Finishing is Achilles’ heel for Curraha
Na Fianna Curraha 0-15 1-9
THE lack of a prolific place-kicker proved costly for Curraha who now need a near miracle to avoid the relegation play-off following this latest loss in the SFC at Simonstown on Friday evening.
Defeat leaves last year’s Intermediate champions with just a single point from their four outings to date and a massively inferior score difference following their recent 35-point hammering by Summerhill.
Curraha welcomed back Neil Shortall from suspension, while Sean and Padraic O’Hanrahan were both introduced as first half substitutes. However, they were still missing a string of regulars, including the injured Conor Moriarty and James McEntee and David Toner, both of whom are abroad.
Despite those absentees Curraha produced a performance capable of that first elusive win at senior level, but crucially their finishing let them down throughout.
A succession of place-kickers were unable to hit the target with regularity and that proved costly at the final whistle as Na Fianna eased themselves away from the danger zone.
The Enfield/Baconstown combination led by six points at one stage in the opening half, but there was little to choose from the time David Coyle rifled to the net after a Jack O’Connor free had dropped short on 25 minutes.
Just two points separated the sides at the break, Na Fianna ahead 0-10 to 1-5, but that scoreline would have been much different had Niall Moriarty’s finishing from frees not deserted him. Sean Keogh also hit a wild one from a scoreable position at a stage when his side needed a score.
Points from Michael Collins, Oran Smullen and Ethan Devine had Na Fianna ahead before Jack O’Connor got Curraha off the mark.
Devine and Shane Walsh were prominent in the scoring as Na Fianna led 0-9 to 0-3 on 23 minutes. However, Curraha were thrown a lifeline when an O’Connor free dropped short and David Coyle blasted to the net.
Coyle, with his second point, and O’Connor added to Curraha’s tally to leave them within touching distance at the break.
O’Connor reduced the deficit to the minimum from a free three minutes after the restart. However, despite having an abundance of possession throughout the half, Curraha were unable to press home that advantage on the scoreboard and they only managed two points from play in the second 30 minutes.
Similar to the opening half, they again shot a succession of wides when the match was in the balance.
Coyle again proved a handful for the Na Fianna rearguard and with 10 minutes remaining just two points separated the teams.
Two points in added time from Shane Walsh doubled Na Fianna’s advantage before Padraic O’Hanrahan replied for Curraha in the last action of the game.
NA FIANNA: Shane Geraghty; Daniel Devine, Evan Mullally, Johnny Baldwin; Oran Smullen 0-1, Anthony Neary, Andrew Glynn; Owen McDonnell, Ethan Devine 0-3; Michael Collins 0-2, Daniel Queeney 0-1, Conor Downey 0-2; Damien Downey, Shane Walsh 0-6 (1f), Sean Martin. Subs: Sean Rafferty for Smullen (BC 32), Peter Slevin for D Downey (43).
CURRAHA: Liam Hogan; Mark Jackson, Phelim Dowling, Seamus Hogan; Andrew Coyle, Neil Shortall, Mark Phelan; Niall McClarron, Brian Joyce; Andrew Battersby, Gavin Coyle, Jack O’Connor 0-4 (2f); David Coyle 1-3, Sean Keogh, Niall Moriarty 0-1f. Subs: Sean O’Hanrahan for A Coyle (12), Padraic O’Hanrahan 0-1 for Moriarty (26), Evan McGovern for O’Connor (43), Conor O’Farrell for G Coyle (49), Conor Joyce for B Joyce (59).
Padraic Coyle (Seneschalstown)