Disappointing result for Curraha in Carlanstown

Curraha made the long trip north for their re-scheduled meeting with St. Michaels in round 8 of the Seamus Connolly Catering A league Division 1B encounter on Thursday evening last. This match was originally fixed for the 11th of April but was postponed due to unplayable pitches.

Peter Skelly got the game underway at 8 o'clock and was played in pitch perfect conditions in Carlanstown. Curraha got the perfect start with a fine point from Niall Murphy 2 minutes in. David Lynch hit back straight away with a point for St. Michaels. Curraha's defence were caught asleep and St. Michaels took full advantage and put together a good team move which ended in a goal which was scored by Shane Mc Donnell. David Lynch then got his second point of the game to increase St. Michael's lead to 4. Curraha's Ronan Flynn reduced the lead to 3 with a fine point from a free. Johnny Cahalan's pass out of defence was intercepted in the 18th minute of the match, Cahalan fouled the man and the ref showed him a black card. He then awarded a penalty to St. Michael's as Cahalan was the last player back and his foul, was classified as a deliberate pull down even though it was outside the square. Shane Mc Donnell blasted the ball into the top corner of the net from the penalty to give St. Michael's a 6 point lead. St. Michael's pushed on and Declan Reilly got in on the action with a fine point from play 21 minutes into the half. Curraha got their first point since the 10th minute when Gavin Coyle got a point from play with 27 minutes gone. Ronan Flynn then gave Curraha hope with a fine point from a free a minute into injury time in the first half to reduce the deficit to 5 heading in at the break.

Halftime score read Curraha 0.04 St. Michaels 2.03

St. Michael's again came out all guns blazing in the second half when Raymond Reilly got a point from play 17 seconds in. Shane Mc Donnell extended their lead to 7, with a point from a free. Curraha to their credit didn't give up and Gavin Coyle got a superb point from a free a long way out on the sideline 6 minutes into the half. Ronan Flynn brought his personal tally to 3 points with another fine point from a free. Shane McCormack the St. Michael's goalie then came up the pitch and kicked a free out of his hands 10 minutes in. St. Michael's got the next two scores of the match one from Mc Donnell and one from Brian O'Reilly. Mc Donnell put 9 between the sides with another point from a free as the game ticked into the last quarter. Gavin Coyle got his 3rd of the game for Curraha with a point from a free. Ronan Flynn reduced St. Michael's lead to 7 with another point from a free as there was 6 minutes left in normal time. Shane Mc Donnell had the last say and got the last two points of the game one from a free and one from play to leave the final score.

Curraha 0.08 St. Michael's 2.11

Another spirited performance from Curraha who are still very tight on numbers due to county involvement and injuries. Hopefully when the lads return Curraha will have some more good days in the sun as we edge closer to the Championship. Next up is Moynalvey in Joe McDermott Park Curraha on Tuesday night the 23rd, for round 9 of the league at 7:45.

Curraha team

Liam Hogan, Johnny Cahalan, Matthew Webb, Mark Jackson, Niall Murphy(0.01) Oisín Fay, Seamus Hogan, Brian Joyce, Conor Joyce, Sean Ronan, Ronan Flynn 0.04(0.04F) Ruairí O'Sullivan, Gavin Coyle 0.03(0.02F) Andrew Coyle, David Dowse

Subs used: Eric O'Donoghue for Sean Ronan, Ciarán O'Hanrahan for Ruairí O'Sullivan and Sean Ronan for Ronan Flynn.

Referee: Peter Skelly

CREDIT TO IVAN KEOGH FOR THE MATCH REPORT