All County JFC: Curraha finish off in style 

Curraha 7.13   Duleek/Bellewstown 2.05

Many say that goals win games and this was evident on Tuesday night the 26th of August when Curraha registered a fine victory against local rivals Duleek/Bellewstown. In the end Curraha produced a brilliant team performance to record a well deserved victory in round 3 of the Meath Cleaning Supplies Junior All County Football Championship Division 6. Both sides didn't get off to winning starts in the opening round or the second round. So both teams couldn't progress to the knockout stages, however this was still a very important fixture with the losing side going into relegation. 

The game got underway at 7:30 pm in a finely presented Duleek and straight away it was Curraha who had their first green flag of the evening raised when Gavin Coyle finished the ball coolly to the back of the right hand corner of the net. Curraha players piled the pressure on Duleek/Bellewstown and won the resulting kickout and Cian Heagney got on the end of a pass and slotted it over the bar. Curraha once again won the kickout after a fine catch from Conor Joyce. Joyce soloed along the wing before stepping up and kicking a massive point after 4 minutes of play. Curraha kept Duleek/Bellewstown in their own half and Curraha were able to dominate possession and Conor Joyce followed up with another point to give Curraha a 6 point advantage after 5 minutes. Some brilliant defending in the Curraha back line led to Curraha working the ball into Kevin O'Connor, one of Curraha's corner forwards who was fouled. Gavin Coyle stepped up for Curraha and converted the resulting free. Duleek/Bellewstown opened their scoring charts in the 11th minute with a well worked goal to leave 4 between the teams. This didn't stop Curraha however and they really turned the screw on Duleek/Bellewstown and registered their second goal. A long ball was sent into Gavin Coyle who turned his man, Coyle could have taken a shot from a tight angle but instead he spotted Kevin O’Connor arriving at the back post, Coyle flicked the ball to O’Connor who palmed it to the back of the net after 15 minutes. Currahas Nick Dillon caught a ball on the 45 metre line from the resulting kickout and passed the ball to Gavin Coyle, Coyle rattled the ball into the back of the net to raise a further green flag. Gavin Coyle once again raised a white flag with a further fine point from play to leave Curraha well and truly in the driving seat. Declan Hanley and Mark Ronan's charges put the game completely to bed when they registered a further 2 goals and a point from Michael John Lavin. Duleek/Bellewstown got the final score of the half in the 31st minute. 

HT score - Curraha 5.06  Duleek/Bellewstown 1.01 

Curraha, who had produced by far their best performance of 2025, could afford to make 3 halftime substitutions. Alan O’Connor came on for Jamie Fewer, Simon McDermott came on for Michael John Lavin and Gary Dowling came on for Gavin Coyle. Duleek/Bellewstown to their credit came out fighting in the second half and got the first point of the second half. It wasn't long after this that the sun began to go down fully and the floodlights were turned on, on a fine late summers evening. PJ O’Reilly got Curraha's opening score of the second half after 3 minutes of play. Duleek/Bellewstown kept battling and got 2 quick fire scores in the 7th and 8th minute. Curraha introduced Jake O’Dowd for Andrew Gough in the 10th minute of the second half after another fine performance from Gough. PJ O'Reilly got his second point of the evening as the game entered the final quarter. Alan O’Connor who was introduced at halftime raised a white flag of his own with a point off his right after a fine interception in the full back line. Kevin O’Connor got his second goal with a fine finish low into the corner of the net with 13 minutes remaining with a fine run in along the wing. Curraha reintroduced Jamie Fewer for Daigh Fitzpatrick who had put in a fine performance, Curraha also reintroduced Gavin Coyle for Kevin O’Connor. Duleek/Bellewstown put a fine move together and got a fine goal with 10 minutes remaining. Gavin Coyle kept his own personal account ticking over with a lovely point off his right. Gary Dowling got Curraha's final green flag in the 25th minute of the half. Duleek/Bellewstown got a nice score with minutes remaining. Conor Joyce got his 3rd point of the night after fielding the Duleek/Bellewstown kickout. Curraha finished off with late points from Gary Dowling as well as a point from PJ O’Reilly off his left which was the final action of the game. 

FT score - Curraha 7.13 

Duleek/Bellewstown 2.05

In the end it was Curraha's night, who saved their best performance till last. At times it was a tough year for Curraha  but overall it has been a great year for Curraha who played 12 games this year between league and Championship. Each game Curraha were competitive in them and were very unlucky in some by just coming up short, as well as picking up fine victories throughout. The mix of youth and experience worked very well for Curraha and can look forward to 2026 with lots of optimism. 

Curraha scores 

Gavin Coyle 2.03(0.01F) Michael John Lavin 2.01, Kevin O’Connor 2.00, Gary Dowling 1.01, Conor Joyce 0.03, PJ O'Reilly 0.03 Alan O’Connor 0.01 and Cian Heagney 0.01

Curraha team 

Shea O’Connor, Peter Sherlock, Mark Mahon, Andrew Gough, Nick Dillon, Jamie Fewer, Ben Heagney, Conor Joyce, Seán Ronan, PJ O'Reilly, Daigh Fitzpatrick, Cian Heagney, Michael John Lavin, Gavin Coyle, Kevin O’Connor 

Subs used: Alan O’Connor for Jamie Fewer, Simon McDermott for Michael John Lavin, Gary Dowling for Gavin Coyle Jake O’Dowd for Andrew Gough, Gavin Coyle for Kevin O’Connor and Jamie Fewer for Daigh Fitzpatrick

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey

Report: Ivan Keogh