Solid victory puts curraha into jfc semifinal
In the end it looked easier than it actually was for Curraha at Duleek tonight as they defeated Navan O'Mahonys in the JFC quarter-final by 3-12 to 2-6, but the third goal arrived in added time and was disputed by the Navan players and officials.
However, Curraha were worthy winners against a Navan side that finished with 14 men after second-half substitute Eamonn Ferris received a red card about 15 minutes after he replaced first-half substitute Bryan Gibney.
Curraha lost Phelim Dowling to a first-half ankle injury that could rule him out of the remainder of the championship.
Nevertheless, Curraha were quickly into their stride with some fluent passing that caused the Navan O'Mahonys rearguard plenty of problems.
Early points from Neil Shorthall and Conor Moriarty got Curraha moving, but slack defending in between those scores gifted Dylan Regan an opening point for O'Mahonys.
Curraha continued to press forward impressively and worked a goal in the ninth minute when Danny Battersby and Ciaran O'Hanrahan made the opening and James McEntee finished to the net.
Five more points for the remainder of the half was probably a poor return for the amount of possession they enjoyed, but with David Toner, Conor Moriarty (two), Neil Shorthall and Evan McGovern - a real goal opportunity - splitting the posts, Curraha were ahead by 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval.
David Dillon and Paddy Dillon completed the first-half tally for O'Mahonys.
By the three-quarter stage Curraha had built up a 2-9 to 0-6 lead with the second goal coming from Ciaran O'Hanrahan.
The Curraha full-forward picked up possession on the O'Mahonys 45-metre line and weaved a way goalwards.
James McEntee and Conor Moriarty added the points while O'Mahonys countered with points from Ciaran O'Hanlon and Robert keelaghan.
The Navan men then staged a mini-revival with a Dylan Regan goal, but further points from James McEntee and David Toner settled Curraha and when Ferris saw red it left O'Mahonys with a bigger task.
Duggie Dillon's goal added respectability, but Curraha repled with another Ciaran O'Hanrahan goal before Regan closed the scoring with a point for O'Mahonys.
Curraha – Liam Hogan; Niall Murphy, Conor Joyce, Seamus Hogan; David Toner (0-2), Simon McDermott, Sean O'Hanrahan; Evan McGovern (0-1), Brian Joyce; Phelim Dowling, Neil Shorthall (0-3), Danny Battersby; Conor Moriarty (0-4 two frees), Ciaran O'Hanrahan (2-0), James McEntee (1-2 one free).
Subs - Lockie Keogh for Dowling 28 mins, Padraig O'Hanrahan for McDermott 40m, Andrew Battersby for Moriarty and Gavin Coyle for D Battersby both 54m, Mark Jackson for C O'Hanrahan 60m.
Navan O'Mahonys – Colm Honan; Kevin O'Hanlon, Gerard Murray, Michael Reilly; Patrick Leahy, Ian Matthews, Paddy Dillon (0-1); David Dillon (1-1), Jack Walsh; Sean Keating, Robert Keelaghan (0-2 frees), Dylan Regan (1-2); Ciaran O'Hanlon (0-1), Cormac McEntaggart, Gavin Fox.
Subs - Bryan Gibney for Leahy 27 mins, Conor Murphy for Fox 37m, Eamonn Ferris for Gibney 38m, Niall McGrane for McEntaggart 53m
Referee - Liam Reddy.