Weekend’s GAA action
SHAMROCK GAELS 1- 14 CURRY 0- 18
ADRIAN Marren scored a late, late free deep into injury time to secure a one- point free for Curry in Coola on Sunday afternoon in what was a very evenly matched encounter with Shamrock Gaels.
It was the hosts who appeared comfortable edging into the final ten minutes as they led by three but it was the influential Marren who converted two late frees to give the south Sligo outfit the win.
Marren was Curry’s leading scorer, hitting twelve of their eighteen points with the inter- county forward’s accuracy a thorn in the Gaels’ side on the day.
Three separated them at the break, Gaels in front by a goal which came from Conor Carroll with five minutes on the clock.
Gaels’ midfielder David Quinn had his scoring boots on too during the afternoon, he scored nine points for the home side and looked to have got the winner on 59 minutes before the brace from Marren.
It was early dominance from the hosts, Quinn easily converting two frees before Marren sought out Tommy Henry for a Curry goal chance which came off a Gaels defender.
Then Gaels stormed in front when a quick move saw Carroll smash to the back of the net as the home side led by five.
Curry midfielder Oisín Higgins went on a blistering run and pointed his side’s first before Donal Tuohy in the Gaels’ goal did well to stop another Curry goal attempt.
Marren got his first after a foul on Danny O’Hara with Quinn responding with a converted free down the other end.
Sean Davey sent an inch- perfect ball into the path of Denis Coffey and he scored a wonderful point from play as Curry were three behind with 14 minutes gone.
Liam O’Connell was powering through and adjudged to have been brought down with Quinn slotting over his fourth as John McPartland’s men were ahead by four.
In what was a physical game throughout, there were good passages of open play. Again Marren showed his class by converting a long- range free on 17 minutes as three separated them again.
He had a chance to add another, the shot slicing off the post.
Andrew Flynn went on a good solo run for Gaels, his attempt going across the face of the Curry goal.
Quinn and Marren swapped frees before keeper Tuohy was called upon again by Gaels to bravely put halt to Curry’s O’Hara who had another definite goal chance, Tuohy making a fine save.
The home support erupted in cheers when Michael Kilkenny fed half- back Frank Quinn who scored a brilliant point from play to put the Gaels four in front three minutes to the break.
Down the other end and it was Marren again who converted a tricky free as Gaels were 1- 6 to six in front at the interval in what was an entertaining first half.
Less than twenty seconds were on the clock in the second period and Marren had reduced the deficit to two from play.
Two minutes later and he added another free before teammate Jonathan Durkin fisted another point over to level the game.
Marren was on target again through a well- struck 45 to bring Curry into the lead for the first time on 36 minutes.
A foul on Coffey was slotted over by Marren as the hosts needed a score, which came from Quinn from play as Curry led by one.
Quinn followed this up with a fantastic score from play on 41 minutes as the sides were all square again.
Another Marren free was responded by Gaels’ Kilkenny before Quinn put the hosts in front again through a free on 45 minutes.
Curry’s Brendan Brogan brought it level again three minutes later as both sides were battling hard to get in front.
Another Gaels’ chance hit the post before Kilkenny scored another point, Jonathan Quinn supplying the pass on 49 minutes.
Gaels went two in front as the game approached the final ten, Keith Candon added another point to put them three ahead before Coffey hit a fantastic score from distance for Curry, two separating them with six minutes to play.
Marren was fouled with 57 minutes registered and he duly converted. Another Marren free curled short but Coffey was quick to collect and fire over, again all equal with two minutes remaining.
Quinn pointed an excellent free with one to go but it was Curry who clung on, Marren causing the damage in injury time to seal the win.
SHAMROCK GAELS: D Tuohy, E O’Connell, D Willis, G McMorrow, A Flynn, F Quinn, C Meerick, L O’Connell, D Quinn, C Carroll, M Kilkenny, C O’Connor, K McMorrow, K Candon, J Quinn. Subs used: D Kearns, D Hailstones. CURRY: R Wynne, K Reilly, S Colleary, J Walsh, G Walsh, D McDonagh, C Maher, S Davey, O Higgins, D O’Hara, A Marren, J Durkin, B Brogan, D Coffey, T Henry.
Subs used: F Brennan, D Walsh.