Curraha welcomed St.Pats to Joe McDermott Park for final round of league games, hoping to bounce back from disappointing results against Trim and Moynalvey. A win here would secure at least 4th spot for Curraha and a place in the division 2 semi-final. The predicted downpours held off and the game was played in perfect conditions.
The two sides traded early goal chances, with Conor Moriarty drawing a fine save from the Pats keeper early on, and a shot at the other end hitting the side netting. Moriarty opened the scoring in the 6th minute, closely followed by two James McEntee points, the first following fine work by Niall Murphy and Jared Roche. The visitors were causing some problems when they went forward, and registered their first score soon after, but they were guilty of dropping a number of efforts short, which were well dealt with by Luke McCarthy who was excellent throughout. It was his pinpoint kickout which launched the move for the next score, finding Murphy to drive down the wing. Oisin Fay and Conor Moriarty linked up to create space for Jack O'Connnor to fire over from the 40. The visitors registered the next score to keep in touch. Another McCarthy kick-out set Curraha on their way again with Matthew Webb and Podge O'Hanrahan involved to setup Jared Roche who drove down the left, cut inside and fired over on his right. This was the first of 3 points for Roche who can be very pleased with his impact on his first start. A quick turnover from the kick-out lead to O'Hanrahan getting on the scoreboard with a good long range effort. A close range free for St.Pats reduced the gap to 3 points after 22 minutes, quickly cancelled out by a close range McEntee free following an excellent turnover by Ronan Flynn. This was followed by a big moment in the game as the hosts raised the green flag and extended their lead to 7 points. A brilliant move involving Fay, Roche and O'Connor saw O'Hanrahan break the line on the 40 and drive towards goal before finishing brilliantly to the net. McEntee fired over another free, after he had been fouled when holding off multiple tackles to collect a long ball played in by Murphy, with Roche completing the scoring for the first half, this time firing over off his left from a tricky angle. This flurry of scores saw the hosts take a commanding lead into half-time, leading 1-9 to 0-3.
Curraha had a perfect start to the second half. roche recycled possession well from the left corner forward position, McEntee and O'Hanrahan combined to find Ronan Flynn who broke through a tackle and rifled home for his third goal of the season. St.Pats responded with a converted free, before Roche notched his third point after fine work by Niall McLarnon. Roche then turned provider as he found Brian Joyce who fired over a fine effort from distance. Moriarty got his second of the game from a free following a heavy tackle on James McEntee. Conor Joyce fisted over after another excellent team move, with McLarnon rounding off the scoring for the hosts after a move which he had started. St.Pats rallied late on, scoring 1-4 in the last few minutes, but Curraha's spell of dominance either side of half-time had put the result out of sight by that stage.
This was an excellent team performance from Curraha, with 9 different players getting on the scoreboard, and dominant displays all over the pitch. The result sees them finish in 4th place, and they will now take on Dunshaughlin in the semi-final in 2 weeks time.
The two sides traded early goal chances, with Conor Moriarty drawing a fine save from the Pats keeper early on, and a shot at the other end hitting the side netting. Moriarty opened the scoring in the 6th minute, closely followed by two James McEntee points, the first following fine work by Niall Murphy and Jared Roche. The visitors were causing some problems when they went forward, and registered their first score soon after, but they were guilty of dropping a number of efforts short, which were well dealt with by Luke McCarthy who was excellent throughout. It was his pinpoint kickout which launched the move for the next score, finding Murphy to drive down the wing. Oisin Fay and Conor Moriarty linked up to create space for Jack O'Connnor to fire over from the 40. The visitors registered the next score to keep in touch. Another McCarthy kick-out set Curraha on their way again with Matthew Webb and Podge O'Hanrahan involved to setup Jared Roche who drove down the left, cut inside and fired over on his right. This was the first of 3 points for Roche who can be very pleased with his impact on his first start. A quick turnover from the kick-out lead to O'Hanrahan getting on the scoreboard with a good long range effort. A close range free for St.Pats reduced the gap to 3 points after 22 minutes, quickly cancelled out by a close range McEntee free following an excellent turnover by Ronan Flynn. This was followed by a big moment in the game as the hosts raised the green flag and extended their lead to 7 points. A brilliant move involving Fay, Roche and O'Connor saw O'Hanrahan break the line on the 40 and drive towards goal before finishing brilliantly to the net. McEntee fired over another free, after he had been fouled when holding off multiple tackles to collect a long ball played in by Murphy, with Roche completing the scoring for the first half, this time firing over off his left from a tricky angle. This flurry of scores saw the hosts take a commanding lead into half-time, leading 1-9 to 0-3.
Curraha had a perfect start to the second half. roche recycled possession well from the left corner forward position, McEntee and O'Hanrahan combined to find Ronan Flynn who broke through a tackle and rifled home for his third goal of the season. St.Pats responded with a converted free, before Roche notched his third point after fine work by Niall McLarnon. Roche then turned provider as he found Brian Joyce who fired over a fine effort from distance. Moriarty got his second of the game from a free following a heavy tackle on James McEntee. Conor Joyce fisted over after another excellent team move, with McLarnon rounding off the scoring for the hosts after a move which he had started. St.Pats rallied late on, scoring 1-4 in the last few minutes, but Curraha's spell of dominance either side of half-time had put the result out of sight by that stage.
This was an excellent team performance from Curraha, with 9 different players getting on the scoreboard, and dominant displays all over the pitch. The result sees them finish in 4th place, and they will now take on Dunshaughlin in the semi-final in 2 weeks time.
Full-time: Curraha 2-14 St.Patricks 1-9
Curraha: Luke McCarthy, Oisin Fay, Matthew Webb, Seamus Hogan, Padraic O'Hanrahan(1-1), Niall Murphy, Sean Ronan, Brian Joyce(0-1), Niall McLarnon(0-1), Conor Joyce(0-1), Ronan Flynn(1-0), Jared Roche(0-3), Conor Moriarty(0-2, 2f), James McEntee(0-4,1f), Jack O'Connor(0-1)
Subs: Gavin Coyle for Jack O'Connor, Dylan Rowland for Conor Moriarty, David Coyle for Sean Ronan, Jamie Cleary for Padraic O'Hanrahan, Daigh Fitzpatrick for Jared Roche
