SFC relegation: Curraha push 14-man O'Mahonys to the brink

October 23, 2021

Curraha's Diarmuid Moriarty

A late flourish secured SFC status for Curraha at Skryne on Friday night leaving Navan O'Mahonys on the brink of relegation.

Curraha ........ 0-12
O'Mahonys ..... 0-9


In the relegation decider O'Mahonys will face Ballinabrackey or Dunshaughlin.

Diarmaid Moriarity's 59th minute point broke the deadlock and Curraha's status was settled with further scores from Niall Murphy and Jack O'Connor.

O'Mahonys lost Brian Dillon to a straight red card mid-way through the first-half, following an off-the-ball incident.

Throughout the second-half O'Mahonys looked more likely winners but were undone by missed chances (including a couple of goal chances).

In the last act of the game, O'Mahonys' wing-back Aodhan Mallon had a goal attempt blocked by Curraha 'keeper Luke McCarthy.

Within 11 seconds of the off the impressive Diarmuid Moriarty pointed Curraha in front. Soon a Jack O'Connor free doubled the difference.

Brian O'Hanlon's seventh minute free had O'Mahonys in front. Shortly after the same player saw his goal attempt rebound againt the butt of the post.

The sides were tied, 0-4-each, at the first water break. A great Marcas Brennan save from Jack O'Connor at the expense of a 45 didn't ignite O'Mahonys.

Instead, while O'Mahonys were taking wroing options Curraha were moving clear with Jack O'Connor's stoppage time point leaving Stephen Morgan's men 0-8 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.

While Curraha failed to score in the third quarter, O'Mahonys - playing into what regarded as the 'scoring' goal - managed just three points. Top scorer Brian O'Hanlon's pointed free leveled matters at the second water break, 0-8 to 0-8.

Moments earlier a mix-up in the O'Mahonys' defence led to a penalty following a foul on Gavin Coyle. Jack O'Connor's kick was brilliantly saved by Brennan.

With the scores tied heading into the final quarter momentum appeared to be with Davy Nelson's side. O'Hanlon had a great goal chance when put through by substitute Niall McKeigue. The same combination conjured up the leveling score in the 56th minute for O'Hanlon.

Curraha - who lost four games in the campaign - displayed the necessary spirit and efficiency to claim the win when it appeared the game was going away from them. 

Scorers: Curraha - Diarmuid Moriarty 0-5, Jack O’Connor 0-3, Ciaran O’Hanrahan 0-1, Conor Moriarty 0-1, Gavin Coyle 0-1, Niall Murphy 0-1  

Navan O'Mahonys - Brian O'Hanlon 0-5 (2fs); Jake Regan 0-3 (1f); David Dillon 0-1. 

Curraha - Luke McCarthy; Oisin Fay, Matthew Webb, Conor O'Farrell; Neil Shortall, Niall Murphy, Padraig O'Hanrahan; David Toner, Diarmuid Moriarity; Brian Murphy, Jack O'Connor, Ciaran O'Hanrahan; Conor Moriarity, Gavin Coyle, James McEntee (C). Subs - Sean O'Hanrahan for O'Farrell (48), Brian Joyce for Coyle (52).

Navan O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; Mikey Reilly, Conor Brady, Paddy Dillon; James O'Reilly, Evan Coffey, Aodhan Mallon; Conor Finnegan, Duggie Dillon; Darragh Maguire, Stephen Bray, Brian Dillon; Jake Regan, Ruairi Smith, Brian O'Hanlon. Subs - Eimhin Power for Finnegan (45), Cormac McGuinness for Coffey (54), Shane McCarthy for Smith (57).

Referee - Barry Tiernan (O'Dwyer's, Balbriggan)


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