Curraha men lead the charge for the North

A goal and two points without reply in the final quarter secured a first ever Regional FC final spot for An Tuascairt in atrocious conditions at Dunganny on Monday evening.

Ardbraccan were also seeking a place in the decider for the first time and they looked to be on their way when Aodhan Mallon pointed them ahead for the only time on 44 minutes.

They had the elements in their favour but squandered a couple of chances to stretch that advantage before An Tuascairt staged a late rally to set up a meeting with Bru na Boinne in the final on Saturday evening.

An effort that dropped short was finished to the net for An Tuascairt by the alert James McEntee and that regained a lead they had held for most of the way. Two superbly taken points from Diarmuid Moriarty sealed the win in the closing stages.

The team from the north of the county were helped in no small way by players from Curraha who replaced intermediate champions Meath Hill and what an impact they made contributing all but a goal of their side’s tally.

That other goal came from Matthew Durnin after nine minutes and An Tuascairt had 1-2 before Adam Kelly opened Ardbraccan’s account on 12 minutes. Kelly was in superb form on the edge of the square and accounted for six of his side’s seven points in the opening half.

An Tuascairt led by five points at one stage but had to settle for a 1-7 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

Two points from Jamie Browne and another from Mark Allen had the sides’ level by the 35th minute. A second point from Brian Joyce put An Tuascairt back in front before Kelly hit the equaliser from a free and Mallon edged his side ahead for the only time.

With Cian McBride prominent around midfield Ardbraccan enjoyed the majority of possession but couldn’t add further to their tally. An Tuascairt found scores a little easier to come whenever they went on the attack by and in full forward Moriarty they had a match winner.

An Tuascairt: Dary Hutchison (Nobber); Seamus Hogan (Curraha), Killian Russell (Kilmainhamwood), Killian Markey (Castletown); Killian Smyth (Castletown), Brian Cassidy (Kilmainhamwood), Conor O’Farrell (Curraha 0-1); Brian Joyce (Curraha 0-2), Rian McConnell (Castletown); Darragh Kelly (Castletown), James McEntee (Curraha 1-2), Daniel Byrne (Drumconrath); Niall Farrell (Nobber), Diarmuid Moriarty (Curraha 0-5), Matthew Durnin (Drumconrath 1-0). Subs – Ronan Flynn (Curraha) for Byrne half-time, Eoin Reid (Castletown) for O’Farrell 38m, Seamus Doherty (Castletown) for Durnin 57m, Oisin Reilly (Drumconrath) for Farrell 58m, Jamie O’Neill (Drumconrath) for Russell 59m.

Ardbraccan: Niall Devlin (O’Mahonys); Sean Traynor (Dunderry), Evan Quinn (Donaghmore/Ashbourne), Louis Collins (O’Mahonys); Declan Ball (St Ultan’s), Adam Muldoon (Gaeil Colmcille), Conor Brady (O’Mahonys); Cian McBride (St Ultan’s), Aodhan Mallon (O’Mahonys 0-2 one free); Luca Brady (Cortown), Jamie Browne (Donaghmore/Ashbourne 0-2), Mark Allen (St Ultan’s 0-1); Tommy Buchanan (St Ultan’s), Adam Kelly (Dunderry 0-7 four frees), Isaac McKeever (Dunderry). Subs – Sean Betson (O’Mahonys) for Collins half-time, Ivo Fitzherbert (O’Mahonys) for McKeever 46m, Ruairi Buchanan (St Ultan’s) for T Buchanan 55m.

Referee - Liam Reddy (Duleek-Bellewstown).