Curraha moved into contention for a place in the knockout stages of the SFC with this decisive win over Wolfe Tones at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.

Curraha ............. 1-19
Wolfe Tones ....... 1-7

The scoring exploits of Jack O'Connor and Conor Moriarity had a major bearing on the outcome as the collective tenacity of the defence. In addition, goalkeeper Liam Hogan made a couple of vital saves when the outcome was still in the balance. 

When Hogan stopped Thomas O'Reilly's 48th minute goal attempt just four points separated the team, 1-7 to 1-11.

Wolfe Tones finished with 14-men after Robert White's 53rd minute dismissal with his side 1-7 to 1-13 in arrears. 

Capitalizing on numerical advantage, Curraha copperfastened their second win of the campaign with six unanswered points. 

Wolfe Tones never led while the scores were tied just once when Thomas O'Reilly's third minute point countered Moriarty's opening score. 

Bidding to build on their win over Simonstown last time out, Curraha took the game to the 'Tones from the off moving 0-6 to 0-1 clear midway through the half.

The 'Tones had the backing of the moderate breeze in the first-half but were five points down after 17 minutes, 0-2 to 0-7.

James McEntee extended the lead before Wolfe Tones enjoyed their best spell of the hour which saw them cut the gap to two points in as many minutes. 

Saran O Fionnagain netted for the team in purple after a Caolan Ward pointed free.

To their credit Curraha responded well and Jack O'Connor's solo goal, one of the highlights of the hour, at the car park end was central to his side's 1-10 to 1-5 interval advantage. 

'Tones trimmed two points (Cian (free) and Caolan Ward) off the deficit within four minutes of resumption.They proved to be their sides' only second-half scores. 

Then after Cian Ward and Saran O Fionnagain exchanged passes the latter's goal attempt struck the crossbar. 

A goal there would have levelled matters. Then it didn't seem likely that Curraha would outscore the 'Tones by 0-9 to 0-0 from the 34th minute. 

With Curraha chalking up the wides, there were no more scores until O'Connor landed a 45th minute free.

Curraha gradually widened the gap on the scoreboard to enhance their chance of reaching the knockout phase. Both sides are still in the reckoning for places at the knockout stage.

Wolfe Tones - Trevor Browne; Robert White, Shane Glynn, Conor Sheppard, Caolan Ward (0-3, 2 fs), Niall O'Reilly, Brughach O Fionnagain; Alan Callaghan, Cian O'Neill; Gary McFadden, Saran O Fionnagain (1-1), Thomas O'Reilly (0-2); Fiachra Ward, Stephen Sheppard, Cian Ward (0-1f). Subs - Niall McLoughlin for McFadden (37), Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch for B O Fionnagain (46), Thomas Blayne for Sheppard (48)

Curraha - Liam Hogan; Oisin Fay, Sean O'Hanrahan, Conor O'Farrell; Padraig O'Hanrahan, NIall Murphy, Phelim Dowling; James McEntee (0-2), David Toner (0-3); David Coyle (0-1), Brian Murphy, Neil Shortall; Conor Moriarity (0-5, 2fs), Jack O'Connor (1-7, 0-3fs), Andrew Battersby. Subs - Sean Keogh for O'Farrell (37), Niall McLarnon for Shortall (43), Gavin Coyle (0-1) for David Coyle (46), Brian Joyce for Shortall (58), Seamus Hogan for Fay (62), Mark Jackson for P O'Hanrahan (62).

Referee - Padraic Coyle (Seneschalstown)

Wolfe Tones Report

Bhulf Ton 1-7   Curraha 1-19

Theip ar Bhulf Tón le roinnt seansanna maithe chúil, scóranna a bhi ag teastáil go dóite, go háirithe in aghaidh foireann cosúil le Curragha a bhí chomh éifeachtach ós comhair an chúil iad féin. Ní bhfuair siad aon scór ón gceathrú nóiméad is triocha agus ar aon nos ní dhéanfadh 1  07 an bheart dóibh aon lá is dócha. 

In warm calm conditions this was a perfect day for football. Curragha took the lead in the very first minute of this SFC round 4 game and were on the front foot throughout. Bhulf Tón were on level terms through a Thomas O Reilly point almost immediately. The next Tones attack saw Fiachra Ward gather the ball beat his man and with just the goalie to beat crack his shot off the crossbar. Perhaps this was omen of things to come as Tones created quite a number of goal chances which they failed to convert throughout the course of this game. Curragha seized the initiative to hit five points with out reply by the 14th minute to lead by 0  06 to 0 01. Saran Ó Fionnagáin and Caolán Ward (2 frees) kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Tones while Curragha responded with 2 points to leave the score line 0  04 to 0 08 by the 20th minute. Stephen Sheppard did have a goal chance but his left foot shot from the edge of the big square was blocked down. Then Tones put themselves right back in contention through a Sarán O Fionnagáin goal in the 22nd minute, the assist provided by the strong running Thomas O Reilly. Tones’ relief was shortlived with Curragha responding in style to hit 1  02 before the break while Tones could only manage a point from the boot of Thomas O Reilly. Scór leathama Bhulf Ton 1  05 Curragha 1 10.

Tones needed a good start to the second half and hit two points in the opening minutes, a Cian Ward free followed by a Caolán Ward point following a long run. The following ten minutes put paid to Tones chances of salvaging anything from this game due to a plethora of missed chances. Thomas O Reilly and Cian ward combined to create a goal chance which Thomas cracked off the crossbar. This score would have brought them level and given the team much needed momentum. Four further scoring chances went a begging in the following minutes with a missed free, a wide from play, a point effort into the keepers hands and a mis directed pass across the ‘21 to leave Tones empty handed for all their endeavour. Curragha fared no better in this period and had hit five wides by the end of the third quarter. The next score would be vital and it went Curragha’s way in the 46th minute  to stretch the gap to 4 points. Thomas O Reilly had the next scoring opportunity for Tones, opted for the goal and drew a fine save from the Curragha keeper. Nothing was going right for the Tones vanguard! Curragha finally shook off their inaccuracy in front of goal and hit three points without reply and were out of sight by the 53rd minute leading by 1  14 to 1 07, particularly as Tones were now down to 14 men following the dismissal of Robert White on a second yellow card. Tones eschewed a number of point opportunities in quest of goals and Cian O Neill drew another fine save from the keeper from close range in the 55th minute. Curragha threatened to run riot in the closing minutes and added five further points before the final whistle.

Although the score line suggests an easy victory for Curragha, Tones had five goal opportunities which they failed to convert and with a better conversion rate in the third quarter could have been in contention right to the end. They have two weeks to prepare for the final group game vs Na Fianna a match which could well define their season. 

Bhulf Tón: Trevor Browne, Robert White, Shane Glynn, Conor Sheppard, Brughach Ó Fionnagáin, Niall O Reilly, Caolán Ward (0  03 2f), Alan Callaghan, Cian O Neill, Gary Mc Fadden, Sarán Ó Fionnagain (1 01), Thomas O Reilly (0 02), Fiachra Ward, Stephen Sheppard, Cian Ward (0  01,1f) Subs: Niall Mc Loughlin for Gary Mc Fadden (36), Éanna O Kelly Lynch for Brughach O Fionnagain (46), Thomas Blaney for Stephen Sheppard (50).

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