ShareAnnacurra reclaimed top spot in the division 2 football league
tonight with a comprehensive win away to Ballinacor.
It took some time for both teams to settle before Alan Byrne opened Annacurra’s account
in the 14th minute. Two frees from Ian McDonald and one from Ian both rebounded from the crossbarand upright before two Ballinacor frees gave the home side the lead in the 21st minute. Stephen Murphy restored parity after a quick free from Mick O’Brien before a free from Clive and a Patrick Moules point opened up a two point lead for Annacurra. Ballinacor then reeled off three points in a row to lead by 5 points to 4 at half time in a very poor first half.
The second half seen an improved performance from Annacurra with captain Clive Horan leading by example from the start. Annacurra’s centre forward scored within 40 seconds from a free and was set up for another soon after as Peter Clancy won a ball back in the middle of the field. Ballinacor leveled matters again soon after but Ian McDonald finally seen a 45 go in off the right side of the post and over. Clive added another free and helped set up Shane O’Keefe to open a three point lead in the opening 10 mins of the second half. Liam Moules then came out of defence and set up Clive for the score of the game in a breaking move up the left wing to give Annacurra a four point cushion. Another 45 from Ian added to the lead before a move involving Peter Clancy, Alan Horan, Martin O’Brien, Clive Horan and Alan Byrne found Ian McDonald in space and his shot managed to sneak through into the back of the Ballinacor net. This effectivly ended the Ballinacor challenge and frees from Ian and Clive put the nail in the coffin. Martin O’Brien and Ian added points from play before a late Ballinacor flurry of attacks all fell short and they finshed the game
with a shot bouncing off Stephen Doyle’s post and a point.
Team: Stephen Doyle, Stephen Murphy (0-1), Paul McDonald, Liam Moules, Ciaran Byrne, Martin O’Brien (0-1), Shane McAllister, Alan Byrne (0-1), Peter Clancy, Michael O’Brien, Clive Horan (0-6, 4 frees), Alan Horan, Patrick Moules (0-1), Ian McDonald (1-4, 1 free, 2 45’s), Shane O’Keefe (0-1) Subs: Jack O’Sullivan, James Fitzgerald, David Whitty, John O’Neill and Jack Keenan