Annacurra picked up their first win of the 2009 Division 1 League with a well earned win over kingpins of Wicklow Rathnew. The win moves Annacurra up to 8th in the League and sees Rathnew defeated for the first time this year. Rathnew fielded a team that included County full back Damien Power wearing the number 3 jersey and Wicklow midfielder James Stafford partnering Nicky Mernagh at midfield. Annacurra are still missing key players due to injury and to county commitments but fielded a strong team with Mick O’Brien and John Thompson handed the role of shackling the Rathnew midfield. Martin O’Brien got his first start in corner forward.

The game started at a very slow pace with Rathnew kicking 2 wides before Mark O’Neill gave Annacurra the lead with a well taken point after 10 minutes. Rathnew continued to be wasteful for the rest of the first half and dropped frees into Michael Doyle’s hands before Edward Jameson gave them their first score. This was followed by a point from centre back Stephen Canavan who gave a great display in the number 6 jersey. Annacurra had 2 goal chances in the first half but these efforts both went to the right of the post. Mick O’Brien was catching great ball in the first half and William Codd was given a license to push forward from wing back. Pierce O’Brien kept Barry Mernagh on a short leash and gathered many breaking balls. John Thompson added a point from a  free that saw both teams go in at half time tied at 2 points a piece. Surely the second half could only get better?

And it did. Rathnew started the second half at a frantic pace but could not account for any of their efforts. In total they kicked 19 wides and left 2 frees drop short. Annacurra defended excellently and worked together as a team throughout the match. Their efforts were rewarded when Mick O’Brien took a clever free kick into John Thompson who fired the ball across the goal into the corner of the net. This was followed by a great score from Mick O’Brien. With Annacurra leading by 4 points Rathnew changed their whole full forward line by moving Edward Jameson in to the corner and bringing on Richard Dignam on the edge of the square. Tommy Gill was also brought on to replace Barry Mernagh at centre forward. The changes brought immediate riches with a long ball from Tommy Gill caught by Dignam and fed to Edward Jameson to drive home a goal. From the resulting kickout James Stafford fed in Stephen Canavan and the Rathnew centre back fisted over to tie the game. With Rathnew seeming to turn the tide Annacurra sprung Frank Clune from the bench and the skillful forward scored a point that was as good ever scored in Annacurra. Frank received the ball on Annacurra’s 45 and received a shoulder from Stafford. He played a neat 1_2 with Mick O’Brien before taking on Nicky Mernagh who Frank left on his back. He then carried the ball up the pitch before driving over from 40 yards. This score seemed to encourage Annacurra and Patrick Moules knocked over 2 frees before John Thompson scored another point taking his tally to 1-2. Rathnew attacked Annacurra’s goal for the last 5 mins but Annacurra’s defence held strong before Frank Clune set up Mark O’Neill for the insurance point.

Team: Michael Doyle, Liam Moules, Shane McAllister, Sean O’Neill, Darren Thompson, Pierce O’Brien, William Codd, Mick O’Brien 0-1, John Thompson 1-2(1), Michael Healy, Alan Horan, Peter Clancy, Martin O’Brien, Mark O’Neill 0-2, Patrick Moules 0-2(2)

Subs: Frank Clune 0-1 for Peter Clancy, Colm Maher for Martin O’Brien, Warren Codd for Michael Healy.