Comer’s strike proves vital for Annaghdown in hard-fought tie

Barna 0-13

By Mike Rafferty in Pearse Stadium

GOAL chances were in short supply at Pearse Stadium on Sunday  before a late Damien Comer three pointer changed the course of the game and gave Annaghdown a winning start in Group 4 of the Senior Football Championship.

With the contest level and the game very much in the balance, Barna had a goal opportunity just minutes earlier, but the final pass did not go to hand when a score looked on and in such situations games are won and lost.

Though Annaghdown were presented with the unwanted favourites tag going into the contest, they never looked like the obvious candidates to win as the two sides were closely matched for the 60-plus minutes.

Barna enjoyed the advantage of the considerable elements in the opening half, but apart from an early scoring spurt they would have been disappointed to have only secured a single point advantage at the break.

Five wides compounded Barna’s first half performance, as they tended to slip into defensive mode too easily and deeply, and struggled to build an attack again. Tom Curran and Oisin Gormley impressed hugely, but at times they led a lonely existence in the inside line.

Their second half performance appeared to be more attack conscious, but Annaghdown were not conceding an inch. Right down the spine of the team from Enda Mullarkey, through Diarmuid Kilcomming, Eoin Reddington, Damien Comer and Frankie Burke, the North Board side had a strength that helped carry them through.

However, Barna were giving very little away at the back either as Caimin Rooney and Aaron Kavanagh kept such a impressive duo as Frankie Burke and Stephen Curley to just a point from play, while Darragh Costello, Niall Cox and Caolan Malone contributed a solid work rate in both defence and attack.

Pictured: Annaghdown's Jack Dowd has Mikey Collins of Bearna in close attendance during Sunday's Senior Football Championship tie at Pearse Stadium. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.