Kilmainham 0-11      Curraha 2-06 

Kilmainham travelled to a sunny Curraha for the first round of the new Premier Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Kilmainham got off to a great start when half back Mathew Mullen got his first of the day after great work in defence from Tom Monaghan. Both teams made lots of mistakes over the next 14 minutes with Curraha unable to find their range and Kilmainham struggling to find that all important last pass. Curraha had the teams level with a pointed free just before the water break. Shane Butler restored his team advantage with a well taken fisted point after good work from Brian Black, Joe Mahon and the impressive Mullen. On 22 minutes Curraha found their way to the Kilmainham net and took the lead, 0-02 to 1-01. Midfielder Denis Newman found himself with a sideline ball on the right hand side. Just like most of Meath yesterday, he took inspiration from Shane O’Rourke’s monster point from nearly the same position and decided to give it a go. Newman didn’t disappoint and judged it perfectly to bring his team back within 1. Newman was on scoreboard again on 27 minutes with a another long range point but a late tackle after he kicked the ball ended Newman’s afternoon as he brought the teams level, 0-04 to 1-01, heading for half time.  

Full forward Ben Farrelly moved to the middle of the field as the 2nd half resumed and had his team ahead once again with seconds of the restart, 0-05 to 1-01. Kilmainham started to find their feet with Mahon, Mullen and half forward Pat O’Sullivan getting on lots of ball. O’Sullivan got on the scoreboard with a pointed free after he was fouled. Mullen added his 2nd of the afternoon on 2 minutes before Curraha brought our advantage back to 2 with 10 minutes gone. Curraha were reduced to 14 men after they lost their no.9 to a second yellow for a foul on Mullen. O’Sullivan converted the free to leave the score 0-08 to 1-02 with 10  minutes gone. Farrelly increased the advantage just before the water break to leave Kilmainham 0-09 to 1-02 ahead at the water break. O’Sullivan added another to his tally on 16 minutes to give his side a 5 point advantage. Curraha didn’t lie down and scored 4 unanswered points before getting an all important second goal to give them a 2 point lead with time all most up. It was a goal or nothing for Kilmainham and when Farrelly was fouled in front of goal, O’Sullivan had no option but to give it a go. Curraha lined the goal but O’Sullivan’s shot skimmed across the crossbar to leave the final score at 0-11 to 2-06.  

Kilmainham will be disappointed with the final score as they were in control for most of the game and will feel it was one they left behind. There was good performances from Mathew Mullen, Joe Mahon, Pat O’Sullivan, Ben Farrelly and Stephen Lynch. Up next we welcome Kilbride to Kilmainham on the 15th August.  

Kilmainham: Trevor Lynch, Stephen Woods, Darren Morgan, Philip Mahon, Mathew Mullen(0-02), Fergal Black, Stephen Lynch, Denis Newman (0-02, 1free), Joe Mahon, Shane Butler (0-01), Pat O’Sullivan (0-04, 3 frees), Tom Monaghan, Brian Black, Ben Farrelly (0-02), Aodhán Healy. Subs: Paul Daly for Newman, Ros Mooney for Healy, Peter Smith for Woods, Mattie Mulroe for B.Black, Padraic Black for Morgan.  

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