St. Mary’s 1-25, Curry 0-10.

St. Mary’s ensured they finished the group stages of the Homeland Senior Football Championship unbeaten as they got the better of Curry in Kilcoyne Park on Sunday afternoon. Both sides experimented with their line-ups safe in the knowledge that the outcome of the game would not change their position in the group, and giving an opportunity to some fringe players to put their hand up for selection in upcoming games. 

The town side got off to a fast start when Paul Kilcoyne finished a swift team move, before Emlyn Mulligan curved over a trademark score from distance to go two points to no score up and signal their intent for the day. Curry battled back with points from Oisin Murphy and Brian Byrne, who took on added attacking responsibility in the absence of marksmen Adrian Marren and Alan Reilly, but from there on St. Mary’s pulled away. Two points each for Michael Munnelly, Jay Cox and Nathan Rooney saw the first quarter end 0-7 to 0-2, before a Patrick Maher finished another blistering St. Mary’s attack to the roof of the net to put them further in control. Byrne and Jason Marren continued to battle for the south Sligo outfit and kept their opponents on their toes, but the first half concluded 1-12 to 0-4.  

Curry made a fast start to the second half with Oisin Murphy hitting the first score of the half, his third of five on the day, however five in a row from St. Mary’ all but put the game to bed. Substitute Stephen Henry saw his flick go just over the crossbar, while David Philips found himself in unfamiliar territory to kick an impressive score. Both teams ran in substitutes and two more Murphy frees gave the Curry faithful reason to cheer but the fourth quarter saw the red and black finish strongest and outscore their opponents 0-8 to 0-2. Cathal Brennan went close with a goal chance that ended in a point for the team in green, but Mary’s continued to get joy upfront through Nathan Rooney, Jay Cox, Ryan Madden and goalkeeper Jack Teape. When the full time whistle sounded the scoreline read 1-25 to 0-10, but both teams will have immediately changed their focus to their respective semi-finals. 

Curry: Sean Marren, Michael Jennings, Craig Gallagher, Dylan McLoughlin, Keith Feeley, Michael Gordon, Stephen Donoghue, David McDonagh (0-1), Oisin Higgins, Jack Duffy, Oisin Murphy (0-5), Cathal Brennan (0-1), Eoghan Sweeney, Brian Byrne (0-2), Jason Marren (0-1). Subs used: James Walsh, Tommy Stenson, Dennis Coffey 

St. Mary’s: Jack Teape (0-3), David Phillips (0-1), Johnny Martyn, Conor Darcy, Patrick Maher (1-0), Ryan Feehily, Fionn O’Hehir, Paul Kilcoyne (0-1), David McGovern, Luke Nicholson (0-1), Michael Munnelly (0-4), Tony O’Kelly-Lynch, Emlyn Mulligan (0-2), Nathan Rooney (0-7), Jay Cox (0-3). Subs used: Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, Stephen Henry (0-1), Sean Clifford, Ryan Madden (0-1), Adam Lynch