Harps battle on in tough conditions as Curry need to win next game to keep hopes alive
EASTERN HARPS CURRY 0- 9 0- 7 CURRY met Eastern Harps in the latest round of the Senior Football Championship. Neither side could win their first championship game, with Harps narrowly losing to St. Mary’s as Curry were annihilated by Tubbercurry.
This was a must win game for both teams to keep their hopes of progression in the championship alive. Conditions on the day in Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry were far from ideal, which was reflected on the scoreline.
Poor weather conditions were accompanied by poor shooting, as both sides missed a lot of good scoring chances throughout the game, especially in the first half. In fact, it took eight minutes for the first score of the game coming from an Adrian Marren free from close range.
Harps dropped a lot of shots short into the hands of Curry goalkeeper James McDonagh, yet captain Martin Doherty made no mistake when he got Harps’ first point of the game, three minutes after the opener. Eight minutes passed again before a score, as both teams struggled to keep vital possession in slippery conditions. Harps began to find their range, with three points in five minutes, two from Shane O’Grady and one from Thomas Cryan.
Harps tended to try a lot of high balls into the full forward line in the first half, hoping for further scores from O’Grady and Doherty.
A lot of Curry’s play was worked up the field from defenders such as Gary Walsh, as Oisín Higgins carried a lot of the ball around the middle of the field. Curry were unfortunate to lose Keith Davey and David McDonagh through injury in the first half, as Curry were still looking to find their feet in the game. Marren managed to add another pointed free to Curry’s tally before the break, seeing the end to a half of football that both sides could happily put behind them. Half time score, Eastern Harps 0- 4 Curry 0- 2.
The second half saw the teams score five points each, which was somewhat of an improvement on the first half. Adrian Marren scored again to put a point between the sides, as Curry went in search of that all important equaliser.
The game began to get more physical by the minute, with the conditions worsening and players tiring.
Seven minutes after their last score, and Curry levelled the game with a point from wing back Enda Walsh.
Marren and O’Grady traded pointed frees, making the game 6 each, when Curry captain Dennis Coffey stepped up with a long range point to give Curry the lead.
Martin Doherty got a brace of points to retain the lead for Harps, before Shane O’Grady sealed the win, putting two points between the sides with his fifth point of the day. Despite Curry’s efforts, Harps held out for the win, putting them level on points with St. Mary’s and into third place in the table. For Curry, they will need to pull a win out of the bag against Mary’s to have any chance of progression in the Championship. Final score, Eastern Harps 0- 9 Curry 0- 7. EASTERN HARPS; S Herrity; G Horan, B Cryan, D Madden; M Clarke, K Cryan, K Gallagher; T Taylor, R Donavan; D Hannon, S O’Grady( 0- 5), C McGill; E Lavin, T Cryan( 0- 1), M Doherty( 0- 3). SUBS used; M Lennon, J O’Hara, F Gorman. CURRY; J McDonagh; J Walsh, S Colleary, G Walsh; E Walsh( 0- 1), S Marren, D McDonagh; O Higgins, D Coffey( 0- 1); F Brennan, S Davey, B Brogan; K Morley, A Marren( 0- 5), K Davey. SUBS used; J Durkin, A Kearns, D O’Hara, D McDonagh. REFEREE; Barry Judge.