While the Joe Ward Cup for the senior football championship has yet to be claimed by the St. Brides footballers, the hurlers from Knockbridge are getting increasingly familiar with the Paddy Kelly Cup for the senior hurling championship. Their county final victory over Wolfe Tones in August was their third in total and the club has only been in existence for five years. Later in the year, the senior league title was added for good measure. By Brendan Cummins They were always favourites to get the better of Wolfe Tones and they have also had the edge over Naomh Moninne in recent years, but Pearse Og were still the team to beat as the championship got underway. It was Pearse Og who had taken Knockbridge's title in 2002 but the defending champions fell at the first hurdle against Wolfe Tones in the preliminary round. Wolfe Tones then went on to hammer St. Fechins in the semi final ... it was a first ever championship appearance for the men from Termonfeckin and it turned out to be quite a chastening experience. With Pearse Og out of the way, many felt that the semi final between Naomh Moninne and Knockbridge would be the real final and in hindsight, it's difficult to disagree. The game was played in Dundalk and it turned out to be a real thriller with the outcome in doubt up until the final whistle. The teams were level on six occasions and it was only by the minimum margin that Knockbridge advanced to the final on a scoreline of 0-16 to 0-15. It was somehow fitting that Knockbridge eventually managed to outpoint their opponents whose main source of scores was from placed balls. Knockbridge had a wider capacity for scoring with half of their total coming from play, whereas only two of Moninnes' scores came via open play. In the early stages it looked as if Knockbridge would coast to victory. They scored four unanswered points in the first five minutes and appeared to be well in control. Sean Byrne sent over two frees while Eddie Quigley and Trevor Hilliard also found the range to 'put it up' to Naomh Moninne. A point from a long range free by Declan Byrne after seven minutes got the former kingpins on to the scoreboard and the Dundalkmen were soon back in contention thanks to the accurate free-taking of full forward John Murphy. He sent over three successive points to level the match at 0-4 each midway thorough the opening half. Naomh Moninne were now in the ascendancy and another point from a free by Murphy was followed by a Declan Byrne point as Knockbridge struggled to maintain their early momentum. A four point lead had transformed into a two point deficit and the character of the village team was being called into question. They replied with an inspirational point from a long range free by Paul Dunne and within minutes David Dunne had levelled the match after some poor Moninne defending. But Naomh Moninne soon re-established their lead and went three points clear before a Paul Dunne free reduced the arrears for Knockbridge, leaving the half time score, Naomh Moninne 0-9 Knockbridge 0-7. Points were swapped in the early stages of the second half before Knockbridge began to dig deep. Their efforts were rewarded when Sean Byrne and Paddy Mone found the target to level the match at 0-10 apiece with twenty minutes remaining. And with ten minutes left, it was still all square at 0-12 apiece. The game continued to swing one way and then the other. Now it was the turn of the Knockbridgemen to edge ahead. Points from Sean Byrne and David Dunne put them into the driving seat only for the Dundalkmen to claw their way back to parity at 0-14 each as the game entered the last five minutes. The small crowd was certainly getting value for money as the excitement and the drama increased in the closing stages. And it was Knockbridge who stood up to be counted as they forced the opposing defence into conceding frees which Sean Byrne and Paul Dunne sent between the posts. Naomh Moninne battled all the way to the whistle but their only reward was a point which narrowed the gap to the minimum. The final score was 0-16 to 0-15 in favour of Knockbridge. Sean Byrne's accuracy was a huge factor in the victory ... he finished up with six points ... and there were also fine performances from the centre field pairing of David Dunne and Conal O Hualachainn. Paul Dunne, Shane Kerrigan and Dermot Plunkett were most reliable in defence and Trevor Hilliard and Eddie Quigley caused most problems for the Moninne defence. And so to the final showdown against Wolfe Tones from Drogheda. Knockbridge were warm favourites and, in the end, they fully justified that rating but it was Wolfe Tones who looked slightly sharper in the early exchanges at Castlebellingham. The Tones scored first, after only three minutes but the ever reliable Sean Byrne pointed a close-in free to get the favourites on the scoreboard. Wolfe Tones went ahead for the second time with a long range point from Paddy Coyle. The teams were level for the second time when Paul Dunne was on target from a long range free in the 12th minute. Knockbridge were finding it difficult to generate any degree of momentum and went two points behind as the Droghedamen enjoyed a good spell. The villagers' tally of wides was mounting but a point from Eddie Quigley appeared to inspire the team and was a real contender for the game's turning point. David Dunne and Paul Dunne added points within minutes as Knockbridge edged ahead for the first time. Trevor Hilliard followed suit with another point after an incisive solo run but Wolfe Tones replied with a point from a free by Paddy Coyle. With half time approaching and just one point separating the teams, Hilliard put further daylight between them to leave the score at the break Knockbridge 0-7 Wolfe Tones 0-5. The first score of the second half was always going to be vital and it was Sean Byrne who claimed it for Knockbridge. They were now three points ahead and when their opponents missed a fine opportunity to equalise Knockbridge took control. Kevin Kirk scored a glorious point from out on the left wing to give his team a four point cushion with just over twenty minutes remaining. The scoring rate subsequently died down as did the competitive element of the game. Wolfe Tones were unable to add to their half time tally and it became an exercise in containment for the pre-match favourites. Trevor Hilliard ended a long scoreless spell with his third point of the game, a score which clinched his man of the match award and Ronan Byrne pointed a late free to leave the final score Knockbridge 0-11 Wolfe Tones 0-5. It was a third title in the space of four years for the Knockbridgemen ... their outstanding players in the final were Trevor Hilliard, Conal O'Hualachain, Dermot Plunkett, Paul Dunne, Kevin Kirk, Eddie Quigley and Sean Byrne. The team and scorers was as follows: Brendan McNally, Conor Kerrigan, Dermot Plunkett, Shane Darcy, Brendan Corbett, Paul Dunne 0-2, Kevin Kirk 0-1, David Dunne 0-1, Conal O'Hualachainn, Trevor Hilliard 0-3, Eddie Quigley 0-1, Ronan Byrne 0-1, Paddy Mone, Paudie Kierans, Sean Byrne 0-2. Subs - Shane Kerrigan, Brian Dunne, Diarmuid Duffy * Knockbridge seniors rounded off an excellent year when they also won the senior league title, defeating Pearse Og in the final to complete a famous double. All in all, it was an excellent year for the club who remain a dominant force both at adult and underage level, while Paul Dunne's heroic feat in the Poc Fada in 2003 is the stuff of legend. Tweet

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