Bray hold out for vital draw
Emmets survive comeback
BRAY EMMETS TINAHELY 1-08 1-08
BRAY Emmets survived a final quarter comeback from Tinahely to get the most valuable of draws to ensure Senior status for 2018.
With the result came the bonus of a place in the Keating Trophy versus Annacurra next weekend.
The Northern side settled the quickest here with a score in the opening minute from Cathal McGee and doubled their lead on five minutes through Gavin Dowling.
Tinahely’s opening score came from the boot of a Tony Darcy free and his side were trying to find a gap in the Bray defence with John Henderson employed in an extremely effective sweeper role.
A point from McGee on eight minutes came from a turnover in the Bray full-back line and a quick counter-attack brought a fine score.
A quick side-line towards Stephen Dillon almost created a goal chance for Tinahely but his effort was blocked and out for a 45 which resulted in a score at the second attempt for Alan Nolan who was creating a bit of space with clever movement in a tight area.
Bray almost had a goal for themselves only for Niall Byrne’s reactions in the Tinahely goal with Byrne thwarting McGee after sterling work from Ben McCormack but moments later, he was powerless to prevent Niall Gaffney firing home after a neat lay off from Rory Breslin.
They almost were in for a third goal chance in as many minutes, moments later but the threat was dealt with by Gavin Kenny.
McCormack opened a five point gap on the 20th minute with a deserved score for his efforts before Tinahely responded with points from Alan Dillon and Jason Cush.
Niall McGraynor was introduced at this period and his first involvement was to point a free and be fouled for a second free converted by Des Kelly.
A pin-point ball into Alan Nolan at the end of the half almost created a goal chance but the Bray defence survived and were adjudged not to have been fouling and the danger passed.
Trailing by five at the interval, Tinahely needed a quick start and got exactly that with a free from Tony Darcy to open the second half.
Shane Lohan responded for Bray to ensure the complete half back line scored before Niall McGraynor concluded his sides scoring in the 11th minute.
Tinahely were needing a miracle with the gap out to six and got a bit of luck they deserved when a shot deflected off the upright into the path of Jason Cush who fired home the rebound.
Willie Quaile scored from a quick Tinahely free and Tony Darcy brought the gap to a minimum with ten to go.
Bray had defended well up to this point but it was all Tinahely now. At the other end, Tinahely were fighting for every ball and turned over a large amount of possession to start their attacks.
Tony Darcy levelled matters with five minutes to go but Tinahely would need a goal or three further points to survive the drop.
In a frantic last five minutes, they did look like the team that would win the game with Bray’s attacks dropping short into the goalkeeper’s hands or being turned over but the Bray defence could not be penetrated and they survive to tell the tale.
ANNACURRA NEWTOWN 1-10 0-11
A SPIRITED second half display during which they overcame a two point half-time deficit despite facing into a stiff breeze, enabled Annacurra to run out deserving winners of this Keating Trophy encounter played at Rathnew GAA Grounds on Saturday last.
A really strong wind blew downfield into the goal at the village end, threatening to turn the contest into a ‘game of two halves’.
Gearoid Murphy got Annacurra on the scoreboard with a finely struck 45 after two minutes.
Dangerous passing between the Newtown defence and their goalkeeper broke down and was punished by Frank Clune who scored point number two after seven minutes.
Annacurra were enjoying a lot of possession at this stage but were playing too much of their football in the middle third of the field to be a scoring threat.
Corner forward Ross Davis opened the Newtown account with a pointed free on ten minutes.
Paul O’Riordan was coming more into the game at midfield and levelled the score at 0-2 each.
Michael O’Brien put Annacurra back in front when the goalkeeper was forced to punch over a long ball landed in by O’Brien from way outfield.
Newtown centre forward Neill Martin scored off his left foot to leave the sides level at 0-3 apiece after fifteen minutes.
Paul O’Riordan and Mark Fitzsimmons began to dominate around the middle and the speedy Newtown half forwards began to run at the Annacurra defence.
Mick Healy put the Derry men ahead but Sean Heffernan levelled again.
Ian McDonald put Annacurra ahead again but the Annacurra defence was now being put under pressure.
Ross Davis pointed a free four minutes before the half time break. Corner-forward Sean Heffernan put Newtown ahead for the first time and attacking centre back Shane Mooney put his side two points up just on half time.
With the advantage of the wind to come in the second period, it looked ‘advantage Newtown’ at this stage.
Annacurra brought on Vinnie Flaherty for Alan Horan at half time. Flaherty went to full back, Martin O’Brien to midfield, Michael O’Brien to full forward and Frank Clune moved out to centre forward.
All moves were helpful but bringing Clune into the game was significant.
Annacurra began the second half in the same manner Newtown had finished the first.
Gearoid Murphy pointed in the first minute. Three minutes later came the only goal of the game.
Goalkeeper Ciaran McGuirl advanced to contest a high ball dropping in the full-back line. The ball broke to Frank Clune who finished expertly putting his side back ahead by two points.
Ross Davis narrowed the gap with a pointed free but Clune came back with another point.
Gearoid Murphy increased the lead to a goal when he judged a forty metre free beautifully into the breeze, clipping it over off the right post.
Newtown sensed that the game was slipping from them and put on a lot of pressure over the next ten minutes.
Sean Heffernan pointed a difficult free after seventeen minutes, Sean Gregory added another point one minute later and Mark Fitzsimmons had the sides level again with a great long range point after twenty one minutes.
However, Annacurra came back strongly and Gearoid Murphy put them back in front with a fine point from play.
Michael Healy added another with five minutes left in the game. There was no further score for the remainder of the half plus three minutes of added time but Annacurra were in the ascendancy and deservedly ran out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-11.
Scorers: Annacurra – Frank Clune 1-2, Gearoid Murphy 0-4, Michael Healy 0-2, Mick O’Brien 0-1, Ian McDonald 0-1.
Newtown – Ross Davis 0-3, Sean Heffernan 0-3, Neill Martin 0-1, Paul O’Riordan 0-1, Mark Fitzsimmons 0-1, Shane Mooney 0-1, Sean Gregory 0-1.