Tones cruise into knockouts with comfortable victory

Paddy Martin's side were comfortable winners however the game was overshadowed by a nasty injury sustained by Curraha midfielder, Niall McLarnon

Wolfe Tones 2-13

Curraha 0-8

This Wolfe Tones victory over Curraha in Walterstown on Sunday confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of the SFC. However, their win was overshadowed by a serious injury sustained by Curraha’s Niall McLarnon which delayed proceedings by 40 minutes.

Wolfe Tones built up a comfortable lead in the first-half of seven points. A cracking goal scored by Niall O’Reilly seven minutes after the break put Wolfe Tones 10 up and Curraha never came even close to finding a way back into the contest.

Jack O’Connor was fouled in the first passage of play and Ronan Flynn got proceedings underway by scoring the resulting free. Cian Ward took a quick free and linked up brilliantly with Thomas O’Reilly before playing the ball into Adrian Crawford, who was waiting in a dangerous area. Crawford was fouled and a penalty was awarded to the Tones.

Caolan Ward got his boot under the ball more than he would have liked and sent the penalty over the bar which opened Wolfe Tones’ account. Cian Ward edged Wolfe Tones in front before Niall O’Reilly set up Fiachra Ward for the game's first goal in the sixth minute. A few moments later Niall McLarnon clashed in the air with Sean Penny and landed awkwardly. It was clear that McLarnon was in bother and soon an ambulance was called. McLarnon was taken away and the game resumed after a 40-minute delay.

Curraha and Gavin Coyle got the scoring underway at the restart before Wolfe Tones rattled off three points in quick succession courtesy of Fiachra Ward, Niall O’Reilly and Oisin Martin. Sean Ronan pulled one back for the men in green and yellow but Thomas O’Reilly cancelled out Ronan’s point.

Thomas then set up Stephen Sheppard for a score which put Wolfe Tones seven points up and Caolan Ward stretched the lead to eight. Luke McCarthy was forced to pull off a fantastic save from Cian Ward’s attempt on goal.

Right before the half-time whistle, Ronan Flynn reduced the gap back to seven and Wolfe Tones went in at the break leading 1-8 to 0-4.

Thomas O’Reilly kicked off the second-half with his second free before Diarmuid Moriarty cancelled out O’Reilly’s score with a free of his own. Thomas O’Reilly then linked up with his brother Niall and Niall went on a fantastic individual run to burst through the Curraha defence and score Wolfe Tones' second goal.

Caolan Ward and Moriarty traded frees as Wolfe Tones entered the final quarter holding a 10-point advantage. The final quarter was tightly contested and to their credit, Curraha did battle on. However, Wolfe Tones kept themselves ticking over and outscored Curraha in this period 0-3 to 0-2. Caolan Ward got his fourth point before Fiachra Ward rattled off two points in succession to complete Wolfe Tone’s tally.

Wolfe Tones – Ciaran O’Gallachoir; Gearoid O’Brien, Shane Glynn, Brughach O Fionnagain; Dan O’Neill, Adam O’Neill, Niall O’Reilly (1-1); Oisin Martin (0-1), Sean Penny; Caolan Ward (0-4, two frees, one pen), Adrian Crawford, Thomas O’Reilly (0-2, two frees); Cian Ward (0-1), Fiachra Ward (1-3), Stephen Sheppard (0-1). Subs – Kyle Moran for C Ward 42m; Alan Lynam for Crawford 47m, Seamus Hogan for B O Fionnagain 51m, Tom Gavigan for F Ward, Shane McKeever for Sheppard both 56m.

Curraha – Luke McCarthy; Oisin Fay, Matthew Webb, Seamus Hogan; Niall Murphy, Michael John Lavin, Padraic O’Hanrahan; Diarmuid Moriarty (0-2, two frees), Niall McLarnon, Conor Joyce, Jack O’Connor, Sean Ronan (0-1); Brian Joyce, Gavin Coyle (0-1), Ronan Flynn (0-4, two frees). Subs – Ruairi O’Sullivan for McLarnon 6m, Mark Jackson for Ronan 36m, Conor O’Farrell for C Joyce 44m, David Coyle for M Coyle 47m.

Referee – Robert Purfield (St Patrick’s)