St Michael's 1-9
St Vincent's/Curraha 0-13

St Vincent's/Curraha travelled to Kilberry on a sunny St Patrick's Day for Round 4 of the Minor Football League Division 2. For the second game in a row, St Vincent's/Curraha won the match by the slimest of margins but unfortunately for the home team, this was their 3rd defeat in a row also by the odd point which perhaps reflects how tight games can be in this division.

The game opened with St Michael's on the attack but after being awarded a free in the opening minute, they failed to capitalise and shot wide. The away tem were very lively too and Brandon McMahon won possession before offloading to Sean Moore who duly slotted the ball over to open the St Vincent's/Curraha account. This was followed by an excellent passing movement involving the lively Conor Moriarty and midfielder Brian Joyce before Moriarty kicked the first of his 9 points of the match. With Brian Joyce and Kevin Laffy winning breaking ball at midfield and Sean Keogh, Ryan Hand & Andy McEntee launching numerous attacks from the half back line, St Vincent's/Curraha began to add to their tally through Adam White and Conor Moriarty. Points were added both from play and frees conceded by the home side. With Andrew Battersby causing all sorts of problems for the home defence, S Vincent's/Curraha finished the half with a total of 0-7, the highlight of which was a wonderful solo run from Conor Moriarty who finished off with a fine left foot strike. St Michael's having missed a couple of earlier frees still managed to slot over 0-3 frees to leave the half time score of St Michael's 0-3, St Vincent's/Curraha 0-7.

The scond half started with an attack by St Vincent's/Curraha and a good passage of play involving Brian Joyce, Conor Moriarty and Andrew Battersby resulted in the latter stroking over to stretch the lead to 5 points. Perhaps fearing another unthinkable 1 point defeat, St Michaels roared back and were awarded 2 frees in quick succession both of which were slotted over to leave only a kick of a ball between the 2 sides. With St Michael's now winning the breaking ball at midfield, they pressed forward and only for some strong interceptions from Niall Murphy, St Vincent's/Curraha could have relinquished their lead midway through the second half. St Vincent's/Curraha upped their game and several passing movements involving numerous players resulted in further points for scorer-in-chief Conor Moriarty from open play and from frees. Late on in the game, disaster struck the away team when they conceded a penalty after a rash challane in the square. Captain and goalkeeper Luke McCarthy magnificently saved the spotkick but the Michael's spot kicker was quickest to follow up and drove the ball into the net from the rebound 

A very tense last few minutes ensued with points being exchanged. In the dying seconds, a St Vincent's/Curraha attack was broken up but unfortunately for the St Michael's player, the ball was handled on the ground. Ice cool Conor Moriarty slotted over the free and from the resultant kick-out the referee blew for full-time. A very hard earned victory for St  Vincent's/Curraha but desperate disappointment and hard luck for St Michael's.

St Vincent's/Curraha: Luke McCarthy, Samuel Howard, Niall Murphy, David Morgan, Andy McEntee, Ryan Hand, Sean Keogh (0-1) Kevin Laffey, Brian Joyce, Sean Moore (0-1), Conor Moriarty (0-9), Ian Battersby, Adam White (0-1), Andrew Battersby (0-1), Brandon McMahon. Subs: Nigy Hand for Adam White, Patrick McGill for Brandon McMahon, Andrew Moriarty

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