Curry Clinch historic Title in marathon cliffhanger

VHI Healthcare Connacht Ladies Junior Championship Final

Curry (Sligo) 4 – 21 Kilbride (Roscommon) 7 – 11 After Extra Time
x 2

The Connacht Junior Club Title returned to Sligo soil for the
first time in 6 years on Sunday night last as Curry were crowned
Junior Champions of the province following this nail biting, marathon
Final that took almost 3 hours to complete. In the end the South
Sligo Club had a single point to spare over a gallant Kilbride
after two periods of Extra Time. No folks the score is not a misprint,
it most definitely is true and correct. For ones who may be thinking
that it is a scoreline borrowed from Hurling rather than a football
game, sorry to say it’s not. When one is old and grey and like
sitcom star Victor Meldrew with “one foot in the grave” this classic
will be talked about for long and many a day to come. Not even
the great Alfred Hitchcock would have come up with a classic like
this as two teams gave it their all in their quest to bring home
the silverware to their respective parishes. It was a day when
Rural Ireland showed off to the whole wide world that it is still
the grassroots for the Gaelic Football Association as ironically
both sets of green and white supporters roared them on to victory.

From the moment Galway referee Gerry Guinan threw in the ball
at 2pm until he blew his final whistle at five minutes to five,
Curry and Kilbride matched themselves score for score, miss for
miss, Kick for kick and what have you. To be fair to Kilbride
it must be an awful way to lose a final yet in terms of a 52 card
pack of playing cards they were probably short an ace of hearts
compared to their opponents. That ace of Hearts being none other
than one Therese Marren! One thing for definite, the day the Football
skills and abilities were being handed out, Therese Marren certainly
wasn’t behind the door and if their was a slim chance of getting
back in for more, she more than likely did so such was her performance
on Sunday. The former Connacht Young Footballer of the year concluded
business with a grand total of 3 – 12 some say 3 – 13 but no matter,
what’s a point among friends.

Regardless of the scoring question, the greats of Eddie Keher
or DJ Carey in hurling, Offaly Genius Matt Connor or Kerry Legend
Mikey Sheehy all never got again a roar of a total in the same
similarities. Curry still won, the hard way at that when one considers
that the lost Aoife Marren with an Ankle injury midway through
the second half of normal time. They then looked doomed as Therese
Marren went down midway through the second half of the first period
of Extra Time. Curry some how patched her together for the second
period where she would go on to score an impressive 1 – 5. If
one for one minute thinks that this was a one player show, then
think again Ann Marie Colleran spent the summer in America, boy!
Is she glad to be back, played in a number of different positions
on the day, She would begin life as a wing back, in the second
half move to full back and by the time the second period of extra
time had arrived she slotted in alongside Ciara Doyle in Midfield.
The Gallagher sisters Niamh and Claire hardly put a foot wrong
all day while the decision to bring Claire Howley back into the
backline admittedly when Sister Nikki had to go off worked in
the opening half.

Others too played key rolls none more so than Ciara Doyle her
point from an almost impossible line ball towards the end of the
opening half would break hearts. Then when Therese Marren picked
up the injury Doyle rose to the occasion and drove them from midfield.
The big sky scrapers in to Marren caused havoc and with Grainne
and Roisin Colleary running this way and that Kilbride were in
trouble. Maria McDonagh was probably a little quieter than in
the previous two encounters but who can forget her booming point
some 9 minutes into the second half as her side trailed and playing
against the strong wind. McDonagh gained position on the 45 meter
line on the far side line as one looked at it from the press box.
Looked around and with little movement ahead of her, she let the
ball off splitting the posts to draw Curry level for the first
time in the game. Within two minutes of that Curry had two goals
banged in to take a six point advantage. Kilbride had the chance
to draw level right at the dept, but Siobhain Tully hit the post,
and both Eilish Fannon and Ann M Carley were off target in those
dying seconds of this never to be forgotten encounter.

To the relief of all Curry and probably half Sligo Gerry Guinan
blew his Final whistle as the Ball was kicked out to set of scenes
of celebrations among the Curry Folk. As Therese Marren Raised
the cup aloft they could begin plans for their homecoming and
yet another famous crossing at the railway crossing from Charlestown
into Bellahy. A scene for many a famous crossing in the past year
– who knows may an even bigger one is awaiting them – as Therese
would be carried across the border later that night. A fairly
strong breeze blew from the road end goals with Curry winning
the toss and opting to play with the elements for the opening
30 minutes. Yet some 19 minutes in one would have been forgiven
for thinking that it was Kilbride and not Curry who had the wind
as they roared into a 3 – 2 to 0 – 2 lead. The goals from Siobhan
Clabby two and Catherine Hanley helped by points from Clabby and
Ann Marie Carley to two sole responses from the Marren Sisters
Aoife and Therese.

