Curraha 1-14   Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-09

Curraha oversaw the challenge of their close neighbours on Saturday evening to qualify for the Intermediate semi-final where Oldcastle await them.

A Don/Ash free opened the scoring but James McEntee had Curraha back on terms after the 8thminute. Donaghmore/Ashbourne had the wind at their backs but played a defensive game and Curraha had to be patient with creating chances and two Moriarty frees either side of a Steven Carton free had Curraha a point up at the halfway stage of the opening half. Donaghmore added another score to have the sides level for the second and final time as Curraha pulled away before the break with three unanswered scores. A late Carton free brought the score back to 0-06 to 0-04 at the break.

Curraha got the perfect start to the second half when Andrew Battersby raised the green flag with a great solo effort. Despite being fouled on route to goal, referee Colm McManus played advantage and Battersby slotted to the net. Donaghmore responded with two points to bring it back to three but Curraha started to get on top in every position and three fantastic points from David Toner, Brian Murphy and Moriarty had Curraha in full control approaching the final third. To their credit Ashbourne never gave up and notched two more frees before McEntee kicked two impressive frees as well as one from play. A Sam Benville free brought it back to six points but points from Gavin Coyle and Sean O'Hanrahan saw the HA march onto the Intermediate semi-final for the first time in the club's history.

Curraha: L. Hogan, N. Murphy, S. Hogan, S. O'Hanrahan 0-1, N. Shortall, D. Toner 0-1, M. Jackson, J. McEntee 0-4, B. Joyce, C. Moriarty 0-6, G. Coyle 0-1, B. Murphy 0-1, A. Battersby 1-0, D. Coyle, P. Dowling. Subs: S. Keogh for D. Coyle, E. McGovern for B. Joyce, A. Coyle for Battersby, M. Phelan for O'Hanrahan.

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