Curtin cuts a classy figure

UPMC INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 2 

MOOREFIELD 3-19 

ST LAURENCE’S 1-12 

The class of Kildare’s Muiris Curtin shone like a beacon as Moorefield got their UPMC Senior Hurling Championship campaign back on track with a comprehensive win over St Laurence’s at Manguard Park on Saturday.

Curtin, in his first start since returning from summer travels, weighed in with a goal and four points from play, but it was his vision and eye for a pass that really stood out as he and county colleague Conn Kehoe were instrumental in earning their first points in the five-game round robin stage having shipped a heavy defeat to the Naas second team in the opening round.

St Laurence’s had struggled to find the target in a ten-point defeat to Broadford in their opening game, managing only six points, and although they improved in front of the posts to record 1-12, a thirteen-point reversal leaves them staring even at this early stage at a relegation battle to avoid the drop to junior level.

Moorefield, seeking to return to Senior at the first attempt, looked crisper and stronger from the start and with Curtin, Kehoe and corner forward Tommy Walsh instrumental they were already looking comfortable enough heading into the break with a 0-12 to 0-7 advantage when they pounced for the crucial first goal in injury time. Curtin and Kehoe were the providers with Walsh squeezing his shot just inside Cormac Doolan’s left-hand post.

Larries needed a quick goal or two after the interval but instead it was Moorefield who delivered on that front with Kehoe and then Curtin netting within four minutes of the restart to stretch the lead out to 14 points.

From there it was something of a canter though Daniel Walsh grabbed a consolation goal for the south county side ten minutes from the end.

Despite their obvious superiority, Moorefield had to battle to shrug off the Larries challenge in the opening half. They peppered the Milltown end with shots but weren’t as accurate as they might have liked and only led by 0-6 to 0-4 after an opening quarter in which six different Moores men hit the target. 

Graham Cregoe opened their account, and Cormac O’Connor added their second before Adrian Kelly’s classy opener for Larries. Niall Barry and Walsh made it 4-1 for Moorefield before goalkeeper Cormac Doolan with a free and Kelly with his second made it 4-3. Alex Bell (free) and the livewire Reece Gavin stretched the advantage to three points before Walsh reply from a free for Larries.

Liam Byrne was denied by Moorefield ‘keeper Eoin Carroll and that seemed to inspire the eventual winners to greater efforts. Barry, Curtin and Bell all pointed before the latter was denied by Doolan. The sides shared the next six points (Curtin, Gavin and Walsh for Moores and Walsh from a free, James Donnelly and Byrne for Larries).

Walsh’s goal put a different complexion on it, and it could have been worse for Larries had full-back Tom Brophy not cleared off the line immediately afterwards from Curtin.

Kehoe’s driving run and finish (perhaps with too many steps taken?) and Curtin’s driven finish after a one-two with Eoghan Corrigan put them out of sight on the restart though Byrne and Walsh (from a close-range free well saved by Carroll) tried their best to make immediate amends.

Bell, O’Connor and Curtin added points for Moores and Gavin added three more in the final quarter having taken over free-taking duties from Bell while Larries battled away with Walsh adding 1-1, Byrne (two) and Doolan registering frees and James Fennin firing over an excellent point to keep Moorefield honest.

MOOREFIELD: Eoin Carroll; Paul Dawson, Colin Gleeson, Malvin Maloney; Oisín Kelly, Graham Cregoe 0-1, Mark Tobin; Reece Gavin 0-5 (2fs,’65), Conn Kehoe 1-0; Alex Bell 0-3 (2fs), Muiris Curtin 1-4, Niall Barry 0-2; Cormac O’Connor 0-2, Eoghan Corrigan, Tommy Walsh 1-2. 

Subs: Conor Price for O’Connor 55.

ST LAURENCE’S: Cormac Doolan 0-2 (2fs); Conor Lawler, Tom Brophy, John Bissett; Jack Dargan, James Fennin 0-1, Seán Behan; James Donnelly 0-1, Fionn Whelan; Brian Waters, Adrian Kelly 0-2, Cormac Byrne; Thomas Roe, Daniel Walsh 1-3 (0-2fs), Liam Byrne 0-3 (2fs). 

Subs: Patrick Whelan for F Whelan 39, Mark Whelan for Roe 39, Eoghan Lawler for Waters 39, Seán McMullen for Kelly 45.

REFEREE: Conor Daly.