Thomas McCurtain’s head north after London success
THOMAS McCURTAIN’S 4-10 (22)
DULWICH HARPS 5-05 (20)
London Ladies’ JFC, Final (After extra-time)
By Anthony McLaughlin
Thomas McCurtain’s will embark on a brand new All-Britain Football Championship this coming Saturday when they hit the road north to Huddersfield.
After coming through an epic final at McGovern Park against Dulwich Harps – a game that needed extra-time to separate the teams – the East London outfit will face Brothers Pearse who are the new Yorkshire Junior Champions thanks to 2-12 to 2-07 victory over St. Vincent’s in Sheffield. It represents a magnificent maiden success for the Huddersfield club who will be hoping to repeat the feats of fellow Yorkshire clubs Tír na nÓg and Hugh O’Neill’s in going all the way in the All-Britain Championship.
Meanwhile at McGovern Park, McCurtain’s were made to go to the well last Saturday by a Dulwich team that gave their all in the pursuit of the Siobhan McCann Cup, the competition so poignantly named after the Down native and Harps player who passed away in 2019. Level at half-time, level at full-time, in a game of fine margins it proved McCurtain’s day by just the two scores.
The Warwickshire Senior Football Championship will see the same four clubs compete in the semi-finals as occurred in 2022, St. Barnabas booking the fourth and final place last Sunday after emerging the right side of a 2-09 to 0-13 Round Four contest against John Mitchel’s. Already qualified St. Brendan’s secured a 6-19 to 0-08 win over Erin go Bragh, meaning Nottingham cannot be caught by the chasing pack – those semi-final pairings that also include Roger Casement's and Sean McDermott's - unbeaten McDermott's defeating the holders by 5-16 to 1-08 last Sunday - will be determined by this weekend’s final round of league fixtures.
With both Barnabas and Mitchel’s heading into Sunday’s Paírc na hÉireann showdown knowing nothing but victory would suffice to stay in the competition, the stage was set for the first real knock-out contest of September. Nottingham started brightly, Niall McGovern firing their opener before James O’Hara and Eoghan O’Sullivan (three frees) gave them the edge. Niall Grace needed to be alert in the Mitchel’s goal to deny Iain Weir a golden goal chance midway through the half but chances came and went as Mitchel’s kept their opponents within two points at half-time thanks to a brace from Ian Rogers and a James Loney free.
This was a game that needed a goal to stir the pot, it came early after the resumption when Nottingham carved a path through the Mitchel’s defence with O’Hara playing in Sean Dirrane for a firm finish to the net. Mitchel’s responded superbly to nullify that goal with three successive points including Ciaran Clifford’s sizzling drive narrowly over Tom Craig’s bar. Barnabas maintained their distance, Liam Fennessy tapping over to make it a four-point game and as they launched a sweeping attack down the middle Chris McDonald rattled the crossbar, only for Daire King to react quickest to slot home a crucial second goal.
That left Mitchel’s with a major challenge to stay in the championship, again they responded well, in particular full-back Aaron O’Connor twice coming forward to land key points either side of King's goal. Yet Nottingham had enough in the tank to get the job done, O’Sullivan landing a fine point from distance to see them through to the semi-finals with a game to spare.
London’s Masters will travel to Dublin in their quest for All-Ireland glory after fixture details were announced by the Gaelic Masters Association. They will take on Derry in the final of the Shield contest, which will be played at St. Peregrine’s in Coolmine on Saturday 23rd September (throw-in set for 2pm).
Teams: St. Barnabas vs John Mitchel’s, Warwickshire SFC:
St. Barnabas: T Craig; S Prunty, N McGovern (0-1), C Rabbitte; P Flanagan, P Mulhair, L Greaney; L Fennessy (0-2), E O’Sullivan (0-5, 4f); C Gonzales, S Dirrane (1-0), I Weir; J O’Hara (0-1), D King (1-0), C McDonald. Subs: P Watson (for O’Hara 38); R Dirrane (for Gonzales 39).
John Mitchel’s: N Grace; R O’Hara, A O’Connor (0-2), D Smith; J O’Connor, N Shalvey, L Gooch; L Hearn, C Maguire; S Smith (0-2), C Clifford (0-3), C Shalvey; I Rogers (0-2), J Loney (0-4, 3f, 1 ’45), J Power. Subs: M Hagan (for Shalvey 44).
Referee: D. Kelly
