Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship Preliminary Round

Magheracloone 2-19 Currin 1-7                              17/5/14

Magheracloone had a very comfortable win over Currin in this SFC preliminary-round match at Clontibret on Saturday. Currin kept the pace early on, but Magheracloone began to pull away by the end of the first half and goals by Alan McCahey and Tommy Freeman sealed their progress to a first-round clash with either Doohamlet or Latton. The full-forward duo scored 2-8 between them for Magheracloone, who also had strong performances from James Ward and Paudie Finnegan, with only Jack McCarron and Enda McCaffrey making any impact for Currin.

Currin took an early lead when Philip O’Callaghan converted a 25-metre free for a foul on Ciarán McCaffrey, but Paudie Finnegan equalised for Magheracloone, who quickly moved ahead when Killian Rudden set up Tommy Freeman to split the posts. Jack McCarron had a goal chance for Currin when he got on the end of a high ball by Conor McCaffrey, but his shot flashed just wide. McCarron also hit an upright from a ’45, but he did manage a brace of points by the end of the opening quarter; one from a free and the other a right-footed effort from play. Tommy Freeman tapped over a 20-metre free for a foul on Johnny Coleman and Alan McCahey opened his account after a block on Paudie Kirk, who soon got a point of his own, following a one-two with David Freeman. Niall McEntee got one back for Currin, but James Ward fisted over after linking up with Tommy Freeman and McCahey moved Magheracloone three clear, before Ward and Tommy Freeman combined to create a point for Ronan Freeman. Paudie Kirk added a brace of points and although McEntee replied with a good score, Magheracloone were still ahead by double-scores at half-time: 0-10 to 0-5.

It took less than a minute after the restart for McCahey to kick another point and although Philip O’Callaghan curled over a free from the left wing after a foul on McCarron, McCahey got on the end of a Paul Kirk pass to score the first goal. Paudie Kirk added a point at the end of a flowing move and Finnegan and Tommy Freeman landed good scores from play, while Freeman also converted a 25-metre free for a foul on McCahey. Further points by Finnegan and sub Brian Morris continued the one-way traffic, before O’Callaghan linked up with McCarron to end 19 scoreless minutes for Currin. Pete Ward added his name to the list of Magheracloone scorers after good approach play by the lively McCahey, before McCarron drilled a low shot to the net, having exchanged passes with Dick Clerkin. Currin were unable to put a better look on the scoreboard, however, as Tommy Freeman clipped over a left-footed point, before rattling home a spectacular goal in added time.

Magheracloone: D Kirk; David Freeman, P Ward (0-1), P Lambe; R Freeman (0-1), M Jones, J Ward (0-1); J Kieran, P Finnegan (Capt., 0-3); J Coleman, Paudie Kirk (0-4), K Rudden; Paul Kirk, T Freeman (1-5, 0-2f), A McCahey (1-3).

Subs: B Morris (0-1) for Paul Kirk (42 mins), C Burns for Lambe (49), N Babington for Rudden (50), D Irwin for R Freeman (57).

Currin: F Connolly; D Brady, S Brady, E McCaffrey; B Clerkin, Conor McCaffrey, G O’Callaghan; D Clerkin, P McDermott; K Kearns, Ciarán McCaffrey (Capt.), G Beattie; N McEntee (0-2), J McCarron (1-2, 0-1f), P O’Callaghan (0-3, 2f).

Subs: R King for D Brady (43), A Jenkins for Kearns, C North for G O’Callaghan (both 48), D Greenan for Beattie (53), J O’Connor for McEntee (58).

Referee: G Treanor (Truagh).