A league football Division 1B

The Ha run Duleek/Bellewstown to the minimum

Curraha clashed with their near rivals and neighbours Duleek/Bellewstown in round 2 of the Séamus Connolly Catering Football A League Division 1B on a warm, windless & sunny evening in Joe McDermott Park in Curraha at half 5 on Saturday evening. As large amounts of rain had fallen since Curraha had played Navan O'Mahonys 3 weeks earlier in Curraha as well, with many fixtures canceled and this match in particular thrown into jeopardy but Curraha's pitch was in very good condition despite the weather in recent weeks.

Robert Purfield got the game underway at 5:33 with a very large crowd in attendance from both clubs. Duleek/Bellewstown were much quicker out of the blocks with the first 3 points of the game without reply with the pick of them coming from Jamie McDonnell. Debutant for Curraha Ronan Flynn got Curraha's first score of the game with a peach of a score off his left foot. Flynn then won a great catch in the middle of the pitch and gave an old style 50-yard high ball into the square which was caught by Gavin Coyle and slotted into an open net, on the stroke of 10 minutes. Duleek/Bellewstown hit back with a point from a free from their full forward. Curraha then registered their second goal of the game with another long ball in which was flicked into the goal by Ruairí O'Sullivan 15 minutes in, and Curraha led 2.01 to 0.04. Duleek/Bellewstown then got the next 6 points of the game with 4 of them from frees. Halftime score read Curraha 2.01 Duleek/Bellewstown 0.10

It was anyone’s game at this point. with Curraha just needing to tighten up on a few issues but Duleek/Bellewstown would be wary of Curraha's goal scoring threat.

Duleek/Bellewstown got the first point of the second half from Jamie McDonnell. Curraha got their first point of the second half with an excellent free from Ronan Flynn. Duleek/Bellewstown then extended their lead to 6 points with 2 fine points from one of their halftime substitutes and Robin Clarke. Curraha finally came to life at this stage, and they completely started to dominate the game starting with an excellent point from Johnny Cahalan who had starred for the Curraha second team 11 days earlier against St. Vincents. The scoreboard went quiet with both sides hitting wides. As the game approached the last 10 minutes the score read Curraha 2.03 Duleek/Bellewstown 0.13, 4 points in the difference. James McEntee who had starred all day for Curraha, chipped in with an excellent free off his right. Andrew Coyle then clipped over a great score off his right from play to leave 2 between the sides. Duleek/Bellewstown steadied their ship with a point from a free. Ronan Flynn quickly replied with 2 brilliant frees of his left to leave a point in it and all the momentum with Curraha. Unfortunately, it was too little too late as Robert Purfield blew for full time final score read Curraha 2.07 Duleek/Bellewstown 0.14

A hard result for Curraha to take but will be very pleased with their performance and will take great positives from it, with many players on County duty and early season injuries to come back, their hard work will lead to a good result coming soon.

Next up is an away match against Syddan in 2 weeks time at half 6 on the 8th of April.

Curraha team

Luke McCarthy, Ian Battersby, Matthew Webb, Johnny Cahalan( 0.01) Oisín Fay, Niall Murphy, Brian Joyce, James McEntee(0.01F) Neil Shortall, Conor Joyce, Andrew Coyle(0.01) Sean Ronan, Gavin Coyle(1.00) Ronan Flynn(0.04)0.03F Ruairí O'Sullivan(1.00)

Referee: Robert Purfield

CREDIT TO IVAN KEOGH FOR THE MATCH REPORT

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FIRST DRAW ON FRIDAY MARCH 31ST