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Annacurra 2-4 Dunlavin 0-13 3/10/2009

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Dunlavin narrowly defeated Annacurra to clinch top spot of the group and advance to the semi finals. Annacurra now face into a playoff with Kilcoole if they are to advance to the semi final showdown with Aughrim. Dunlavin showed their championship credentials with a gutsy performance with Thomas Harney and Shane Carty the backbone of all their good work.

Dunlavin drew first blood in this match with two early points from Stephen Miley and Shane Carty while Annacurra kicked two wides. It took Annacurra over 10 minutes before they had a meaningful attack as Ian McDonald cut in the end line to rifle to the net with his left foot. However Annacurra could not build on this and Thomas Harney added a point to draw Dunlavin level before Stephen Carty gave the Western team the lead again. Dunlavin stretched their lead in the 23rd minute with a point from a Stephen Miley free. John Thompson blasted to the net after a fine run through the Dunlavin defence to give Annacurra a 2-0 to 0-5 lead approaching half time. However, Annacurra could not hold their lead and a Stephen Miley free left the teams level at half time.

With Annacurra playing with the wind in the second half , many expected the game to change and 2 early attacks showed signs it might with Frank Clune slotting over a free to give Annacurra the lead for the third time in this match. However, like the other two times Dunlavin responded strongly and five unanswered points to give themselves a four point lead going into the final five minutes. Two more frees, One from Clive Horan and one from Frank Clune narrowed the margin for Annacurra before Frank Clune put over a 45 to leave the narrowest of margins in the match as we entered injury time. Despite some frantic efforts from the Annacurra attack, Dunlavin kept their nerve and finished off the game with two points from Shane and Stephen Carty which sees them through to play Avondale in the semi finals. Annacurra now enter a playoff with Kilcoole for the chance to meet Aughrim and will be looking to rectify the fact they scored only the goals from play in this match.

Annacurra: M.Doyle, D.Thompson, A.Byrne, L.Moules,  P.McDonald, M.O’Brien, S.O’Neill, J.Thompson(1-0), P.Clancy, W.Codd, A.Horan, I.McDonald(1-0), C.Horan(0-1), F.Clune (0-3), P.Moules

Subs: C.Byrne, M.O’Neill, P.O’Brien, M.Healy

Annacurra 0-18 Bray Emmetts 0-6 25/8/09

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Clive Horan inspired Annacurra to a handsome twelve point win over Bray Emmetts in their Intermediate Group game on August 25th in Ashford. Annacurra’s tallismatic forward kicked 10 points to ensure Annacurra ran out rather easy winners. Bray fielded a mixture of youth and old with former Wicklow and Bray Wanderers goalkeeper John Walsh starting at number 13 and a number of minor county players also starting for the Northern outfit.

Bray started the game very lively and the opening minutes saw Annacurra and Bray exchange two points a piece before Bray midfielder Brendan Devitt kicked two frees to give the Bray men a four point to two lead. Remarkably this would be the last score that Bray would get for some 42 minutes of football. Pierce O’Brien and Peter Clancy dominated the midfield battle for the remainder of the first half and their domination aided the Annacurra forward line as Annacurra rattled over nine consecutive points before the half time whistle. Clive Horan kicked six of these with four coming from frees. A fantastic catch by Peter Clancy set of William Codd who burst through the centre of the Bray defence to kick over an impressive sweeping move. John Thompson was also catching the eye at centre forward and last years League final hero capped off one of the moves of the game with a neat move along the end line finishing with his fisted effort midway through the second half. A fine score from Clive Horan on the stroke of half time left the score at 0-11 to 0-4 in favour of Annacurra.

The second half kicked off in the same fashion as the first half ended with Mark O’Neill and Clive Horan adding points to increase Annacurra’s lead. Against the run of play, Bray were awarded a dubious penalty decision after a foul was alleged to take place inside the square. From the resulting penalty, Michael Doyle made a good save to his right pushing the ball away from his goal. A scramble ensued and another foul was conceded, this time outside the square which Brendan Devitt again duly put over. Annacurra again went on a scoring spree after this score with Clive Horan again doing damage to the Bray defence. As well as scoring Annacurra’s 14th point he also played the role of creator with a clever off load to Patrick Moules for him to score his first of the night. Annacurra were now attacking in waves and the ball rarely troubled our 45 yard line. Ian McDonald played a clever pass into Patrick Moules who added his second score in as many minutes. John Thompson was very industrious at centre forward and he added his third point of the game as it entered into it’s final minutes which was swiftly followed by Clive Horan’s tenth and Annacurra’s final point of the game. A consolation point from a Bray free left Annacurra as twelve point winners on a score of 0-18 to 0-6 and undefeated in the group so far.

Annacurra – Michael Doyle, Shane McAllister, Ciarán Byrne, Liam Moules, Paul McDonald, Michael O’Brien, Darren Thompson, Pierce O’Brien (0-1), Peter Clancy, Ian McDonald, John Thompson (0-3), William Codd (0-1), Clive Horan (0-10, 4frees), Mark O’Neill (0-1), Patrick Moules (0-2). SUBS: Michael Healy for Mark O’Neill