Curraha were back in Junior Championship action for the first time since 2015 as they took on local rivals St. Vincents in Ashbourne on Sunday afternoon. A large crowd had gathered in anticipation of a hard-fought encounter, and they weren't disappointed, with the result hanging in the balance right until the death.

St. Vincents were first off the mark with an early point after a turnover on a Curraha kickout led to a good save by Luke McCarthy, with the rebound gathered and fired over the bar. From the resultant kickout, Curraha broke quickly up the field, with James McEntee driving through the centre before feeding Niall McLarnon, who placed an excellent strike past the Vincents keeper and into the net.

Just two minutes later, Vincents responded with a goal of their own. A speculative effort for a point dropped short and was punched clear by McCarthy, but the resultant scramble for possession ended with a Vincents player gathering the ball before finding the back of the net.

McEntee was on target with an excellent strike from just inside the two-point arc to reduce the gap. Vincents replied with a free from their next attack before a good spell for Curraha saw them register the next three scores.

Curraha's running game was causing problems for the Vincents defence and another fast break saw Andrew Coyle find a pocket of space 20 metres from goal and notch a point. Diarmuid Moriarty then found his range as he fired over a two-point free from more than 50 metres out. He followed that with another excellent long-range effort soon afterwards, this time from play and off his left foot.

A well-struck 45 from Vincents keeper Evan Connor kept the scoreboard ticking over for his side, and he was on hand soon afterwards to produce a brilliant save to deny McEntee as Curraha once again broke straight through the Vincents defence. Andrew Coyle reacted quickest to cleverly flick up the rebound and register his second point of the day.

Connor was then in action at the other end of the pitch as he registered a two-point free. This led to another quick Curraha break from the kickout, with McEntee firing over off his left foot to give Curraha a three-point lead approaching half-time.

However, there was still time for Connor to notch another two-point free with the final kick of the half to reduce the gap to the minimum at the break.

Having had the benefit of the wind in the first half, Curraha will have been disappointed not to make more of their possession and the chances they created, with some wayward shooting and missed goal opportunities allowing Vincents to remain firmly in the contest.

Two early converted frees put Vincents into the lead as the action resumed, with Moriarty levelling matters from a free after McLarnon was fouled when a goal opportunity looked to be opening up for Curraha.

Michael McIvor restored the Vincents lead with an excellent two-point effort, and they extended their advantage to three points soon afterwards.

Another goal chance went begging for Curraha 15 minutes into the half, with Ruairi O'Sullivan drawing an excellent save from the Vincents keeper before a covering defender somehow kept the follow-up effort from crossing the line. The ensuing battle for possession resulted in a Curraha free, which Moriarty converted, but Vincents responded with another long-range two-point score.

With 10 minutes to play, Curraha were in need of scores and, following another flowing team move involving a number of players, McEntee was on hand to fire to the net and reduce the gap to a single point.

Almost immediately, Vincents hit back with another point, but Curraha refused to throw in the towel and continued to push for scores. Moriarty kept a cool head to convert a free with three minutes remaining and once again leave the minimum between the sides.

Moriarty was then denied a free when he appeared to be pushed in the back as he prepared to shoot from directly in front of the posts. Curraha had Vincents penned in and continued to push for an equaliser and, with the clock moving into injury time, they won a free to the right of the goals.

Moriarty stepped up once again and calmly sent the ball between the posts to level the sides.

The remainder of injury time was a frantic affair, with both teams scrapping for possession and using whatever energy they had left in an effort to work one final scoring chance. A number of turnovers and heavy hits followed, but neither side could create the opportunity required to win the game, with a draw probably the fairest outcome after a tense and tightly fought battle.

Next up for Curraha is a clash with St. Brigids on Friday, 21 August.

FULL TIME: CURRAHA 2-12 ST.VINCENTS 1-15

Curraha: Luke McCarthy, Osin Fay, Conor O'Farrell, Seamus Hoha, Sean O'Hanrahan, James McEntee(1-2), Padraic O'Hanrahan, Niall McLarnon(1-00), Sean Ronan, Diarmuid Moriarty (0-6), Brian Joyce, Ronan Flynn, Ruairí O'Sullivan, Andew Coyle(0-2), Ciaran O'Hanrahan

Subs used: Conor Joyce, Eoghan Burke, Mylo Hussey