Blessington get vital win on the board

at Aughrim response from the men in green and gold.

They were awarded a free when dual player Martin O’Brien was fouled but not for the first time in the game Clive Horan shot wide. From the kick out the winners surged forward and after good work by both midfielders, Eoin Keogh and Paul McLoughlin, which saw Mick Nugent gain possession, who was fouled, a quick-thinking Curtis Geraghty found Mikie O’Connor with a perfect pass and he slotted over the bar to give the winners a lead of 0-4 to 0-2 after 17 minutes.

The sides exchanges a point each which saw Alan Horan reduce the deficit with a point from play which brought a quick response from the winners which saw corner-back Barry Murphy go on an inspiring solo run as he split the Annacurra defence to score a wonderful point.

The runners up were a given a lifeline when a long ball by Martin O’Brien was floated into the goalmouth area which resulted in a foul being committed by goalkeeper Stephen Kitt.

Referee Damian Byrne had no hesitation in awarding a penalty which full-forward Ian McDonald slotted home to give given his side a slender lead of 1-3to 0-5 after 22 minutes played.

Not for the first time in the game the winners surged forward but were guilty of two bad wides by full-forward Curtis Geraghty which was mainly due to a hard tackling Annacurra defence.

One last effort from Barry Murphy, who gave a perfect pass to Kevin John Rodgers which saw him slot over the levelling point to close the first half scoring which left the sides deadlocked on a score 1-3 to 0-6 at half-time, but Annacurra looked in trouble having played with the breeze and to be only level.

Turning over to play with the breeze in the second half Blessington manager Barry O’Donoan and his selectors must have felt in a good position being on level terms.

The west Wicklow side began the second half with a real purpose which saw the winners out of the traps first which they recorded two wides in row, before Eoin Keogh edged his side in front with an excellent point from play.

Not for the time both sides were guilty of bad missed chances as they recorded two wides each which left the winners leading by a single point on a score of 0-7 to 1-3 six minutes into the second half.

The winners received a tonic when a long ball from Curtis Geraghty looked to going wide but Mikie O’Connor had other ideas when he gathered near the end line which saw him evade several tackles before he unleashed a piledriver to the net which put the winners in the driving seat with a four-point cushion, 1-7 to 1-3.

Annacurra, who are renowned for their spirit and passion when it comes to championship, upped the tempo but they failed to convert what possession they had as they squandered four scoring chances in a row with bad wides before midfielder Eoin Keogh landed a point, while Curtis Geraghty also added a point which saw the winners leading on a score of 1-9 to 1-3.

Patrick O’Connor and former Kilcoole player Jonathan Hynes exchanged a point each before the winners suffered a blow when wing-back Shane Broderick received a second yellow card following a late tackle on Alan Horan which left Dean Barnes with an easy task of pointing the free.

With defeat staring the Annacurra men they lifted their game once more and following a move involving several players Jonathan Hynes’ shot produced a brilliant save by Stephen Kitt. As the ball broke Ian McDonald was close by which saw him score his second goal to reduce the deficit to two points which saw the winners leading 1-10 to 2-5 with four minutes left on the stop watch.

The winners won possession from the kick-out and a long ball found their top scorer Mikie O’Connor and was only fitting that he should close the scoring with his third point.

One last effort from Paddy Molloy’s side saw two missed chances by Mick and Martin O’Brien as both shots were wide which saw the Annacurra side record a total of ten wides in the second half which proved costly as Blessington saw off the stiff challenge that was provided in a better all round team performance to emerge worthy winners. BLESSINGTON SCORERS: Mikie 0’Connor (1-3), Eoin Keogh (0-2), Patrick O’Connor (0-2), Kevin John Rodgers (0-2), Barry Murphy (0-1), Curtis Geraghty (0-1). ANNACURRA SCORERS: Ian McDonald (2-1), Dean Barnes (0-2), Alan Horan (0-1), Jonathan Hynes (0-1). BLESSINGTON: Stephen Kitt; Barry Murphy, Mick McLoughlin, Jack Gillian; Shane Broderick, Caelon McGorman, Kevin O’Hanlon; Paul McLaughlin, Eoin Keogh; Kevin John Rodgers, Patrick O’Connor, Barry Finnan; Mick Nugent, Curtis Geraghty, Mikie O’Connor. Subs. - Conor Kenny for Kevin Hanlon injured. ANNACURRA: Michael Doyle; Elliot Robinson, Ciaran Byrne, Liam Moules; James Keenan, Paul McDonald, Alan Byrne; Jonathan Hynes, Martin O’Brien; Dean Barnes, Alan Horan, Mick O’Brien;Clive Horan, Ian McDonald, Mick Healy. Subs. - Vinnie Flaherty for James Keenan, Dylan Doyle for Mick Healy, Patrick Moules for Dean Barnes. REFEREE: Damian Byrne (Kiltegan).