Curraha 2-18 Ballinabrackey 1-21 AET
Ballinabrackey win 4-2 on penalties

After the disappointment of defeat on penalties to Seneschalstown in the previous round, Curraha had to regroup and prepare for a crunch tie against Ballinabrackey. The winner would secure another year of Senior final, with the defeated side dropping down to Intermediate for 2025. the game was held in Dunganny to facilitate the streaming of the game on Clubber, and the conditions were excellent for an evening in late October.

Ballinabrackey made the better start, and they opened up an early two-point lead, with both scores from play by Danny Quinn. James McEntee got Curraha off the mark in the 8th minute following a turnover by Seamus Hogan. Quinn put the gap back to two soon after from a free, with Diarmuid Moriarty opening his account soon after following an excellent move involving Oisin Fay and Conor Moriarty. Another free for Quinn made it a 2-point game again after 13 minutes. The returning David Toner got off the mark for Curraha after Conor Moriarty brilliantly won a loose ball in the left corner, and McEntee switched play to the right for Toner to score from a difficult angle. The gap was pushed out to 2 again as the teams traded scores, with Bracks centre fielder firing over. Diarmuid Moriarty influence on the game was growing as the Bracks struggled to deal with him and he registered the next score, with Seamus Hogan launching an attack following an excellent Luke McCarthy kickout. McCarthy was then on hand to produce a fine save to prevent Ballinabrackey netting the first goal of the game. Another chance was handed to them almost immediately after, with Quinn registering another point from a free, leaving them in front 6 points to 4 after 18 minutes. Curraha were very much on top for the rest of the half, but will rue some wayward shooting as racked up 6 wides in this period, with a Diarmuid Moriarty free just before half-time their only return from this period.

Half-time score: Curraha 0-5 Ballinabrackey 0-6

Ballinabrackey were on the scoreboard immediately with Quinn registering from play. from the kick-out, Conor O'Farrell, McEntee and Diarmuid Moriarty combined well to create an opportunity for Toner, and he fired over well to reduce the gap to the minimum again. The Ballinabrackey keeper was on the scoresheet in the 5th minute with a well struck 45, with Diarmuid Moriarty pointing from a free in response. Curraha took the lead for the first time in the 8th minute of the second half. A good move down the left between O'Farrell and McEntee saw a long, high ball played in. Diarmuid Moriarty soared above his man, and burst past him as he landed before firing to the net. He fired over another point soon following a Hogan turnover and driving run through the centre by O'Farrell. With Curraha suddenly in a 3-point lead, Ballinabrackey responded with a point from play to reduce the deficit. However, they couldn't contain Moriaarty at this time, and he was on target from play again following a strong run from Toner. Mark Coffey got an important score for Ballinabrackey to keep the scoreboard ticking over for them, and they were denied a potential goal chance by an excellent Oisin Fay interception. He then launched a quick counter, releasing Ronan Flynn to storm upfield and find Moriarty to score once again to leave Curraha 3 points up after 14 minutes of the second half. Ballinabrackey responded with a point from play, followed up by yet another free for Quinn to leave it as a one-point game again. Moriarty was on target again from play in the 17th minute. McEntee done well to win a loose ball, Flynn and O'Farrell worked it through to Moriarty who sent a high curling finish over the bar, this time off his right foot. The opposition keeper was on target from a 45 again following an excellent block by Phelim Dowling. The sides were level again in the 22nd minute folowing a point form play by the Ballinabrackey centre fielder, and they edged in front from another free for Quinn. Curraha responded immediately, with O'Farrell and Flynn working it up the right and Toner striking an excellent shot over the bar. A minute later, Ballinabrackey stuck what appeared to be a decisive blow, as they stick for goal with only 3 minutes to play. Curraha settled and responded well. They worked the ball up the pitch from the kickout, and Moriarty was unceremoniously hauled down as he broke through on goal. He picked himself up and fired over to leave 2 between the teams. As the clock ticked into injury time, Curraha tried to work an opening. A high ball was played to the edge of the square, and the unlikely figure of Seamus Hogan was on hand to finish to the net and push Curraha in front, with time surely nearly up.  However, Ballinabrackey managed to secure their kickout and work the ball upfield, and over 3 minutes into injury they fired over a last gasp equalising point to bring the game to extra time.

Full Time: Curraha 2-13 Ballinabrackey 1-16

Extra time began with Conor Moriarty scoring an excellent mark, after Diarmuid had won the throw-in and fired a direct ball in to him. Ballinabrackey levelled after 5 minutes. Niall Murphy edged Curraha back in front in the 6th minute, with a brilliant curling effort after a great run by Podge O'Hanrahan. Another free for Ballinabrackey levelled matters yet again, and they edged ahead with a point from play in the 4th minute of injury time, at the end of the 1st 10-minute half of extra time.

HT Extra Time Curraha 2-15 Ballinabrackey 1-19

Diarmuid Moriarty dominated the opening minutes of the second period of extra time, registering 2 points from play to give Curraha the lead, and extending it with a free in the 5th minute. With Ballinabrackey struggling to create an opening from play, it looked like Curraha might hold on. Quinn was given the chance to reduce the gap with 2 minutes to play when they were granted a free. And with the game in injury time, they had yet another chance from a free, which was again converted by Quinn. As Curraha secured possession for one last attack, the whistle was blown, and the teams had to prepare for the dreaded penalty shootout. 

Unfortunately for Curraha, it was the opposition who were celebrating at the conclusion of the shoot, as they secured victory and Senior Status for 2025. The two sides had treated the large crowd to a thriller for 80+ minutes, and defeat on penalties seems a cruel way to settle such a contest, particularly when there was so much at stake. 

Congratulations to Ballinabrackey, and best of luck for 2025. 

Curraha will have to prepare for a return to Intermediate for the first time since 2017. A promising league campaign unfortunately did not follow through to the championship, although performances improved significantly in the playoffs. Consecutive defeats on penalties show just how fine the margins were and how close they came to staying up. A great effort from all involved and they can regroup and focus on 2025 when they return to action in the coming months. There is a lot of new blood in the squad, with 8 first team debuts this year, and 10 players coming up from a strong Minor panel for 2025, so hopefully there is a bright future ahead.

Full-Time in Extra Time: Curraha 2-18 Ballinabrackey 1-21
Ballinabrackey win 4-2 on penalties

Curraha: Luke McCarthy, Oisin Fay, Matthew Webb, Seamus Hogan (1-0), Niall Murphy (0-1), Conor O'Farrell, Podge O'Hanrahan, Brian Joyce, Phelim Dowling, Ronan Flynn (0-1), David Toner (0-3), James McEntee (0-1), Conor Moriarty, Diarmuid Moriarty (1-12,4f), Ruairí O'Sullivan

Subs Used: Gavin Coyle, Eoghan Burke, 

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