Knockbridge win Maurice Murphy Cup

Just 3 months after capturing the 2023 version of the competition, Knockbridge once again got their on hands on the 'Maurice Murphy Cup' thanks to this narrowest of victories over Naomh Moninne in the final played at Pairc Ui Chuinnigh on Sunday morning.

The town outfit had the better of the opening exchanges and led by 0-4 to 0-2 on 21 minutes with Mark Gahan (3) and Tadhg Dowdall on target. The lead quickly changed hands as both Robert Wallace and Ricky McKeown netted goals from close range to put the home side three up.

The sides shared the next four points as Knockbridge led by 2-4 to 0-7 at the break. Full back Ronan Byrne extended his side's lead on the resumption with a point from a long range free. Another brace of Gahan points and one from Robbie Mathews in reply to a Shane Fennell pointed free cut the deficit to two.

Two more frees from Fennell restored his sides four points lead. After the sides shared the next two scores, a good point from Oisin McCarthy was followed by an equalising goal scored by Mark Gahan from a penalty 2-9 to 1-12.

Knockbridge responded to this set back with three unanswered points from Gareth Hall, Ronan Mulholland and Ricky McKeown. Top scorer Gahan took his personal tally to 1-9 with a late brace and despite some confusion at the final whistle it was Knockbridge who held on at the end to capture the title.

Afterwards County Board Chairman Sean McClean presented the Cup to the Knockbridge winning captain Brian Coughlan.

Knockbridge: Mark Wallace; Ben Goss Kieran, Ronan Byrne (0-2), Ciaran Brennan; Daire McKiernan, Jake McNamara, Ronan Mulholland (0-1); Sean Flynn, Gareth Hall (0-1); Robert Wallace (1-1), Shane Fennell (0-4), David Kettle (0-1); Aidan O Brien, Ricky McKeown (1-2), Brian Coughlan.

Subs: Eric Enger, Michael Keane.

Naomh Moninne: Donal Connolly;Cathal Azzorpardi, Darren O Hanrahan, Conor Caraher; Sean Magill, Conor Whyte, Oisin McCarthy (0-1); James Murphy (0-1), Brendan Prendergast; Mark Gahan (1-9), Tadhg Dowdall (0-2), Sam Phelan; Ciaran Walsh, Eoin Murphy, Robbie Wallace (0-1).

Subs: Chris Lennon for D O Hanrahan, James Byrne for B Prendergast, Martin Tkacz for C Walsh, Aaron Heaney for M Tkacz, Matthew Dignan Moloney for C Azzopardi.

Referee: Kevin Brady.