Annacurra GAA club held it’s AGM on Friday 11th December. A large crowd turned up on the night and it was nice to see so many younger members attending. The officers elected for 2010 are as follows;

Chairman- Martin Fitzgerald; Vice Chairman- Declan Finn; Secretary- Declan Byrne; Fixtures Secretary- Michael Byrne; Treasurer- John O’Neill; Assistant Treasurer- Ciaran Byrne; PRO- Kevin Stapleton; School Liason Officer- Michael Byrne; Club Coaching Co-ordinator- Declan Byrne; County Board delegates- Declan Finn, Tony Doyle and Michael Byrne.

At the conclusion of the AGM, the club launched it’s brand new yearbook. Linda Hannay contributed alot of her time to this piece and at €7 it is great value and a worthwhile read with lots of familiar faces appearing in numerous photos. The book can be purchased in the Saltee, Kathleen Carr’s shop or at Rednagh Stores.

Annacurra yet again made the long trip to Donard for a game they were hoping was going to be the status clincher for them to stay in Division 1. With heavy rain falling through the week the pitch felts the effects and was very close to being announce unplayable. Both teams took to the field with great determination to win and finish the season on a high and every player on the pitch came off the field feeling the effects of the boggy ground.

Both teams traded points in the opening stages and it was Annacurra that went into half time 2 points in the lead.

During the second half Donard started to get on top and took a two point lead before Patrick Moules pointed a free and shortly after Shane O Keeffe pounced to poke the ball into the back of the Donard net. With time running out Donard pushed hard for an equalizer but great defending from Annacurra saw Michael Healy kicking the final point of the game to ensure victory.

This win meant that Annacurra will once again be playing Division 1 football and the Carnew game is seen as null and void and no need in being played.

Team: Michael Doyle, Darren Thompson, Shane Mac Allister, Liam Moules, Martin O Brien, Alan Byrne, Ciaran Byrne, John Thompson, Peter Clancy, Michael Healy, Sean O Neill, Patrick Moules, Shane O Keeffe, Pierce O Brien, Ian McDonald.

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