Curraha 3-12  Duleek Bellewstown 2-12

Curraha played host to their near rivals Duleek/ Bellewstown in Joe McDermott Park on a sunny but cold evening in Round 5 of the PMC physiotherapy Division 9 fixture on Tuesday evening. With Curraha still winless after 4 rounds of fixtures they were eager to get some points on the board. After a very encouraging game against Drumbaragh 14 days ago with Curraha coming up short by 6 points there were some big positives to take into this game. 

Peter Scanlon got the game underway at 7:30 and it was the away side who won the toss and opted to play into the dressing room end for the first half. Duleek/Bellewstown started the brightest with a point coming after 2 minutes from a free. Duleek/Bellewstown were once again on the score sheet a minute later with a point from play. Duleek/Bellewstown made it 3 points to no score after 6 minutes with a fine point from a free from off the ground. Duleek/Bellewstown again increased their lead when they got a good point from play in the 8th minute to the delight of their travelling support. Curraha got their first point of the match after 13 minutes of play when David Coyle turned his man and kicked a fine point from play. Duleek/ Bellewstown extended their lead back to 4 when they got a well worked point from play. Even though at this stage Curraha were down by 4 midway through the first half they were playing some great football and creating lots of chances. David Coyle got his second of the game with a brilliant point from play. In the 16th minute Curraha put their best move together, Matthew Brennan delivered a fine kick out straight down to Gary Dowling who laid it off to an oncoming runner, the Curraha attackers worked it past the Duleek/Bellewstown defence and Dowling received the ball and rounded the keeper and finished the ball to the back of the net to level the tie.

Duleek/Bellewstown went back in front with a point from a free. David Coyle made it a draw match with 12 minutes remaining in the half with a fine point from play out on the 45 metre line. Duleek/Bellewstown once again restored their lead with a nice point from play. Gavin Coyle leveled proceedings with a fine point off his right foot from a free. Gavin Coyle then put Curraha ahead for the first time with 6 minutes remaining in the half with a well worked point from play. Matthew Brennan was called into action and produced a fine save to deny Duleek/Bellewstown. However Duleek/Bellewstown did get their goal with a fine move resulting in a well finished goal with 2 minutes remaining in the half. Peter Scanlon called time in the first half with 2 points between the teams. Halftime score read Curraha 1.05 Duleek/ Bellewstown 1.07.

Curraha introduced Seán Ronan for Dylan Rowland at halftime. The game got back underway with Duleek/Bellewstown extending their lead to 3 points after 2 minutes of the second half. Gavin Coyle brought the deficit back to 2 with a fine point from a free. Duleek/Bellewstown were not going to let their lead slip too much though and brought their lead back to 3 with a point from a free. Curraha then hit a period of dominance and scored 1. 02 without response. The first point came from a great point from a free from Gavin Coyle after 8 minutes. Curraha managers then decided to introduce Alan O'Connor for Conor McAleese with 20 minutes remaining. Gavin Coyle was once again on the score sheet when he scored his 4th point of the match with an excellent point from a free. Curraha put together a brilliant move with the long ball in troubling the Duleek/Bellewstown defence. Conor Joyce delivered a pin point accurate pass into David Coyle who coolly drilled the ball to the top corner of the net to give Curraha a 2 point lead.

Duleek/Bellewstown brought the deficit back to a point when they got a nice point from play which would set up a grandstand finish. Curraha made a double change with 10 minutes remaining and introduced Eoghan Burke for Simon McDermott and Brian Joyce for Gary Dowling. Duleek/Bellewstown leveled the game for the 4th time with 8 minutes remaining. Duleek/Bellewstown were on the attack but a great interception from Michael John Lavin who delivered a fine kick pass into David Coyles hands.He had some work to do but out beside the dugout he skinned his man and curled the ball over the bar. The game was once again leveled with a point from Duleek/Bellewstown. Gavin Coyle once again restored the lead with a great point from play. Disaster struck for Curraha when Duleek/Bellewstown split the Curraha defence in two and they buried the ball to the back of the net with 5 minutes remaining. Curraha weren't going to give up though and Matthew Brennan came forward and kicked a great point from a free off the ground. Curraha were forced into a change late on when Mark Phelan was forced off through injury and Conor McAleese came back on. Duleek/Bellewstown were attacking with the ball to see the game out but a brilliant challenge from Brian Joyce who then surged forward and was fouled just inside the D. Gavin Coyle calmly tapped the ball over the bar from the free to draw the match and both sides would have taken a draw with the game now in injury time. Curraha weren't finished however and were able to secure possession and the ball was delivered into Gavin Coyle who slotted the ball into the bottom corner and it was delight for the Curraha players. 

A brilliant game and credit to both sides for putting on a terrific contest which ended in a 3 point victory for Curraha.

Curraha have a quick turnaround and are up against Slane on Friday night in Round 6 of the same league in Joe McDermott Park at 7:30pm. 

Curraha: Matthew Brennan 0.01F, Dylan Rowland, Mark Phelan, Simon Mc Dermott, Jamie Cleary, Ben Heagney, Michael John Lavin, Séamus Hogan, Conor Joyce, Daigh Fitzpatrick, Gavin Coyle 1.07(0.05F), Shea O’Connor, David Coyle 1.04, Gary Dowling 1.00, Conor McAleese 

Subs used: Seán Ronan for Dylan Rowland, Eoghan Burke for Simon McDermott, Brian Joyce for Gary Dowling, Alan O’Connor for Conor McAleese, Conor McAleese for Mark Phelan. 

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