Curraha 2-8 Duleek/Bellewstown 0-20

Curraha travelled to Duleek for a meeting with their neighbours in Group C Round 1 of the Corn na Boinne for 2025. Curraha came into the game a very different looking opposition compared to their last competitive match over 4 months ago. As the new rules came into effect Curraha had a very new look team for the first competitive game of 2025. Curraha handed 3 debutant starts to Thomas Morgan, Mylo Hussey and Peter Sherlock. Curraha also handed 3 debuts to Andrew Gough, Mark Mahon, and PJ O'Reilly who all came on throughout the game. 

The game got under way at 4 minutes past midday with Brian Joyce and Shane Crosby contesting the new look throw up whilst Mylo Hussey and Duleek/Bellewstown’s Cian Kelly waited on either sidelines. Duleek/Bellewstown started the brightest of the 2 sides and got the first score of the game in the 3rd minute when John Flood kicked a fine point from play. Duleek/Bellewstown were 3 points in front by the 5th minute with further points from Ciaran Flynn and Shane Crosby. Curraha began to settle into the game and some brilliant defending from the Curraha backs led to a long footpass into the Curraha full forward line. Curraha were awarded a free just outside the new arc and Ruairí O’ Sullivan stepped up, with the aid of a slight wind at his back O’Sullivan kicked Curraha's first ever competitive 2 pointer after 9 minutes of play. Curraha levelled the match in the 13th minute when Ruairí O’Sullivan kicked a great point from play after again some fine build up play. Matthew Brennan was the busier of the 2 keepers in the first half with him called into action to deal with Duleek/Bellewstown attacks. Duleek/Bellewstown got the next 3 points of the game 2 coming from John McDonnell, 1 of which was a free as well as a fisted point by John Flood. Duleek/Bellewstown now had a 3 point lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half. Both teams were getting to grips with the new rules and had to keep their discipline or else they would be penalised heavily. Curraha got one of the scores of the game when a brilliant turn over at the back led to Mylo Hussey collecting the ball and going by his man. Hussey took a shot from over 45 metres out and it sailed between the crossbar to give Curraha their second 2 pointer of the match and the orange flag was raised. Duleek/Bellewstown finished with a flourish and kicked 2 points at the end of the half with 1 from Kyle Callaghan 1 from Joe Hartford which left the halftime score: 

Curraha 0-5 Duleek/Bellewstown 0-8 

Curraha introduced Andrew Coyle for Ben Heagney at halftime and Duleek/Bellewstown got their first 2 pointer of the game when Cian Kelly sent the ball over the bar. Shortly afterwards Duleek/Bellewstown extended their lead to 6 points with a point from play from Kyle Callaghan. Curraha gave another debut to PJ O'Reilly when he was introduced for Daigh Fitzpatrick. Duleek/Bellewstown got another 2 pointer in the 12th minute to extend their lead. Curraha were forced into another change when Conor O’Farrell suffered an injury and Jamie Cleary was introduced. Duleek/Bellewstown were in a commanding position with 15 minutes remaining after 2 further scores to leave 10 between the sides. Curraha didn't drop the heads though and began to get more possession around the middle. A free was awarded and Ruairí O’Sullivan stepped up and he sent the ball in high, Peter Sherlock got to flick the ball to the back post as far as PJ O'Reilly who palmed the ball to the back of the net to leave 7 in it with 10 minutes remaining. Curraha reintroduced Ben Heagney for Mylo Hussey with 8 minutes remaining as well as introducing Mark Mahon, another debutant for Robert O’Farrell. Curraha found the back of the net shortly afterwards when they split the Duleek/Bellewstown defence in 2 and Peter Sherlock rounded the Duleek/Bellewstown goalie and finished the ball to the back of the net. Shane Crosby kicked Duleek/Bellewstown’s 3rd 2 pointer of the game moments later to steady the Duleek/Bellewstown ship. Ronan Flynn responded with a 2 pointer of his own to cut Duleek/Bellewstown’s lead back to 4 points. Duleek/Bellewstown extended their lead back to 6 with 2 further points both from play with 3 minutes remaining. Ronan Flynn kicked a fine point from a free with 2 minutes remaining to leave 5 between the sides. Curraha and Duleek/Bellewstown both made great use of another new rule change by having unlimited subs and Curraha made 2 further changes and introduced Andrew Gough another debutant   for Peter Sherlock and Shea O’Connor coming on for Ruairí O’Sullivan. Duleek/Bellewstown had a chance of a goal in the final minutes and a brilliant strike looked as though it would head straight into the top corner of the Curraha net, but Matthew Brennan produced a brilliant save to deny Duleek/Bellewstown. Duleek/Bellewstown did get the final score of the game when Cianáin Byrne fired over a point from play which was the final action of a very entertaining contest. 

A deserved victory for the home side but lots of positives to take for Curraha and plenty to work on also. Curraha got to introduce 7 debutants into the team whether starting or being introduced as subs. Each one all had brilliant performances and were helped by the senior players throughout the game and will be in the weeks ahead to help get established into adult football. 

Curraha team and scorers: Matthew Brennan, Robert O’Farrell, Oisín Fay, Séamus Hogan, Thomas Morgan, Conor O’Farrell, Seán Ronan, Brian Joyce, Mylo Hussey 0.02 (1, 2 pointer) Conor Joyce, Ronan Flynn 0.03 (0.01F)(1, 2 pointer) Peter Sherlock 1.00, Daigh Fitzpatrick, Ruairí O’Sullivan 0.03 (1, 2 pointer Free) Ben Heagney 

Subs: Andrew Coyle for Ben Heagney, PJ O'Reilly(1.00) Jamie Cleary for Conor O’Farrell, Mark Mahon for Robert O’Farrell, Ben Heagney for Mylo Hussey, Andrew Gough for Peter Sherlock(1.00)  and Shea O'Connor for Ruairí O’Sullivan

Referee: Peter O’Halloran

Report: Ivan Keogh 

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