Team captain Daire Rowe gave an exemplary display at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday when leading Kilary Emmets to a narrow U21 F A final win over Curraha

Killary Emmets ....... 2-13
Curraha ................. 3-7

In addition to scoring eight points (six from play), Rowe dropped deep in the latter stages to dig out the Castletown/Syddan combination as Curraha laid siege to the old swimming pool goal.

Myles Byrne's side were far from a one-man outfit. Jamie McMahon's trio of points (including two left footed frees) were also central to the outcome.

Killary Emmets can take pride in the manner in which they responded to the concession of each of the three goals. Andrew Battersby's 48th minute effort left Curraha just three points off the pace, 3-6 to 2-12.

Curraha bid for honours floundered on poor marksmanship and some over elaboration. By the end they had 12 wides while Killary Emmets had just two.

As the clock ticked into the fifth minute of added time at the end of the game, Curraha were awarded a close range free. A goal was required on a bitterly cold overcast afternoon to force extra time. However, the massed ranks of navy jerseys were equal to Andrew Battersby's goal attempt.

Four textbook goals graced a fine first-half. Curraha moved 1-2 to 0-1 clear after 14 minutes when Conor O'Farrell netted at the town end. The Syddan/Castletown combination cancelled that score out with a trio of points on the spin.

Then in the 22nd minute Brian Murphy's low finish - with assistance from Brian Murphy - left it 2-2 to 0-4. A swift Killary Emmets response cut the deficit to the minimum when Paul Bellew goal with Daire Rowe and Mark Kelly in support.

The half hour was almost up when Mark Phelan's point moved Curraha 2-5 to 1-5 clear. In hindsight what happened in first-half stoppage time had a big bearing on the outcome.

First, Pauric Bellew's well-struck goal leveled matters for the first time. Then Rowe landed a point from play to send his side in at the break with a 2-6 to 2-5 advantage.

Nearly eight second-half minutes passed before the next score arrived, a Sean Keogh free for Curraha that tied the scores for the second and final time.

Killary Emmets again displayed admirable resilience posting six points on the spin. Rowe got the sequence going with a magnificent effort from play into the town goal.

With the board reading 2-12 to 2-6 with 47 minutes gone, the outcome looked a done deal. Curraha staged an admirable rally, but couldn't sufficiently unhinge a resolute 'Emmets' defence to prevail.

Killary Emmets - Thomas Meade; Evan Hoey, Cormac Rafferty; William Bellew, Michael Fedigan, Ryan Summersby; Jack Reid, Sean Clare (0-1); Jamie McMahon (JC) (0-3 2fs), Daire Rowe (C) (0-8, 0-2fs), Pauric Dillon (1-0); Mark Kelly, Paul Bellew (1-1). Subs - Andrew Kenny for Kelly (bs 40-42), Kenny for Bellew (51).

Curraha - Luke McCarthy; Mark Phelan (0-1), Niall Murphy; Sean O'Hanrahan (C), Andrew Moriarty, Robert Reid; Brian Joyce, Brian Murphy (1-0); Sean Keogh (0-5, 2fs), Andrew Battersby (1-0), Jack O'Connor (0-1 f); Andrew Coyle, Conor O'Farrell (1-0). Subs - Niall McLarnon for Coyle (49), Ian Battersby for Reid (55)

Referee - Martin Griffin (Simonstown)

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