted defeat with some dignity, were thrown to the wind when they had two players sent off in a space of two minutes for separate challenges on corner back Fergus Sweeney, which could be described as nothing short of criminal

And so Knockmore become the third team from Mayo to qualify for an All Ireland Final, and given the quality of this performance, it is unlikely that the same fate will befall them as that suffered by Garrymore (82) and Castlebar (92), both of whom were crushed by Cork champions Nemo Rangers in All Ireland Finals.

Knockmore will be pitted against the Ulster champions Crossmaglen, who produced a major shock by beating the defending champions from Kerry, Laune Rangers.

It should provide another intriguing contest between Ulster and Connacht, in Croke Park on St Patrick's Day. Ach sin sceal ar lá eile.

At windy, but bone dry Mullingar, a huge Knockmore contingent, and indeed some from further afield in neighbouring parishes and from across the Irish Sea, were treated to a vintage performance.

Seldom has team with such high notions as Eire Og been beaten so emphatically at this stage of the competition, and rarely has a team from Connacht made such a strong statement on their unwillingness to accept second place when the silverware is being handed out.

Awesome

It was an awesome display. Knockmore were fast, incisive, clinical in their execution and held control in virtually every area of the field. The Knockmore backs, after an uneasy start, settled in well as a unit. Pat Reape, produced two outstanding saves to vindicate the decision to recall him while Cathal Naughton finally got the handle on Colm Hayden, who eventually moved out field, and any sweeping that had to be done was taken care of by both corner backs Tom Burke and Fergus Sweeney. However, Peter Butler's class as a half back was very much in evidence and he was well supported by his two flankers, Joe Davis and Graham O'Hora.

But dismantling of Eire Og began at midfield where Kevin Staunton and Declan Dempsey were nothing short of magnificent, never resting, always contesting, and usually winning ball against the much vaunted partnership of Garvan Ware and Hugh Brennan.

But the virtual collapse of Eire Og was orchestrated by a rampant Knockmore attack and by two players in particular-Ray Dempsey and Kevin O'Neill who amassed 3-7 between them in a forward division which was re-arranged prior to the throw-in.

They were the leading players in an attack in which all six forwards featured in putting together some intricate patterns of play which produced three stunning goals of real quality.

Dempsey's strength on the ball and his ability to win possession and provide prompt and clever delivery was a key factor, while O'Neill, ran into spaces and generally created havoc in that Eire Og defence to record a personal haul of 1-7.

After only fifteen minutes, and Knockmore playing into a strong wind, which was slightly crossfield, the massive Eire Og support began to feel uneasy as they watched their side slip behind by 1-4 to 0-2.

Tired

Many felt it was only a matter of time before the Carlow side would unfold the riches that had marked them as one of the most successful clubs of the 90's, attempting their third all Ireland since 1993. Perhaps that long stint so near but yet so far has finally taken it's toll on aging limbs and tired minds.

There was a strong argument to suggest that this was their last shot at that elusive All Ireland. And they were right, but for the wrong reasons. It is unlikely Eire Og will get another shot at the title in the foreseeable future. This was a crushing defeat which will have damaged their spirit for sometime to come.

In the end their frustrations with their own inadequacies and their inability to compete with Knockmore in the key areas, boiled over into frustration which manifested in psychically violence which was nothing short of assault.

Two players were sent off, and their could well have been a third, from Carlow, for what were disgraceful acts of violence and blatant and indiscriminate use of the elbow.

It was a sad ending for a team that we had grown to respect and admire. It was to Knockmore's credit that they did not become embroiled in some fo the psychical exchanges. They let their football do the talking and the message was emphatic.

Eire Og might well point to a goal chance in the first half which just might have kick-started them. Pat Reape, who was handed the goalkeeping duties for the first time in the championship, produced a reflex save five minutes before the break. Had Reape not somehow got a hand to the flick on by, Eire Og might have drawn to within three points.

Instead, Fergus Sweeney's clearance off the line produced a point at the other end from padraig Brogan to put his side 1-3 to 0-3 ahead and by the interval they had tacked on two more points from O'Neill and Joe Davis who curved in on the end of a wonderful move.

The first Knockmore goal came in the 15th minute and it was a wonderful delivery into for Ray Dempsey whose strength shrugged off his marker and with his long stride who beat the advancing keeper to steer the ball low into the left corner.

O'Neill with a free from the hands after 3 minutes, Declan Sweeney from play and two from O'Neill from play added to the goal gave Knockmore a 1-2 lead to Eire Og's two points, both of which came from frees by Anthony Keating.

Keating was not having the best of free-taking days and missed at least three chances he would normally have put away. And things did not improve for Eire Og in the second half. Inside a minute of the restart they were punished again for failing to clear their lines with Padraig brogan blocking down the full back's attempted hand pass and Brogan sent a scorcher over the bar.

Shane Sweeny, followed inside another minute with a marvellous point and the half was only five minutes old when Ray Dempsey sent O'Neill on his way with a perfect pass and O'Neill made just enough room for himself to slot it past the keeper.

Eire Og produced a double substitution in an effort to save the day but it was only made the tam as a whole panic more. Declan Sweeney added another point which could easily have been a goal and Knockmore were coasting 2-11 to 0-3 with only eight minutes of the second half gone.

Joe Hayden with two frees from the hands provided Eire Og with some badly needed air, but Knockmore piled on the agony with O'Neill with a free and a superb point from Declan Sweeney extending the lead further before Staunton started the move which ended with Dempsey cheekily chipping the keeper for Knockmore's third goal and the final indignation for Eire Og.

It was more than the Carlow men could bear on a day when they were totally outclassed, but in failing to accept that, it did not excuse the type of violence meted out to Fergus Sweeney who twice took the brunt of some very high challenges which ended his interest due to a bad mouth injury and that of his two assailants John Owens and Willie Quinlan, who were dispatched to the line.

Knockmore: Pat Reape, Fergus Sweeney, Cathal Naughton, Tomas Bourke, Graham O'Hora, Peter Butler, Joe Davis, Kevin Staunton, Declan Dempsey, Declan Sweeney (0-3); Peter Cawley, Shane Sweeney (0-1); Kevin O'Neill (1-7- 4 frees), Padraic Brogan (0-2); Ray Dempsey (2-0). Subs: Tom Holmes for T. Bourke, Des Ruttledge for F. Sweeney (inj, H. Langan for Dempsey.

Eire Og: J. Kearns, J. Wynne, D. Moore, J. Dooley, J. Murphy, B. Hayden, A. Callinan, G. Ware, H. Brennan, P. Doyle, J. Nolan, W. Quinlan, J. Hayden (0-2); C. Hayden, A. Keating (0-3). Subs:

Ref: M. McGrath (Donegal)



Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - February 1997