GREENFIELD FOODS SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – Latton  2-11, Currin 1-11.

Latton staged a strong final quarter, during which they outscored their opponents by 1-4, the goal by Darren McElroy, to 0-3 to clinch victory in this real cliff hanger that was played in difficult conditions in Emvale on Friday evening last. Currin, though did not give up without a fight and despite being depleted by injuries they were in this game right up until Darren McElroy’s goal, which gifted the initiative back to Latton and they held out for victory. Currin were forced to make four changes before the start due to injuries, with the loss of Dick Clerkin being a major blow as his presence around midfield could have seen this game produce a different outcome. In the first half in particular the Currin defence gave a master class in defending with Conor McCaffrey at full-back and Colum McCaffrey at centre, along with Ende McCaffrey repeatedly turning over Latton attacks and goalkeeper Fergal Connolly took off a number of fine saves, but did enjoy the rub of the green on a couple of occasions as well. The Latton defence was under pressure from the machinations of Jack McCarron and it took Kieran Duffy, Edmond Lennon and Owen Coyle all their time to limit the influence of the Currin talisman who finished top scorer on the night with 1-5, two of the points from frees. At the end of a closely contested first half the sides went in level at the break, 1-5 each, with Latton taking an early advantage in the second half, only to be overhauled by Currin, with four unanswered points in the second quarter to lead by two entering the final phase. Latton fought back to parity, but Currin regained the lead, only to then be hit by a goal from Darren McElroy, as the game built to a nerve tingling finish but Latton took the honours by outscoring Currin by two points to 1 in the closing minutes but also enduring a number of anxious moments.

Teams and Scorers: Latton: Shane Black, Conor Lynch, Kieran Duffy, Edmond Lennon, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Owen Coyle 0-2, Thomas Connolly, Stephen McElroy, Owen Duffy, Darren McElroy 1-3, Stephen McCabe, Bernard O’Brien 1-0, Aaron Mulligan 0-2 (0-1 ’45), Christopher Rice 0-1, Hugh McElroy 0-1. Subs: Dylan Quinn for T Connolly, Shane Coyle 0-3 for B O’Brien, Padraig Hughes for S Fitzpatrick, Conor Corrigan for H McElroy.

Currin: Fergal Connolly, Terry McEntee, Conor McCaffrey, Sean Brady, Darragh Brady, Coolum McCaffrey, Enda McCaffrey 0-1, Jason McKiernan, Ciaran McCaffrey 0-2, Conor Smyth, Jack McCarron 1-5 (0-2f), Stephen Smyth 0-2, Ben Clerkin, David Hynes, Kevin Murphy 0-1 (f). Subs: Cian North for C Smyth.      Referee: Niall McKenna (Emyvale).