Eire Og Annacarty 0-24, Thurles Sarsfields 0-15.

Eire Og Annacarty pulled off a major upset by defeating Thurles Sarsfields, one of the leading contenders for the Dan Breen Cup, in the opening round of the 2019 County Championship in Dundrum last Saturday. Inspired by man-of-the-match Brian Fox at centre-back and led by joint-captains Daragh Mooney and Tom Fox, the West side were full value for their nine point victory as Thurles Sarsfields never got into their side leaving them work to do in order to qualify from the group for the knockout-phase of the County Championship.

Eire Og hit the ground running straight from Keith Delahunty's throw-in and were soon on the board, with points from an Aidan Griffin free and from play by Donal O'Dwyer. Denis Maher opened Sarsfields' account with a 3rd minute point. Aidan Griffin pointed from play answered by Aidan McCormack. Another McCormack point was sandwiched between a brace of scores from Tom Fox followed by further white flags from Seanie Ryan and Eoin Bradshaw to leave four between the sides on 10 minutes. Aidan McCormack pointed a free before Aidan Griffin (free) and Donal O'Dwyer stretched Eire Og's lead to five on the first quarter mark.

The first goal chance of the game came on 17 minutes, when Mossy McCormack escaped the Eire Og defence to beat the advancing Daragh Mooney, only to shoot just over the bar. Donal O'Dwyer had an oppertunity for an Eire Og green flag at the other end, but the cross-bar came to Patrick McCormack's rescue. Seanie Ryan and Aidan McCormack (free) exchanged points before Conor O'Brien grabbed a puck-out from Daragh Mooney to flash over a well-taken point. Thurles Sarsfields struggled to make headway against a resolute Eire Og backline led by Brian Fox at number 6 with Eoin Kennedy behind him, and depended on Aidan McCormack placed balls with Conor Stakelum pointed also. Eire Og closed out the scoring with points from Conor & Ronan O'Brien and another Aidan Griffin free to leave six between the sides, 0-14 to 0-08 at the half-time interval.

Any concerns if Eire Og Annacarty could maintain their first half momentum were quickly put to bed in the early stages of the second half thanks to pointed frees from Daragh Mooney and Aidan Griffin and one from play by Donal O'Dwyer inside five minutes answered by a point from Padraic Maher for Sarsfields. The eight lead was stretched to ten by the three-quarter stage thanks to a hat-trick of frees by Aidan Griffin answered by a pointed free from Aidan McCormack. By now, Thurles Sarsfields rang the changes, such as introducing Lar Corbett to try to find a way back into the game. They landed three unanswered points through 2 frees from Aidan McCormack and one from Denis Maher. Aidan Griffin pointed another Eire Og free before Mossy McCormack had another oppertunity for a much needed Sarsfields goal with five minutes left. His powerful shot was well saved by Daragh Mooney at the expense of a point. It was as good as it got for the Mid side as Denis Maher finished out their scoring with a point soon afterwards before Eire Og finished with a flourish through points from Paidi O'Dwyer and a brace from sub Dinny Crosse to ensure the West side merged comfortable winners, 0-24 to 0-15 at Keith Delahunty's full-time whistle.

Eire Og Annacarty would be thrilled at this victory and be buoyed up as they attempt to qualify from a very tough group alongside Killenaule and Kilruane McDonaghs. All 19 players used played oustanding throughout, in particular, man-of-the-match Brian Fox and Eoin Kennedy in defence fronting a dependable Daragh Mooney in goal, Paidi O'Dwyer and Conor O'Brien who ruled midfield throughout while Donal O'Dwyer, Tom Fox and top-scorer Aidan Griffin were prominent in attack.

Eire Og Annacarty:Daragh Mooney (0-1 free), Paul Devlin, Eoin Kennedy, Stephen O'Brien, Kev Fox, Brian Fox, Diarmaid Ryan, Paidi O'Dwyer (0-1), Conor O'Brien (0-2), Tom Fox (0-2), Donal O'Dwyer (0-3), Eoin Bradshaw (0-1), Aidan Griffin (0-9; 8 frees), Seanie Ryan (0-2), Ronan O'Brien (0-1). Subs: Paul Downey for Kev Fox (inj), Connie Bradshaw for Eoin Bradshaw, Dinny Crosse (0-2) for Stephen O'Brien (inj), Richard O'Doherty for Ronan O'Brien.