Curraha suffered a narrow defeat against local rivals St. Vincents, with a strong second-half performance falling just short as Vincents held on for a 3-8 to 2-10 victory.

Curraha made the perfect start and found the back of the net inside the opening three minutes. Ivan Keogh forced the turnover before the ball was worked forward to Mylo Hussey, who made an excellent run in behind the Vincents defence, rounded the goalkeeper and calmly finished to the net.

Vincents responded well and gradually got on top, registering two points in quick succession before adding another from a free to draw level.

Hussey restored Curraha's lead after 15 minutes when he converted a free following a strong run which ended with a foul, but Vincents struck for their first goal four minutes later to move ahead.

The hosts added another point before Curraha produced one of the scores of the game. Starting from a Gavin Coyle kickout, the ball was worked patiently up the right wing, with Mark Mahon driving forward, before Conor Joyce took possession close to the right touchline and fired over an excellent two-pointer off his right foot.

Vincents responded with another point before Curraha were dealt a blow on the stroke of half-time. An effort dropped short into the danger area and Vincents took advantage to find the back of the net for a second time, leaving Curraha trailing by five at the break.

Curraha began the seconf half well and quickly began eating into the deficit. Kevin O'Connor forced an early 45 and Curraha moved the ball quickly from the restart, allowing Joyce to find the range once again with his second two-pointer of the evening.

Less than a minute later, O'Connor won possession and released Hussey, who drove through the centre of the Vincents defence before firing over a fine left-footed point.
Hussey continued to keep the scoreboard moving, converting a free after Cian Heagney was fouled around the 21-metre line. Another followed shortly afterwards after Nick Dillon did brilliantly to win possession from a Vincents kickout before being fouled, with the resulting free moved forward and Hussey making no mistake.

Curraha gathered further momentum after 19 minutes when substitute Nick Dillon produced a superb individual goal. Dillon gathered possession before carrying the ball close to 40 metres, breaking through the Vincents defence and driving an emphatic finish to the back of the net.

Vincents responded with a free, but Curraha continued to push forward. Anothe free was moved forward for dissent and Hussey converted from 13 metres.

Just as Curraha appeared to have the momentum, Vincents struck for their third goal to draw the sides level. A free dropped short into the Curraha goalmouth and was finished to the net, with appeals for a square ball waved away.

Excellent work from Robert O'Farrell helped force another turnover before Vincents were penalised for failing to bring the ball back, allowing Hussey to convert another 13-metre free to put Curraha back in front, with two minutes to play. However, Vincents levelled matters two minutes into injuy time, and there was still time for them to win the resulting kickout and work a score to win the game at the death. 

Full-time: Curraha 2-10 (16), St. Vincents 3-8 (17).

Curraha:  Gavin Coyle, Ivan Keogh, Ben Heagney, Mark Mahon, Eoghan Burke, Robert O'Farrell, Lucas Duffy, Cian Heagney, Conor Joyce, Conor Toole, Michael John Lavin, Eric O'Donoghue, Kevin O'Connor, Gary Dowling, Mylo Hussey.

Subs used: Andrew Gough, Nick Dillon, Jamie Cleary, John Dardis