Bective travelled to Seneschalstown on this wet Friday evening for a relegation clash with Curraha knowing that the losers play O’Mahony’s in the relegation final in two weeks’ time.

The pitch and grounds were in great condition, and all was set for this competitive match.

Bective 4-11 Curraha 3-8

Bective had not shown any great form or consistency in earlier 2025 championship outings but there was a quiet confidence among the players that preparation and training had gone well in the last two weeks with big numbers attending and the return from injury of influential players. Bective showed their intent with the throw-in ball won by Adam Cully and supported by his defence the ball was transferred to Cathal Mc Connell and punted into the danger zone where Mark O’Brien closing in on goal brought a great block from the full back. Curraha moved the ball down the field but shot wide. Great fielding from Tristan O’Neill started another attack but O’Brien’s shot from a tight angle went wide of the post. Curraha responded with another attack but again resulted in a wide ball. Bective were on top in the midfield area and Mark Dowdall tidied up the loose ball and onto Luke Heneghan and then James Donnelly who gave a timely pass to Cully and he opened the scoring with a fine point on 4 minutes. Curraha pointed on 6 minutes and again on 7 minutes after a Bective shot went wide off the upright. A fine interception from Neil Dowdall broke up a Curraha attack and the ball was controlled well by the Bective defence and moved quickly to Mc Connell who transferred to O’Brien who used his power to shield the ball and flicked back to Mc Connell but his shot was parried by the goalie and Sean Manning was in position to volley to the net from close range on 11 minutes. Bective were winning primary possession at mid field and with O’Brien dominant in the full forward line should have had more on the scoreboard with a wide from Mc Connell and a fisted effort from Con Smith went into the net for a kick out. Curraha pointed from a free kick on 15 minutes, and Manning pointed a minute later. Smith fired wide from a tight angled free kick. Super fielding and a penetrating run from O’Neill, splitting the defence, set up Manning for a well placed second goal on 18 minutes. Curraha pointed from a free kick on 20 minutes but a sequence of turnovers from intense Bective tackling resulted in a well taken point from Smith on 22 minutes. Curraha defended another Bective attack but were finding it difficult to breach the Bective defence but added a point from play on 24 minutes. This was followed by a clumsy tackle that was judged to be inside the Bective square, and the penalty was dispatched to the net on 26 minutes. Bective’s response was swift with a quick transfer through the heart of the Curraha defence and Smith pointed. Smith and O’Brien added 2 points to close out the first half scoring.

Bective 2-6, Curraha 1-5

Bective continued their middle third dominance at the beginning of the second half with Adam Cully winning the throw in and releasing his mid field partner Tristan O’Neill to drive forward and point from 20m. Curraha missed from a close in free kick and Mark Dowdall gained possession from the kick out and a well flighted delivery found Manning who flicked on to David Donnelly who drove forward and blasted to the net on 4 minutes. Bective mopped up a loose ball that was then booted forward and collected by Mc Connell who carried 60m and blasted over the bar from 13m. Con Smith pointed from 48m after O’Neill was tackled too early after been awarded a free kick and the ball brought forward 30m. Curraha showed their mettle with a quick break into the Bective square but the weak shot was not dealt with and the ball was booted into the Bective net on 7 minutes and quickly followed up with a point from play. Bective lost possession 20m out after a good turnover and Curraha goaled again from close range on 10 minutes. Curraha pointed from a free kick. Bective brought on the experienced Ciaran Mc Connell into the back line on 12 minutes. Curraha, seeking another goal, punted the ball into space but Bective goalie secured the ball and won the free out. Marty Mulhall came into the forwards. Mark O’Brien continued as a thorn in the Curraha defence and was on hand to finish to the net after a great penetrating run and transfer from Donagh Garvey on 14 minutes. Curraha were gaining more possession but shot wide from favourable positions. Bective were defending stoutly and giving away very few shooting opportunities with Ciaran Mc Connell managing the ball well and clearing to safety. Smith pointed from a free kick on 20 minutes after Curraha were found to have only two back. Joey Mullen came in to add fresh legs to the forward line and Mathew Cully came into the back line. Curraha pressed hard and were awarded a free kick from the 13m line but the 10 Bective players manning the line blocked and cleared the ball. Bective kept Curraha from breaching their defence and managed out the game.

The final whistle brought a loud cheer from the Bective players and team management as they relished their successful tactics and best performance of the year and brought an optimistic outlook for 2026.

Bective team: Scott O’Sullivan, Jack Grant, Jarlath Brennan, Donagh Garvey, David Donnelly, Mark Dowdall, Luke Heneghan, Tristan O’Neill, Adam Cully, James Donnelly, Cathal Mc Connell, Neil Dowdall, Sean Manning, Mark O’Brien, Con Smith.

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