Premier Championship Division 7

The Ha unlucky in Masterson Park

14th March 2023

Andrew Lenehan got Round 1 of the Premier Championship underway at 8pm on a baltic but dry Tuesday night in Ardcath.

Ardcath’s Matthew Tuite got the first score of the game from play one minute in. A minute later he cut in past the Curraha defence and slotted the ball into the back of the Curraha net, there were calls for overcarrying from the Curraha support and management but the goal stood. The score read one goal and one point to Ardcath, no score to Curraha .

Gavin Coyle registered Curraha’s first point of the game with a fine free. Ardcath’s Andrew McEntee then got a black card for what the referee put in his book as a deliberate pull down. Curraha were unlucky with some of their shot selection, with wides which would come back to haunt them. Gavin Coyle brought Ardcath’s lead back to two with a fine point from play along the side. Ardcath then got the next two points of the game both from play by their corner forward and midfielder. Curraha just couldn’t get into their groove, registering 6 wides in the first half.

Half time score read, Curraha two points, Ardcath a goal and three points.

Ardcath were more ruthless in front of the posts, when they scored 5 unanswered points, one of them coming from a free from their full forward Matthew Tuite. Score then read Ardcath one goal and eight points to Curraha’s two points.

Curraha were reduced to 14 men when Evan McGovern was shown a red card mid-way through the half and the Ardcath man was lucky to avoid a card aswell. Andrew Coyle got the first point of the half for Curraha with a superb free a long way out. Curraha then introduced Conor McAleese for Tadgh O’Sullivan with 15 minutes remaining. Gavin Coyle then brought the deficit back to 7 with a fine free. Tuite for Ardcath quickly restored it to 8 with a point from play. Curraha were awarded a penalty for a clear pull down. Gavin Coyle’s shot was saved by the Ardcath goalkeeper but was finished by Gary Dowling on the rebound. Ardcath quickly fired over two points as the game entered the last 5 minutes. Tuite finished off the Ardcath scoring with a point from play. Andrew Coyle got the last score of the game from a free. Final score, Curraha one goal and five points, Ardcath one goal and twelve points.

It was a disappointing result for The Ha but great to see 3 debutants in the Curraha line up, Johnny Cahalan, Cian Heagney and Robert O’Farrell. With a few more players to come back onto the scene the Ha will march on.

Curraha Team:

Matthew Brennan, Robert O’Farrell, Simon McDermott, Mark Jackson, Cian Heagney, Evan McGovern, Sean Ronan, Andrew Coyle (0.02F) Johnny Cahalan, Tadgh O’Sullivan, Ben Heagney, Ruairi O’Sullivan, Gavin Coyle 0.03 (0.02F), Gary Dowling (1.00) Jamie Cleary.

Subs used Conor McAleese for Tadgh O 'Sullivan

CREDIT TO IVAN KEOGH FOR THE MATCH REPORT