St. Vincents/Curraha travelled to Donore for a meeting with the Boyne siders in Round 2 of the Coolrite Refrigeration U 20 C Championship group B, on a dry but crisp Friday night.

St. Vincents/ Curraha’s captain Conor O’Brien won the toss and opted to play into the dressing rooms end for the first half. Managed by David Coyle, Mark Phelan, John Tuite and Alan Early, St.Vincents/Curraha were looking to get their first points after unluckily losing to Inny Gaels, a week earlier in Masterson Park Ardcath.

Liam Reddy got the game underway shortly after 8 O’Clock. The St. Marys midfielder won the throw up and went on a solo run up the field and got the opening score of the game. St.Vincents/Curraha responded brilliantly with a possible goal chance from Denis McEntee which in the end went over the bar off the right foot of McEntee to register

St.Vincents/Curraha’s opening score. St. Vincents/Curraha started to take advantage of the slight wind they had with them adding two quick scores coming from Ruari O’Sullivan and afine free from St.Vincents/Curraha’s midfielder Diarmuid Moriarty. St. Marys responded well with a good solo score from their corner back after a long run up the field, leaving a point between the sides 10 minutes into the first half. St.Marys started to pile on the pressure on the Vincents/Curraha’s backs with a chance of a goal the closest St.Marys got to troubling Vincents/Curraha’s goalkeeper Matthew Brennan.

St. Vincents /Curraha responded well to the St.Marys pressure with two more frees converted by the sharpshooter Moriarty. Both teams could be excused from a few spurned chances at either end of the pitch. With St. Vincents/Curraha looking well and truly in the driving seat middle way through the first half leading 0.05 to 0.02, they switched off for a minute, leading to a very well worked team goal finished off by the St.Marys number 13, leaving it a draw matchgoing into the last 5 minutes, of the first half.

Vincents/Curraha steadied the ship with a free coming off the right foot of ace freetaker Moriarty. With Vincents/Curraha well back in the match, Moriarty started to turn the screw and show his skill with an enormous score from play. Vincents/Curraha finished the half looking the brighter with a very good score off the right foot of midfielder Conor O’Brien. St.Marys did give themselves hope with a fine score from the number 10. As Liam Reddy blew for half time St.Vincents/Curraha led by 2 points 0.08 to 1.03.

As the second half began in Donore. The home side blew St.Vincents/Curraha out of the water early on, with scores coming from Sam Victory from a free and also one from play by Victory. Followed quickly by another point by one of the St.Mary’s halfback to leave them a point ahead about mid-way through the first half. With St.Vincents/Curraha now under pressure they needed inspiration from some where. Vincents /Curraha did that with a great team move finished off with a great score from Robert McGovern from play. Mary’s once again went ahead with a free from Sam Victory.

With the game finally in the balance Curraha decided to introduce fresh legs with them bringing on, David Dowse for Denis McEntee, who had got on the score sheet for St.Vincents/Curraha. With another point from Moriarty, leaving it a draw. Vincents/Curraha probably had the best chance of the game to win it, when Moriarty took a free, a long way out which hit the crossbar, with a goal-line scramble somehow St.Marys got to clear the ball. With another two points from Victory, one from a free leaving the score 0.10 to 1.09 in favour of the home side, Mary’s looked home and dry. But when it mattered most every single St.Vincents/Curraha player stood up with some brilliant defending from Gary Tuite, Robert O’Farrell, Cian and Ben Heagney and Alex McEntee to name a few.

With a great team move started by Matthew Webb,Vincents/Curraha won a free which was converted by Moriarty leaving a point between the sides but Vincents/Curraha weren’t going to let this one slip and worked a brilliant score finished off by Conor O’Brien much to the delight of the travelling support to leave the game a draw. St.Marys had a couple of chances at the end to win it but they just couldn’t find a way to win it due to some great, St.Vincents/Curraha defending. As Liam Reddy blew the final whistle, leaving a share of the spoils in Donore.

Full time score St.Vincents/Curraha 0.12 St.Marys 1.09

A very entertaining game on Friday night leaving both teams a great chance of getting out of the group. Next up for St.Vincents/Curraha is a home match against Moynalty/Carnaross next Friday the 4th of November in Masterson Park Ardcath at 8.00pm

St.Vincents/Curraha Scorers

Diarmuid Moriarty 0.07(0.06F), Conor O’Brien (0.02), Denis McEntee (0.01), Ruari

O’Sullivan (0.01), Robert McGovern (0.01)

St.Vincents/Curraha team

Matthew Brennan, Robert O’Farrell, Matthew Webb, Cian Heagney, Ben Heagney, Gary Tuite, Alex McEntee, Diarmuid Mioriarity, Conor O’Brien, James White, Ruari O’Sullivan, Conor Early, Sean Ronan, Denis McEntee, Robert McGovern

Subs used David Dowse for Denis McEntee

Referee Liam Reddy

CREDIT TO IVAN KEOGH FOR THE MATCH REPORT