Curraha traveled to Dunsany GFC on Tuesday evening the 9th of July for Round 9 of the PMC Physiotherapy Division 9 League encounter. Dunsany's pitch was in perfect condition but was slightly slippy under foot due to the rain. The game got underway at 8pm on a wet and miserable evening for football which made play hard for both sides. Both teams would have plenty of space to play open football due to the game being played 14 aside. 

Curraha, playing into the dressing room end for the first half got off to a dream start after 2 minutes of play when Gavin Coyle finished the ball to the back of the home side's net. Dunsany got their first point of the game a minute later with a fine point from play. Gavin Coyle again was on the score sheet 3 minutes later when he finished off a fine team move and converted a point from play. Dunsany responded almost immediately with a point. Dunsany won a free on the edge of the D and their number 11 went for goal only for Matthew Brennan to produce a fine save to deny Dunsany a goal. It was a case of being at the right place at the right time for Johnny Cahalan in the 12th minute of play when a shot rebounded back out after the initial save from the Dunsany keeper and all Cahalan had to do was palm the ball to back of the net. Dunsany responded seconds later with another point from play. 2 minutes later Dunsany reduced the deficit to 3 with a point from play. Curraha hit a scoring spree and Conleth McLarnon started it off when he scored a brilliant point off the outside of his right foot on the stroke of 15 minutes. Curraha again extended their lead when Mark Jackson popped over a point from play. Gavin Coyle got his second goal of the game in the 19th minute when Curraha turned the ball over and Coyle dispatched the ball low into the Dunsany net. Dunsany responded with a fine goal of their own seconds later after a fine move up the pitch. Dunsany then got a point from play with 6 minutes remaining in the half. Gavin Coyle got his 2nd point of the game in the 27th minute of the half to give Curraha a 5 point lead at halftime. 

Curraha won the throw up for the second half and Conleth McLarnon drove at the Dunsany defence and kicked an excellent point from play. Curraha completely dominated the 3rd quarter and some great tackling from the Curraha backs led to Daigh Fitzpatrick converting a point from play along the wing after 6 minutes of play. Curraha kept the pressure on Dunsany and Mark Jackson kicked a fine point off his right foot in the 7th minute to give Curraha an 8 point lead. Michael John Lavin made a great run from centre back up the pitch and kicked a fine point. Curraha's period of dominance continued after some fine build up play resulted in Aidan McLarnon receiving a ball on the edge of the large box and drilling the ball to the back of the net to give Curraha a 12 point lead. The 4th quarter was a different state of affairs however and Dunsany weren't giving up without a fight, they themselves had a fine purple patch and it started with a point from play after 15 minutes in the second half. Dunsany got their second goal in the 16th minute after a fine team move. Dunsany got the next 2 points of the game to leave 6 points between the teams. Dunsany weren't finished here however and a rocket of a shot came off the right side of the post and into the net to leave 3 between the teams with 5 minutes remaining. Gavin Coyle got a badly needed score in the 27th minute for Curraha when he converted a fine point from a free from a tough angle. Dunsany again found the back of the net when a bullet of a shot found the roof of the net to leave the minimum between the teams as the game went into injury time. Curraha dug deep for a couple of minutes and won a vital kick out and grinded out a well deserved victory. 

Curraha 4.09     Dunsany 4.08 

A very entertaining game with Curraha looking as though they would run out comfortable winners at one stage but credit to Dunsany who battled back and nearly salvaged a draw or even a victory from the game late on. Curraha did well and saw the game out.

Overall it has been a very consistent league for Curraha where they put in good performances in every game and were unlucky in some games to not get anything from them. Curraha got 3 fine victories in the campaign. 

Matthew Brennan, Simon McDermott, Aidan McLarnon(1.00), Dylan Rowland, Michael John Lavin(0.01) Jamie Cleary, Mark Jackson(0.02) Conleth McLarnon(0.02) Daigh Fitzpatrick(0.01) Ben Heagney, Shea O’Connor, Alan O’Connor, Johnny Cahalan(1.00) Gavin Coyle 2.03(0.02F)

Next up for this Curraha team is the Meath Cleaning Supplies Premier Championship Division 7 which starts on Tuesday the 13th of August against St. Patricks in Joe McDermott Park(Curraha) with a 7:30pm throw in time.