Solid Curraha step up their promotion bid
ANOTHER solid second-half display was enough for Curraha to record back-to-back league wins and stay in the promotion race.
Nobber led by four points early in the third quarter before Curraha played their best football of the hour, and they eventually outscored their opponents 1-5 to 0-3 in the final nine minutes to clinch victory.
The sides were level at 0-2 each after 13 minutes and Curraha enjoyed a productive spell after that, with points from Andrew Battersby, Conor Moriarty, David Toner and Jack O’Connor. However, Nobber responded and were back in the game after Sean Meade converted from the penalty spot following a foul on Fiachra McEntee. O’Connor added his second soon after, but that score was cancelled out by a Dale Larkin free to leave Curraha ahead by the minimum at half-time, 0-7 to 1-3.
With Jordan Morris and Meade in fine form, Nobber hit a purple patch at the start of the second half to open up a 1-8 to 0-7 lead.
A number of positional changes saw Curraha finally gain vital possession and a fine point from captain Neil Shortall brought the deficit back to three. This was followed by a brace of pointed frees from Moriarty, while Battersby also added to his tally.
The sides were level at that stage, but Nobber regained the momentum and the lead with two quick points. That advantage was short-lived, however, as Niall Murphy set up the influential Moriarty who buried the ball in the Nobber net. Nobber responded to level, but they had no answer to Curraha’s second goal from David Toner.
Curraha built on that goal with points from substitute Padraic O’Hanrahan (two), while another sub David Coyle increased the lead.
The sides swapped scores before the finish, but it was Curraha who ended up deserving winners. CURRAHA: L Hogan; S Hogan, P Dowling, A Moriarty; G Coyle, S O’Hanrahan, D Toner 1-1; N Shortall 0-2, C Joyce; A Coyle, C Moriarty 1-4, B Murphy; J O’Connor 0-2, S Keogh, A Battersby 0-3. Subs: P O’Hanrahan 0-3 for Joyce, N Murphy for A Coyle, D Coyle 0-1 for Keogh, B Joyce for B Murphy.
NOBBER: D Hutchinson; S O Brien, D Halpin 0-1, B Cassidy; B Heffernan, P Meade 0-1, N Farrell; J Condra, T Murtagh; D Larkin 0-1, F McEntee 0-1, B Meade; J Morris 0-4, S Meade 1-5, D Lambe. Subs: Aidan Shields for B Meade, Alan Farrell 0-1 for Larkin, Karl Casserly for Lambe.