Avondale survive as Annacurra make the drop

AVONDALE ANNACURRA 0-14 0-10

THE prize of survival in Senior football proved well worth fighting for when Avondale and Annacurra went head to head in Ballinakill last Friday night with extra-time and plenty of drama required to finally separate two game sides and send Annacurra back to Intermediate ranks for 2019.

The fixing of a game of this magnitude in a venue such as Ballinakill which has no fencing whatsoever is bordering on insanity.

It’s almost as if GAA officials in Wicklow want trouble because that’s what they’re opening the door to when they fix a game of the utmost importance to two proud clubs that sees supporters, mentors, and substitutes standing in groups on both sidelines as the action rages on the field of battle.

In fairness to both sets of players, mentors and supporters there wasn’t a single issue aside from fierce lamentations towards decisions by referee Eddie Leon- ard and some reckless challenges on the field.

However, all it takes is one spark to ignite a major incident that puts the safety of officials and players in jeopardy and all measures to avoid that and to afford protection should be taken when choosing venues in future.

This was a hectic battle. Two disappointing campaigns brought Jon Hynes’ and Emmet O’Sullivan’s charges to the point of no return and it was abundantly clear from the off that making the dreaded drop was not on anyone’s to-do list.

The importance of the game was evident in the early stages when Eugene Dunne would block a Frank Clune effort with his face while Annacurra full-back Martin O’Brien would sail up the field exchanging a pass with Clune before his long ball to Dean Barnes would be cleared by Brian Burke.

Frank Clune would open the scoring from a free after a foul on Ian McDonald, but the opening 10 minutes would be of a poor standard before Ian McDonald would increase Annacurra’s lead with a stunning effort off his left after good work from Clune to regain possession lost by Gearoid Murphy.

The first quarter had elapsed by the time Avondale got off the mark; that through the excellent Oisin McGraynor after he played a major role in a patient move after Shane McAllister was adjudged to have overcarried.

It would be a mixed night for the three McGraynor bothers who lined out at corner-forward and in the half forwards. Oisin would prove himself to be in excellent form.

Conor would kick the next two scores (one free) to push Avondale ahead but he would be replaced after 52 minutes before reappearing for extra-time and bagging the insurance score at the death. Sean would work hard but be lost to a red card after a tangle with Gearoid Murphy near the sideline with the Avondale supporters informing Eddie Leonard that there ‘were two of them in it’ after Murphy was deemed free of sin by linesman Darragh Byrne.

A Gearoid Murphy free was answered by a wicked Eugene Dunne point from play after he marauded his way up the field exchanging passes with Eoin Baker and Dean Gahan before letting rip at the posts and that was how it would stay at the break with the ’Dales leading by 0-4 to 0-3. They were helped maintaining that lead by a fine save from Brian Burke from a Shane O’Keeffe belter moments before the half-time whistle sounded.

Tensions, temperatures and blood pressures would increase tremendously in the second half. The physicality of the game would move from spicy flavour to extra Triple X hot as both teams threw everything they had behind the cause of survival.

Things were looking bleak for Annacurra when Emmet O’Sullivan’s men opened up a 0-6 to 0-3 lead thanks to two Oisin McGraynor scores (one free).

Annacurra had their chances but dropped short to Brian Burke, went wide from Martin O’Brien, Frank Clune, Gearoid Murphy, off the post from Clune from a free and another wayward effort from Murphy before the county man finally stopped the rot with a fine score after 52 minutes.

Jon Hynes had introduced Clive Horan for Dean Barnes and Avondale had brought in Donal McGraynor for Conor McGraynor prior to Murphy’s point.

Things were hotting up on the field of play at this stage with fouls that might have warranted cards to some kind going unpunished but Clive Horan’s foul on Saoirse Kearon did earn him a yellow with seven to go.

Conor Byrne made it 0-7 to 0-4 after 55 but Annacurra came with a savage burst with points from Alan Byrne, Gearoid Murphy and Mick O’Brien to leave it 0-7 apiece and that is how it would stay until the final whistle during which time Sean McGraynor would see red for his tangle with Gearoid Murphy.

Conor McGraynor returned Avondale to 15 for extra-time while Ciaran Byrne entered the fray for Annacurra.

Two Clive Horan points (one free) pushed Annacurra ahead, but a powerful finish to the first half of extra-time from Avondale saw then fire over points from Oisin Mcgraynor (free), Ross Ward after a stunning mark from Adam Benson Byrne, and another McGraynor free to leave them ahead by one at the break ay 0-10 to 0-9.

By the time Annacurra scored their last point Avondale were 0-13 to 0-9 ahead thanks to a fine score from 18, an Oisin McGraynor free and a magnificent Conor Byrne point. Frank Clune would fire over the free that finished their scoring.

But it would be all Avondale in those last few minutes. They lost Dean Gahan to a red card for apparently verbally abusing Eddie Leonard but Conor McGraynor would profit from an overturned Annacurra ball to fire over to the delight of the Avondale supporters on the bank and she was a good as over at 0-14 to 0-10.

A good battle marred by over-zealous tackling and a forgiving refereeing style that left players and supporters frustrated on both sides.

Scorers – Annacurra: Oisin McGraynor 0-6 (4f), Conor McGraynor 0-3, Conor Byrne 0-2, Eugene Dunne 0-1, Ross Ward 0-1, Donal McGraynor 0-1.

Annacurra: Gearoid Murphy 0-3 (1f), Clive Horan 0-2 (1f), Frank Clune 0-2 (2f), Ian McDonald 0-1, Alan Byrne 0-1, Mick O’Brien 0-1.

Brian Burke; Simon Cullen, Saoirse Kearon, Shane Beevor; Jack Manley, Eugene Dunne, Shane Byrne; Adam Benson Byrne, Eoin Baker; Conor McGraynor, Dean Gahan, Sean McGraynor; Oisin McGraynor, Ross Ward, Conor Byrne. Subs: Donal McGraynor, Liam Kinsella, Shane O’Neill.

Bob Fitzgerald; Liam Moules, Martin O’Brien, Shane Mcallister; James Keenan, Elliot Robinson, Alan Byrne; Paul McDonald, Mick O’Brien; Mick Healy, Frank Clune, Dean Barnes; Shane O’Keeffe, Gearoid Murphy, Ian McDonald. Subs: Ciaran Byrne, Clive Horan, Alan Horan, Dean Barnes.

Eddie Leonard