It was from the 25th minute on that Curry moved there gears as
they realized that they had the breeze and not their opponents.
In that period to half time Therese Marren rowed in with 1 – 2,
Ciara Doyle with 0 – 2 one of which was the out of this world
special and Grainne Colleary kicked one to send the teams to the
dressing rooms at the break with Kilbride a point to the good.
The Curry goal! A Marren free from the 45 meter line dropped at
the 11th hour deceiving the keeper. Those Half Time talks Curry
seem to have – only the fly on the wall knows, Oh! If that fly
could talk or to be that fly on the wall – once again it did the
trick. Into the second half, Kilbride wind assistant scored first
through Sinead Clabby in the 3rd minute to go into a two point
lead. Little did they realize that the next time they would score
they would be chasing the game with some 18 minutes played, Aoife
Marren would kick start Curry’s bang wagon in the 5th minute followed
by McDonagh’s boomer on 9 minutes. A minute later Therese Marren
would probably score one of the goals of the year, she picked
up possession on her own 45 meter line, set off on a solo run!
The next player to touch the ball would be Kilbride net minder
Yvonne Creighton ejecting it from the net, having been put there
by Marren following her solo run. Substitute Roisin Colleary added
another goal soon after with Marren weighing in with a point to
ease them into a 3 – 10 to 3 – 3 lead by the 15th minute of the
half.

Back came Kilbride Tara Taylor with a bullet of a goal on 18 minutes.
Grainne Colleary had Curry 5 to the good by the 23rd minute but
that was their last score as the Roscommon Champions added points
through Ann M Carley twice, Corina Gormley, Marina Kilduff and
Eilish Fannon to draw the side level by the 2nd minute of injury.
Roisin Colleary had a chance to win the game for Curry right at
the dept but she opted to go for goal rather than a point. So
to Extra Time! Curry win the toss again, once again they decide
to play with the wind, In that opening half the kick three unanswered
points through Therese Marren (2) and Grainne Colleary to take
an advantage into the second half. With all the stoppages in the
second half the running clock would tick into the 21st minute
before Gerry Guinan could signal the end and as at the end of
normal time level once again. In that half Ann M Carley scored
a point to narrow the gap back to two. Then it looked as if Sinead
Clabby had won it for Kilbride as she goaled but Hitchcock or
rather Therese Marren wasn’t finished yet.

After two failed attempts it was third time lucky for her as she
sent over the equalizer to send the game to a second period of
extra time. After a delay off they went again, again! Yes! You
have guessed it Curry won the toss again they elected to play
with the wind. By now Hop a Long Marren had moved to Full Forward.
In came the sky scrapers which she won knocking over three points
and laying one of for Grainne Colleary in the opening 5 minutes.
Tara Taylor pulled one back for Kilbride, Marren extended the
lead again before Corina Gormley grabbed a goal to put Hitchcock
back in business once more as the half time whistle sounded. Onto
the second half of the second period, Ann M Carley drew the Sides
level when she converted a free in the opening minute. Marren
restored Curry’s lead some sixty seconds later, Carley had a chance
to level again but she was off target when it seemed easier to
score. Seven minutes in, the score that finally decided the outcome.
A 4th Curry goal scored by whom else but Therese Marren. A minute
later she rattled the crossbar with the ball being cleared. Hitchcock
wasn’t finished yet, another twist! A minute to go Ann M Carley
chipped in with a goal for Kilbride to bring it back to one. Then
followed the final misses and the final whistle to end what was
truly a remarkable game with the silverware going to Curry by
the slenderest of margins.

Eventually Therese Marren got her hands on the Cup – becoming
the fourth Sligo Club Captain to do so – for Curry. By winning
the crown Curry has become the 4th Sligo Club to win the Junior
title following on from St Nathy’s, Cloonacool and Ballymote in
1999, 2000 and 2001 respectively. The player of the match award
went to! Yes! You have guessed it Therese Marren. Next up for
Curry is an All Ireland Quarter Final date with John Mitchels
from Liverpool on the opening weekend in November. No doubt Sunday
21st October 2007 will live long in the memory of every Curry
fan little and large alike. It would be fair to say that the South
Sligo Village of Curry that nestles along the N17 between Tubbercurry
and Charlestown was the place to be on Sunday night as the locals
and friends partied away.

Scorers Curry: Therese Marren 3 – 12, Grainne Colleary 0 – 4,
Roisin Colleary 1 – 0, Aoife Marren 0 – 2, Ciara Doyle 0 – 2,
Maria McDonagh 0 – 1.

Scorers Kilbride: Sinead Clabby 3 – 2, Ann M Carley 1 – 5, Tara
Taylor and Corina Gormley 1 – 1 each, Catherine Hanley 1 – 0,
Marina Kilduff and Eilish Fannon 0 – 1 each.

Curry: Curry: Sheena Feehily, Helen White, Maria Mc Donagh, Nikki
Howley, Claire Gallagher, Niamh Gallagher, Ann-marie Colleran,
Therese Marren, Ciara Doyle, Grainne Colleary, Johanne Kennedy,
Ann Marie Gallagher, Aoife Marren, Rebecca Colleran, Claire Howley.
Subs used Roisin Colleary, Sinead Howley, Michelle Howley, Chloe
Walsh and Sinead Gallagher.

Kilbride: Yvonne Creighton, Laura McCormack, Elaine McDonagh,
Ciara Taylor, Alice Kelly, Suzanne Lohan, Orla Creighton, Tara
Taylor, Corina Gormley, Eilish Fannon, Sinead Clabby, Siobhain
Tilly, Catherine Ganley, Ann Marie Carley, Jennifer Fannon. Subs
used: Siohhain O’ Honrahan, Marina Kilduff.

Referee: Gerry Guinan (Galway)