JFC final: Curraha claim fifth junior title with victory over Ballinlough

18 October 2026

Delight for Andrew Coyle after scoring Curraha's third goal in the JFC final against Ballinlough at Simonstown

Curraha 3-15 Ballinlough 1-12

Curraha claimed their fifth Meath Junior Football Championship title with this nine-point win over Ballinlough at a well-attended Simonstown.

After a cagey opening, Padraic O’Hanrahan got the scoreboard working for the winners and soon after county star Jack O’Connor was in for the game’s opening goal.

The impressive duo of Brian Joyce and Diarmuid Moriarty added a brace each and the favourites looked to be well on their way, leading 1-6 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter.

Oisin McDermott kept the North Meath outfit in the game with a two-pointer, a pointed free and a '45.

Moriarty, O’Connor and Neil Shortall raised white flags before Ballinlough were back in the game with a Kit Og Lynch goal following good work by Darren O’Higgins.

Andy McGovern’s men were dealt a blow minutes later when referee Ian Dowdall showed a red card to O’Higgins for an off-the-ball incident.

McDermott nailed another '45 for the Reds, either side of points from O’Connor and Ronan Flynn, and Curraha led at the break, 1-10 to 1-7.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Ballinlough bossed the opening ten minutes of the second half. Harry Ryan and Daire Shine narrowed the lead to one.

The work rate and effort Andy McGovern’s men needed to stay in the game began to take their toll and Curraha took over.

Padraic O’Hanrahan sent over his second point before Moriarty calmly finished to the net. O’Connor added another to his tally and the lead was out to six.

To their credit, Ballinlough responded again with efforts from Tom Shine and Michael Geraghty.

Curraha finished on a high. O’Connor (2) and David Toner raised white flags before substitute Andrew Coyle completed the scoring with a goal.

After the game, Tony McEntee presented the Peter McDermott Cup to Curraha captain Diarmuid Moriarty.

Curraha: Luke McCarthy, Sean Ronan, Conor O’Farrell, Seamus Hogan, Sean O’Hanrahan, Oisin Fay, Padraic O’Hanrahan 0-2, Ronan Flynn 0-1, Diarmuid Moriarty 1-3, Jack O’Connor 1-5, Neil Shortall 0-1, James McEntee, Niall McLarnon, Ciaran O’Hanrahan, Brian Joyce 0-2. Subs: Eoghan Burke, Andrew Coyle 1-0, David Toner 0-1, Ruairi O’Sullivan, Conor Moriarty.

Ballinlough: Senan McDermott, Conor Fleming, Ferghal Gibney, Conor Rennicks, Jack Connell, Oisin McDermott 0-4, Sean Geraghty 0-1, Mark McCullen, Eoin Briody, Brandon Brunton, Daire Shine 0-2, Darren O’Higgins, Harry Ryan 0-2, Tom Shine 0-2, Kit Og Lynch 1-0. Subs: Luke Harte, Robbie Farrell, Michael Geraghty 0-1.

Referee: Ian Dowdall.