Curraha 0-12 Seneschalstown 0-12 AET (Seneschalstown win on penalties)

Curraha travelled to Skyrne to take on Seneschalstown for the third time this year, this time with Senior status on the line.

The game was played in very difficult conditions with continuous rain and a strong wind, which favoured Seneschalstown in the opening half. They got off to a quick start as they registered the game's opening score inside 20 seconds, and followed this up with a pointed free after 5 minutes. Diarmuid Moriarty got Curraha's opening score after 7 minutes following a foul on Jack O'Connor, and followed up with another free when Ruairí O'Sullivan was fouled when almost in on goal. Seneschalstown got the next 2 scores to lead after 20 minutes, A couple of excellent blocks from Brian Joyce and Phelim Dowling prevented Seneschalstown extending their lead, and from the resulting break upfield Ruairí O'Sullivan was dragged down, with Moriarty scoring from the free. From the resulting kickout, Curraha secured possession again, and an outstanding ball from James McEntee was caught on the turn by Moriarty, and he was hauled to the ground by his marker as he threatened to break through. He knocked over the resultant free to level the game after 22 minutes. Moriarty registered his first score from play soon after, beating a number of tackles down the right touchline before cutting inside and curling over off his left foot. giving Curraha the lead for the first time. Seneschalstown responded immediately to level the game for the third time, before Dowling got on the end of a quick free by McEntee to edge Curraha in front again. the game was tied up again as Seneschalstown won possession from their kickout and worked a score. They took the lead immediately after, with a brilliant save by Luke McCarthy denying them a goal as the ball spun over the bar off his outstretched leg. Moriarty levelled matters on the stroke of half-time, finishing off his left again after an excellent team move up the right. The sides were tied at 7 points apiece at the break.

Curraha got the opening score of the second half. O'Connor was first to a loose ball and found O'Sullivan who released Podge O'Hanrahan who fired over an excellent point from the right hand side. Conor O'Farrell found Moriarty in the next play, who spun a couple of defenders before turning back on to his left foot to score a brilliant point, and extend the lead to 2 points. Seneschalstown responded soon after, with Cathal Hickey firing over to leave them 1 behind. With the conditions making things difficult, scores were proving hard to come by with 15 minutes passing before a Moriarty free put Curraha 2 in front again. Seneschalstown again responded immediately to leave the minimum between the teams with 10 minutes to play. Seneschalstown were applying pressure without creating any clear chances, and Curraha will rue a number of efforts that dropped short in the closing minutes what would have given them some extra security, and they were punished as Seneschalstown managed to claim a mark almost 2 minutes into injury to level the game and bring it to extra time.

Seneschalstown scored straight from the throw in at the start of extra time. Curraha then broke up field and Moriarty gathered possession and beat his man who then rugby tackled him to the ground to prevent him breaking through on goal, with a yellow card being produced instead of the expected black. Moriarty pointed from the free to level the game again. Niall Murphy and O'Farrell lead a move upfield to create a chance for Moriarty who took his tally to double figures with 5 minutes to play. Similar to the end of normal time, it looked that the Curraha defence would keep the opposition at bay, as Seneschlstown struggled to create an opportunity. However, they managed to win a free in injury time, and level the match yet again, and send the game to penalties.

The Seneschalstown keeper proved to be the hero of the shootout as he produced two fine saves to give them the edge. Luke McCarthy, who was excellent throughout the game, managed to save one but it wasn't enough as Seneschalstown done enough to secure their Senior status for another year. Curraha will now face Ballinabrackey to decide who will drop down to Intermediate for 2025. with the game provisionally fixed for Friday October 18th. 

Curraha:  Luke McCarthy, Séamus Hogan, Matthew Webb, Oisín Fay, Conor O’Farrell, Niall Murphy, Podge O’ Hanrahan (0-1), Brian Joyce, Phelim Dowling (0-1), Ronan Flynn, Jack O’Connor, Diarmuid Moriarty (0-10) Ruairí O’Sullivan, Gavin Coyle, James McEntee

Subs used: David Coyle, Jared Roche, Eoghan Burke, Conor Joyce, Michael John Lavin, Sean Ronan, 

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