Curran brothers central to crucial championship victory for Castlerea

John and Dara Curran helped Castlerea St. Kevin’s pick up their first win in this year’s senior football championship as the local club action continued across County Roscommon on Saturday evening.

Dara Bruen’s side were 1-14 to 1-6 victors in their Group C clash against Elphin at Rockfield, with John Curran hitting 1-5, while his younger brother Dara nailed a two-point free at the death to cement his side’s triumph.

A couple of two-pointers from Adam McDermott helped the winners build up an early six-point lead.

Then, a flowing move in the 21st minute allowed McDermott to tee up John Curran who provided an assured finish.

Cillian Fox hit back immediately with a much-needed green flag for Elphin, but Castlerea remained in the box seat at half time, leading by 1-9 to 1-1.

The second half was a poor spectacle as both teams missed a hatful of chances. A two-pointer from Evan Gunn hinted at an Elphin revival but they could get no closer than six points, and Dara Curran’s well-struck two-point free at the death ensured Castlerea were up and running in the group.

Adam McDermott with the assist ➡️ John Curran with a tidy finish 🙌

Lightning-fast football from Castlerea St. Kevin’s! ⚡️🔥@StKevins | @RoscommonGAA | #ClubberTV pic.twitter.com/YYewhWJ8Ts

— Clubber (@clubber) August 15, 2026

Reigning champions St. Brigid’s racked up their second victory in Group A with a routine 2-14 to 1-7 victory against Western Gaels in Tulsk.

A Rory Hester two-pointer was the key score early on as Western Gaels established a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

But the St. Brigid’s response was emphatic as they hit 1-6 without reply. Conor Hand set up Charlie O’Carroll for the goal but Western Gaels were handed a lifeline before the break when Patrick Gaynor’s free into the box ended with Ruaidhrí Fallon being pinged for charging.

Finbarr Cregg made no mistake from the resultant penalty but Conor Hand replied with St. Brigid’s second goal to leave his side 2-7 to 1-3 to the good at half time.

With top scorer Ben O’Carroll ending up with 0-6, including five from play, Brigid’s kept the scoreboard ticking over in the second half, without ever setting the world alight, to run out ten-point winners.

There was a huge shock in Group C of the McNulty’s Furniture Intermediate Football Championship as Kilmore brought high-flying Fuerty crashing back down to earth with a 1-12 to 1-8 victory in Strokestown.

A couple of orange flags from Gary Connellan alongside another from Jamie Connellan left Kilmore 0-8 to 0-2 ahead, but a couple of Gearoid Ennis frees left Fuerty just four points behind at the break.

A hat-trick of scores from Caelan Bracken moved Kilmore further ahead before Fuerty hit 1-3 without reply — the goal coming from Cormac Lavin after Ennis’ attempt for a two-pointer fell short.

But Jamie Connellan’s goal in injury time helped seal Kilmore’s biggest win in years.

In the only other intermediate championship match of the evening, Shannon Gaels put their opening round disappointment against Creggs behind them, crushing Pádraig Pearses by 3-22 to 0-4 in Lisnamult.

Goals in the opening 20 minutes from Conan Fitzpatrick and Matthew Bourke helped Shannon Gaels take a 2-14 to 0-3 lead into the interval.

Predictably, the game’s intensity petered out in the second half, but midfielder Hugh Molloy’s fisted goal in the 47th minute put the icing on a comprehensive victory for the North Roscommon side.

*Match reports from all four of Saturday evening’s games in Tuesday’s Roscommon Herald.