Cumann na mBunscol Finals... Curraha take the spoils in Pairc Tailteann thriller
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St Andrew’s Keelan Sweeney and Boyerstown’s Morgan Martin battle for possession during the Boys Div 4 final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
St Andrew’s Keelan Sweeney receives the Spirit of the Final award from the Meath Chronicle’s Jimmy Geoghegan. Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 5
St Andrew’s captain’s Harry Greene and Jamie Rowland receives the Boys Div 4 Cup from Niamh Ronan. Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 5
The St Andrew’s NS players (from left) were: back - Jack McDermott, Jamie Rowland, Harry Greene, Harry Dowse, Niall Horgan, Emily Keogh, Dearbhaile O’Connor, Hughie Ward, Patrick Mooney, James Greene and Tom Gaffney; front - Liam Downey, Finn McLoughlin, Ben Caffrey, Noah Walsh, Odhran McCabe, Keelan Sweeney, Freddie Green, Charlie Caffrey and James McMahon. Gerry ShanahanImage 5 of 5
The Boyerstown players (from left) were: back - Killian Jackowski, Darragh O’Toole, Jack Kavanagh, Brian Callaghan, Harry Callaghan, Alex Brady, Pelyo Rogers Suarez, Eoghan Cleary, Billy Rogers, Liam Molloy, James Callaghan and JJ O’Brien; front - Ben Baker, Charlie Martin, Jai Murray, Adam Downes, Cian O’Toole, Morgan Martin, Aaron McKenna, Dan Bray, Cian Prunty, Harry Lowth and Ted Kearney. Gerry ShanahanBOYS' DIV 4 FOOTBALL FINAL
This was Curraha NS's first appearance in a primary schools final since 2012 and they certainly made the most of their opportunity to defeat Boyerstown NS in a close Boys' Div 4 encounter at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.
After playing with the help of the wet and windy conditions Curraha deservedly led 1-6 to 0-2 but Boyerstown came storming back in the second-half and pushed their opponents all the way ensuring anybody who had made their way to the Brews Hill venue for this game weren't in any rush to leave.
Harry Greene was the first to find the net after 23 minutes and what a goal it was. Greene took a pass from Jack McDermott before launching the ball from long distance and into the back of the net.
Curraha's second strike arrived just after the break - and how crucial it proved to be in the end. Again Greene was involved. This time he worked the ball to Harry Dowse who found the net with a forceful finish. Niall Horgan, Jack McDermott, Keelan Sweeney and Dowse also lofted over first -class points to help their team along.
Boyerstown had the assistance of the driving wind and rain in the second-half and they used it cleverly, regularly launching the ball from deep where their pacy, skilful joint captain Alex Brady was waiting to take advantage. Just after the interval he latched onto one clearance and went on to find the net soccer-style to give his team hope.
On another occasion Brady was clean through but was brought down. Since there are no penalties applicable he had to be content with a point from a free. Brady, who finished up with 1-5, was also involved along with Morgan Martin in creating a chance for Billy Rogers who found the net. Curraha goalkeeper Odhran McCabe also played his part with some super saves while his counterpart Pelayo Rogers Suarez showed the instincts of a real stopper.
Defensively Curraha were very strong with players such as Freddie Greene repeatedly stopping Boyerstown attacks. In the end Curraha, who had former Meath star John McDermott as a mentor, deservedly prevailed.
St Andrew's NS Curraha - Odhrán McCabe; Jamie Rowland, Charlie Caffrey; Ben Caffrey, Harry Greene (1-0), Freddie Greene; Niall Horgan (0-3), Jack McDermott (0-2); Hughie Ward, Keelan Sweeney (0-2), James Greene; Harry Dowse (1-2), Emily Keogh. Subs - Tom Gaffney, Liam Downey, Patrick Mooney, Dearbhaile O'Connor, James McMahon, Noah Walsh, Finn McLoughlin. Mentors - Niamh Ronan, John McDermott, Paddy Sweeney.
Boyerstown NS - Pelayo Rogers Suarez; Darragh O’Toole, Jack Kavanagh; Liam Molloy, Harry Callaghan, James Callaghan; Alex Brady (1-5 one free), Billy Rogers (1-1); Bríon Callaghan, Morgan Martin, Aaron McKenna; Dan Bray, Cían Prunty. Subs - Eoghan Cleary, Ben Baker, Adam Downes, Charlie Martin, J-Jay O’Brien, Killian Jackowski, Cían O’Toole, Ted Kearney, Jai Murray, Harry Lowth. Mentors - Eibheann Keegan, Cathal Ó Bric, Mark Brady.
Referee - Jimmy Walsh.