J.M. Food Services Football League Division 2 Round 10
With the semi-finals stage of the league fast approaching, both Curraha and their hosts Trim, had much to play for on a cool, gloomy Thursday evening. Critical for both teams was to stay in the top 4 and ensure that they progress to the latter stages.
From the throw in, Curraha playing with a very strong wind, immediately swept up the pitch and slotted the ball into the Trim net before most had realised the clock had even started. Trim shook themselves and replied with 2 nicely taken points by Rob Bourke and James Murray - only four minutes gone and game on. Both sides measured up to one another and started probing the defensive lines. Curraha missed a number of kickable points and, for them frustratingly, dropped other chances into the waiting arms of Paul Munnelly in the Trim goal. Despite the head wind, Trim adjusted their play and settled into a very comfortable rhythm repeatedly carrying the ball out from defence looking for an opportunity to level the game. But it was not until the 18th minute when Tom Carmody darted forward to shoot over the bar that the Reds got back on even scores. Critically, 3 minutes later the ever- industrious Cian Downes surged from defence though the middle of the field to off-load to Murray who confidently stroked the ball into the Curraha net. But the visitors did not stop to admire, and immediately struck back with 2 very well taken points of their own. Trim replied in the following two minutes with 2 further points of their own when Conor Quigley received a pass from Meath’s Ciaran Caulfield to convert over the bar, followed shortly after by an Eoin Sweeney point. Moments later Caulfield started a move that saw the ball going to Bourke and being speedily returned to allow the County player to drive home for Trim’s second goal of the game. On the stroke of half time an attack by Trim up the left wing saw the ball come to Carmody who somehow scrambled the ball into the right corner of the Curraha net. Going to the dressing room at half time Trim looked comfortable and in control.
Half time: Trim 3-05 Curraha 1-02
From the restart, and now with the benefit of a strong wind, Trim raised the tempo of the game. Bourke hand passed the ball over the bar to again open the scoring followed immediately afterwards by a very near miss when Lernihan hit the butt of the post for what looked like a certain goal. Already there was a sense that Curraha were not able to raise their game any further. 3 very well taken long-range points from play by Murtagh (two) and Carmody on the 12th minute really signalled that there would be no recovery for the visitors. Trim finished out the game with a Darragh Heffernan goal in the 18th minute followed by further points from Dowling, Caulfield and Toher.
Despite a promising, early start it would transpire that Curraha would not score again in the closing 38 minutes of the game. While this may be reflective of their energy levels on a particularly unseasonable evening, it would probably be more accurate to attribute it to a very composed and energetic Trim team. All of the Red scores came from play, and even more impressive was the fact that ten different Trim players got their names on the scoresheet.
In the week that the GAA family lost its voice with the passing of the much-loved Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, one wonders what he would have thought as he gazed down from his celestial perch. Perhaps he’d say to both teams - ‘lads -none of ye mind that result….it will be all different when the sun shines.’
May he rest in peace.
