Results

Venues

All-Ireland Club JFC 2018

Report

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Knockragee GAA All-Ireland Junior Football Club Champions 2018

Quarter-Final

Dunedin Connollys 2-6 Naomh Colmcille 1-10

A free-kick near the end of the match from Daniel Clarke proved the difference for Naomh Colmcille as the the Donegal side narrowly defeated their Scottish counterparts in Edinburgh. Dunedin scored first through Damien Keane and led by 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time. Soon after the second half began Naomh Colmcille went ahead through a goal by Ryan McErlean, however Connollys answered immediately with a goal of their own to tie the game. The lead changed frequently after this as the sides traded score-for-score towards the end of the match. With two minutes remaining Dunedin netted their second goal to once again level the match, however Clarke’s free kick was enough to separate the sides.

Semi-Final

Knocknagree 2-9 Naomh Colmcille 0-7

Two soft goals early on for Knocknagree settled this semi-final. James Dennehy and Anthony Connor netted with a bit of fortune and poor defending from Donegal side. The Cork side went into half-time leading 2-4 to 0-3 and while the second-half was more even Naomh Colmcille never found a way back into the game. Naomh colmcille ended up with 13 men as Knocknagree eased to victory.

Final

Knocknagree 3-13 Multyfarnham 3-9

Knockragee won their first All-Ireland Junior Football Championship, and Cork’s first since 2008, in a high-scoring Final at Croke Park. Six goals were scored in total, three for each side, as Knockragee scored all of their 3-13 tally from play. Both sides are small clubs who haven’t known glory like this before: Multyfarnham’s Westmeath JFC title was their first title of note since the 1950s and Knocknagree’s greatest achievement to date was their Munster Junior Final earlier this season. Man-of-the-match Fintan O’Connor scored the opening goal midway through the first have for the Cork side, and Michael Mahony added one 40 seconds later. At half-time the score was 2-7 to 0-5 in favour of Knocknagree, however, the scoring was only beginning to light up the scoreboard. Knocknagree reverted to six defenders with their lead, but that only served to encourage the Multyfarnham forwards, who scored a goal of their own through David Wallace. Knockragee scored a lucky goal from goalkeeper Patrick Doyle’s 45, to stretch their lead again. Two stoppage-time goals from Mark Fallon, weren’t enough for the westmeath side to level matters, and the title, Knockragee’s first at All-Ireland level, went to the Cork side.

Players and Awards

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Awards

Final Teams and Scorers

References

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Websites

Stratford Grange GAA (2017) GAA Logo [Internet] http://stratfordgrangecongaa.ie/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/gaa-logo.png [Accessed 11 April 2017]

GAA (2017) GAA Football All-Ireland Junior Club Championship [Internet] http://www.gaa.ie/football/gaa-football-all-ireland-junior-club/ [Accessed 23 January 2018]

The42.ie (2017) Naomh Colmcille edge tight Edinburgh battle to complete All-Ireland JFC semi lineup [Internet] Available from: http://www.the42.ie/naomh-colmcille-donegal-edinburgh-match-report-3741435-Dec2017/ [Accessed 23 January 2018]

The42.ie (2018) Comprehensive victory sees Cork champions advance to All-Ireland Final [Internet] Available from: http://www.the42.ie/comprehensive-victory-sees-cork-champions-advance-to-all-ireland-final-3808422-Jan2018/ [Accessed 23 January 2018]

The42.ie (2018) Knockragee become first Cork side since 2008 to lift All-Ireland junior football crown [Internet] Available from: http://www.the42.ie/knocknagree-multyfarnham-report-3832083-Feb2018/ [Accessed 7 February 2018]

Knockragee GAA Facebook Page (2018) Cover Photo February 05, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/334324306647094/photos/a.334377906641734.76874.334324306647094/1591340177612161/?type=3&theater [Accessed 7 February 2018]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Michael O’Callaghan

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 3 August 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.