Brennan saves the day for Annacurra against Barndarrig
ANNACURRA and Barndarrig played an entertaining opening round of the SFL Division 2 at Annacurra on Saturday afternoon, February 24
It was very much a repeat of a previous encounter for both sides, as they continued on where they left off in 2023 when the Kilmacurra side captured the Intermediate football championship trophy with a dramatic penalty goal win in added time.
On this occasion Ronan Brennan rescued the game for the home side when he converted a free in the third minute of added time to ensure a division of the match points.
Both sides had enjoyed periods of dominance during the game and the final scoreline was probably fair enough.
Conditions in Annacurra were good for the end of February with the pitch showing all the signs of a beneficial period of rest. Both sides were slow to get off the mark on the scoreboard in the opening minutes of the first half.
The home side probably enjoyed the territorial advantage, but Barndarrig broke the deadlock when Michael Murphy pointed a free coming up to the 10th minute.
Annacurra responded with a Sammy Harpur point from play and had gone into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead by the quarter hour stage. Charlie Graham and Ronan Brennan had added points from play during a period of dominance by the home side, when Barndarrig were probably fortunate to escape the concession of a further two goals.
Annacurra full-forward Ronan Brennan got on the end of a fisted pass across goal but his hand flick towards the net struck goalkeeper on the head and rebounded back out.
Shortly afterwards Alan Byrne was through on goal one on one with goalkeeper Aaron Jackson. His attempt to guide the ball past the advancing net minder was anticipated by the keeper and the chance was gone.
The second quarter was Barndarrig’s best period in the game as they took over in the middle third of the field. Lots of early ball was fed into Michael Murphy at full-forward. He pointed two frees and put his side ahead with his first score from play after 22 minutes.
Annacurra responded with an Alan Byrne point to leave the scores at 0-4 apiece but
Barndarrig continued their good run and had gone ahead by 0-8 to 0-4 by the half time break. Michael Murphy pointed two more frees, got a point from play and Paul Ryan finished the half with a further point from play.
If the visitors were in the ascendancy for of the first half, that changed dramatically in the second half. Annacurra began strongly and had the lead reduced to a point by the 10th minute. James Doyle set up Ronan Brennan for a point, Sammy Harpur got a second and Charlie Graham got forward for a point to reduce the margin to a single score.
Martin O’Brien and Billy Cuddihy had come strongly into the game at midfield and the Barndarrig defence was coming under strong pressure. Substitute Kevin Leonard eased the pressure somewhat with a Barndarrig point from play but further Annacurra scores from Ronan Brennan (free) and play had the sides level at 0-9 each as the game moved into the final quarter.
At this stage the home team looked the more likely winner, but they were coming up against an extremely resolute Barndarrig rearguard, who were well organised and defended well.
Ronan Gilpin put them back in front again with a point in a rare attack. Michael Murphy added another from a free and it began to look as if the Kilmacurra defenders would carry the day.
Substitute Jonny Carlin rattled Rob Fitzgerald’s crossbar with five minutes to go. Annacurra continued to attack but were wide twice – from a free and another from play.
Substitute Kevin Healy reduced the gap to the minimum again as the game entered the added time period. Finally, Ronan Brennan saved the day for the home side when he pointed in the third minute of added time. The final score stood at 0-11 each.