It’s ‘Ha-ppy days for senior rookies

Curraha O’Mahony’s 1-11 0-14

IF there is such a thing as a famous draw then this was it as Curraha shared the spoils with the 20-times winners of the Keegan Cup following an exciting encounter at Dunsany on Sunday evening.

Indeed, Curraha could well have been celebrating a ground-breaking first-ever win at senior level, but they were denied by a late equalising point from Henry Finnegan.

The Navan men easily saw off the challenge of Na Finaan in the opening round, while Curraha went down to Skryne, but this display should prove a tremendous boost for the ‘Ha for the remainder of the campaign.

There was little to choose between two well-matched sides at any stage and at half-time the teams were also level, 1-6 to 0-9.

By the end of the opening quarter O’Mahony’s had built up a 0-6 to 0-2 lead following successive points from Dylan Regan, Bill Whelehan, Darragh Maguire and Robbie Keeleghan.

James McEntee and Conor Moriarty accounted for Curraha’s opening scores and they fought back to be level following another point and then a goal from Moriarty after young Jack O’Connor created the opening on 19 minutes.

McEntee landed a ‘45 to put his side ahead for the first time, but Cormac McGuinness responded at the other end to regain parity for the town side.

Brian Murphy had Curraha ahead again approaching halftime, but O’Mahony’s hit back to be level at the break.

The teams exchanged the lead on a number of occasions throughout the second half and substitute Gavin Coyle edged Curraha in front for the final time five minutes from the finish.

Last year’s Intermediate champions suffered a blow when Neil Shortall was red-carded following an off-the-ball incident and they were unable to hold on to their lead as O’Mahony’s snatched a late equaliser. CURRAHA: Liam Hogan; Seamus Hogan, Phelim Dowling, Mark Jackson; Sean O’Hanrahan, Neil Shortall, Brian Joyce; David Toner, James McEntee 0-3; Padraic O’Hanrahan, Brian Murphy 0-01, Andrew Battersby; David Coyle 0-1, Conor Moriarty 1-5, Jack O’Connor. Subs: Andrew Coyle for D Coyle, Gavin Coyle 0-1 for Joyce, Sean Keogh for P O’Hanrahan. O’MAHONYS: Marcus Brennan; Andy Leech, Niall McKeigue, James O’Reilly; Darragh Smyth, Cormac McGuinness 0-1, Ross Geraghty; Gary O’Brien, Conor Finnegan; Darragh Maguire 0-1, Dylan Regan 0-1, Shane Gillespie 0-1; Robbie Keeleghan 0-7, Bill Whelehan 0-1, Cathal Smyth. Subs: John Rogers 0-1 for Finnegan, Evan Power for Leech, Henry Finnegan 0-1 for McGuinness.