Annacurra gain revenge with resounding win

ANNACURRA COOLKENNO 2-11 0-4

ANNACURRA gained sweet revenge for their defeat at the hands of Coolkenno in the corresponding Division 1A fixture on the Carlow border when they powered to a very impressive victory over Damien McMahon’s men at home last Wednesday evening.

A bruising and abrasive encounter throughout, it was Annacurra who always looked the stronger of the two sides with county men Martin O’Brien and Gearoid Murphy looking sharp while the home side were far more effective in creating scoring chances with their two second-half goals killing off any hope of a Coolkenno recovery.

The half-time tally of 0-7 to 0-2 to John Hynes’ men is a clear indication of the bluntness of the Coolkenno attack. Their two scores in the opening half came from Pauric Coleman after seven minutes and an absolute screamer from Paddy Dalton after 20.

Apart from those chances the first half was dominated by Annacurra. They had four wides by the time Glenn Austin split the sticks after nine minutes. A poor Collkenno kick-out was then claimed as a mark by Mick O’Brien, the ball was worked to Clive Horan who picked out Frank Clune who hoisted over for a lead Annacurra would never relinquish.

At this point, the first unsavory incident in the game took place. Annacurra full-forward Ian McDonald was found stretched out following an occurrence not seen by this reporter or referee Kieran O’Shea. There was concern for McDonald who didn’t appear to be moving for a time but eventually he got back to his feet, albeit shakily, and was replaced temporarily by Dean Barnes for about 10 minutes.

Annacurra kept their focus after this and began to lay siege on the Coolkenno posts. Frank Clune (free), Dean Barnes and a superb Gearoid Murphy point after tremendous work down the wing by Martin O’Brien opened up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead as tensions rose in certain areas of the pitch with yellow cards being issued to Elliot Robinson, Don Jackman, Clive Horan and Gearoid Murphy with 23 minutes gone in the opening half.

The returned Ian McDonald and Michael Healy clocked up two more wides for the home side before Healy pulled the trigger for a goal only for Shane Walker to get his body in the way and save the day. The ball broke to Frank Clune who returned it to Healy who swung over after 29 minutes.

The last say of the opening half went to Clive Horan who profited from class work from Gearoid Murphy to point and make it 0-7 to 0-2 at the break with Coolkenno facing a huge job of work if they were to salvage anything from this game.

Paddy Dalton gave Coolkenno the thinnest glimmer of hope with a point after two minutes of the restart, but the game was beyond their reach 60 seconds later when Gearoid Murphy bolted up the field having won a breaking ball around the middle. The Wicklow under-20 star popped a ball across the Coolkenno square where Shane O’Keeffe was in position to punch the ball home to the back of John Corcoran’s net, 1-7 to 0-3.

There were some interesting battles all over the field in this game. Former county stars Alan Byrne and Paddy Dalton were reacquainted in the Annacurra half-back line. Martin O’Brien ruled the roost at the edge of the Annacurra square, breaking down the wing on several occasions. Liam Moules was given the task of handling Eamon Rossiter, Frank Clune endured a torrid hour under the watchful eye of Cathal Rossiter, Ian McDonald and Robert Keogh enjoyed a fierce battle in front of the Coolkenno goal while the middle of the field saw Paul McDonald and Mick O’Brien engage with Jim Cushe and James Gregan, a battle won resoundingly by the Annacurra pair.

It was all Annacurra now. Coolkenno just couldn’t stem the flow from the middle of the field but the home side went wide from a free from Clive Horan and Ian McDonald blazed a shot across the face of the goal after a ball from Alan Byrne.

The Annacurra pressure was relentless. Frank Clune swung over a beautiful point after more good work from Alan Byrne and then superb work from Clune saw him fist the ball to the onrushing Clive Horan and the centre half-forward lashed home past Corcoran to make it 2-8 to 0-3 after nine minutes of the second half.

Frank Clune pointed off his right and left either side of Eamon Rossiter raising a white flag from a free at the other end and then the second serious incident took place when referee Kieran O’Shea had no choice but to show a red card to Liam Moules for a dangerous tackle on Eoghan Dolan.

This incident and substitutions on either side broke up the rhythm of the game and a final point from Clive Horan completed the scoring and secured a 2-11 to 0-4 victory for Annacurra with a performance that suggests they will cause major headaches in the Senior championship. Best for John Hynes’ side were the entire full-back line, the eager Glenn Austin, the capable Elliot Robinson who looks born to wear the number six jersey, Mick O’Brien, Gearoid Murphy and Frank Clune.

Coolkenno’s attack was ruthlessly shutdown in this game but Damien McMahon’s men will still be there or thereabouts in the Intermediate championship given the talent at their disposal.

Scorers – Annacurra: Clive Horan 1-2 (f), Frank Clune 0-5 (1f), Shane O’Keeffe 1-0, Dean Barnes 0-1, Glenn Austin 0-1, Gearoid Murphy 0-1, Michael Healy 0-1.

Coolkenno: Paddy Dalton 0-2, Pauric Coleman 0-1, Eamon Rossiter 0-1 (f).

Bob Fitzgerald; Liam Moules, Martin O’Brien, Shane McAllister; Glenn Austin, Elliot Robinson, Alan Byrne; Paul McDonald, Mick O’Brien; Michael Healy, Clive Horan, Gearoid Murphy; Shane O’Keeffe, Ian McDonald, Frank Clune. Subs: Dean Barnes for I McDonald (Blood, 10min, reversed 20min), Alan Horan for G Murphy, James Keenan for M Healy, Dean Barnes for S O’Keeffe (53min), Declan Loftus for C Horan (60).

John Corcoran; Shane Walker, Robert Keogh, Willie Doyle; Donal Doyle, Colm Murphy, Cathal Rossiter; Jim Cushe, James Gregan; Paddy Dalton, Don Jackman, Eoghan Dolan; Eamon Rossiter, Pauric Coleman, Conor Walker. Subs: Ben Jackman for P Dalton (56min), Cormac Byrne for P Coleman (40min), Niall Bailey for D Jackman (40), Paul Keogh for W Doyle, Paul Murphy for Eoghan Dolan. Kieran O’Shea