Curraha/St. Vincents got their championship campaign underway as they took on Bective in Ardcath on Friday evening.

Bective started brightly and caused some early problems for the Curraha/St. Vincents defence, registering a couple of wides before opening the scoring soon after. Gradually, however, the Curraha/St. Vincents backline, led by Hannah Keogh, began to get on top and allowed the team to settle into the game.

Ciara Morgan levelled matters after 10 minutes with an excellent long-range score, before Imogen Horgan found the back of the net five minutes later, just managing to squeeze her strike past the goalkeeper following a fine team move.

Mollie White then picked out Ciara Morgan with a precise long ball, with Morgan firing over another excellent point from distance. Roisín O'Connor won the resulting kickout and the ball found its way to Morgan, via Imogen Horgan, with Morgan this time firing to the back of the net.

Bective looked to force their way back into the game and drew an excellent save from Carly Parsons with a rasping goal-bound effort. Horgan was the provider again for Morgan shortly afterwards, with an excellent run creating the space for another point. The move had started deep in defence following a turnover and driving run from Katelyn McMahon.

Curraha/St. Vincents were well on top at this point and turned over the next kickout, with Morgan again firing over. As the half drew to a close, Ava Cleary and Mollie White both produced excellent blocks to prevent goal chances before a quick counterattack saw Ciara Morgan release Imogen Horgan, who finished well for Curraha/St. Vincents' third goal of the game.

Bective came out firing at the start of the second half, registering 1-2 in the opening five minutes and putting the Curraha/St. Vincents rearguard under considerable pressure.

However, another fast-paced attack saw Ciara Morgan pulled down as she went through on goal, and she emphatically converted the resulting penalty.

Bective continued to battle and responded with a point, but Morgan soon completed her hat-trick following a slick passing move which included a neat give-and-go with her sister, Caoimhe Morgan, to put her through on goal.

Curraha/St. Vincents were firmly in control now, and another flowing move saw Kirsty Greene break through on goal and find the top corner to extend the lead.

Roisín O'Connor then played Katie Tuite through with a quickly taken free, with Tuite finishing brilliantly for another goal. Caoimhe Morgan was next to get on the scoresheet, lifting the ball nicely over the goalkeeper and into the net to complete a blistering few minutes from Curraha/St. Vincents that put the result beyond doubt.

To their credit, Bective never let their heads drop and responded by kicking four points in a row.

The final score of the game came following a perfectly judged ball over the defence from Kirsty Greene. Katie Tuite gathered possession and fired to the net for her second goal, bringing an impressive opening championship performance to a close.

Next up for Curraha/St. Vincents is a trip to Slane, with the game to be played on the weekend of September 6th.

Curraha/St. Vincents: Carly Parsons, Ava Cleary, Hannah Keogh, Mollie White, Katelyn McMahon, Shauna White, Allanah Hartford, Phoebe Horgan, Larissa Carey, Kirsty Greene, Katie Tuite (2-0), Imogen Horgan (2-0), Niamh Byrne, Ciara Morgan (3-4), Caoimhe Morgan (1-0).

Subs used: Roisín O'Connor, Ellen Gough, Jessica Brennan, Ava Cleary.