7/20/2024 - Senior Football – Donegal Boston vs Aidan McAnespies

 Senior Football – Donegal Boston vs Aidan McAnespies

 

By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score:

Donegal Boston: 1-22

Aidan McAnespies: 1-15

 

It was Donegal who booked their place in the Senior Football final with a seven point win against Aidan McAnespies. The Macs knew they needed a win to keep their championship dreams alive, otherwise they would have to rely on other results that unfortunately didn’t go their way.

 

A few wides and balls dropped short for both sides started the match as the teams struggled to hit the target early on.. It was the Macs who struck first in the game with a well taken goal by Rurai Gormley after a great pass through by Eoin Gormley. Donegal clawed it back through the free taking of Donal O’Sullivan before Joe Hagan for the Macs kicked a great point from the left wing under pressure.

 

Daire Cregg responded in kind with a similar taken point for Donegal. A great run by Shane Carthy set up Ciaran Murtagh for a goal chance. Murtagh had the keeper beat with the ball heading straight for the top corner only to be denied by Darren Gibney on the Macs line who dived in to save it over the bar to leave the sides level.

 

Rory Brolly found a bit of space to tip over a nice point to put the Macs back in the lead. A free for O’Sullivan leveled up the score again. Points from Murtagh and Cregg extended Donegal’s lead before Rurai Scott brough it back to one point again. Some great work by Cregg set up Lowry for a goal chance but he chose to take the point as the onrushing Croft in goals narrowed the gap quickly.

 

A series of wides followed for both sides before Cory Gallagher broke through the middle to set Ciaran McDevitt up for a point. It was Gallagher who followed up with the point of the match kicking straight over from 50 yards out. From here, Donegal kept the pressure up on the Macs with points from McDevitt and Cregg to see out the half.

 

Half Time Score:

Donegal Boston: 0-12

Aidan McAnespies: 1-3

 

Murtagh started the scoring for Donegal in the second half finding space on the right wing and slotting the ball over the bar. Hagan responded for the Macs with an outside of the boot point after patient build up from the Macs. Adam Fanning added another to leave 5 points between the sides.

 

The second half continued in this fashion with both sides trading scores and Donegal keeping their lead intact. O’Sullivan did the scoring for Donegal while Fanning and Hagan did the damage for McAnespies. The Macs fought back well and narrowed the gap to three points with 10 minutes to go.

 

From here, the fresh legs off the bench for Donegal got them back into the game again. Two points in quick succession from Cian O’Grady stretched the lead to 5 for Donegal. The Macs had it back to 3 in no time with Fanning scoring from a free and Hagan kicking a super score that just curled inside the post.

 

With the Macs pushing everyone up trying to get the goal, a turnover led to James O’Grady being one on one with Croft in nets. He finished it on the ground soccer style and with that the ref blew the full time whistle to end the match.

 

Man of the Match: Cory Gallagher

 

Referee: Michael Moylan

 

Team and Scorers:

Donegal Boston: Hugh Boyle, Neil Mulcahy, Cian Lynch, Ethan McDevitt, Jason Noctor, Cory Gallagher (0-1), Jordan Morrissey, Shane Carthy (0-1), Ciaran McDevitt (0-2), Ciaran Murtagh (0-3), Sean Lowry (0-1), Daire Cregg (0-3), Donal O’Sullivan (0-3)

Subs: Cian O'Grady (0-3), James O'Grady (1-0), Ryan O'Dwyer (0-1)

 

 

Aidan McAnespies: Robert Croft, Cormac McKeogh, Darren Gibney, Conall Devlin, Matthew Murnaghan (0-1), Owen Ward, Anton Tohill, Rurai Gormley (1-1), Joe Hagan (0-3), Rurai Scott (0-1), Rory Brolly (0-1), Eoin Gormley (0-1), Adam Fanning (0-5)

7/21/2024 - Senior Football – Connemara Gaels vs Galway Boston

 7/21/2024

 

Senior Football – Connemara Gaels vs Galway Boston

 

By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score:

Connemara Gaels: 4-14

Galway Boston: 1-13

 

Connemara came into this game knowing a win would seal their spot in the senior semi final. Galway, having already secured their semi final place, knew they needed a win to push for a straight path into the final.

 

An early point for Nolan for the Gaels was equally matched by Lawlor for Galway. A high press by Connemara led to a great turnover by Murtagh, who set up Nolan for a goal chance. Nolan made no mistake, finishing his goal brilliantly into the side netting with his left foot.

 

The Gaels kept the pressure on with a well taken point from Cunningham. Carey responded for Galway with a free before Mulkerrins won a 50/50 ball in the middle of the field for Connemara before finishing with a well taken point on the run. Okunbar won the resulting kickout for the Gaels and worked the ball to Fadden who tapped it over from close range.

 

Connemara were starting to win the middle third and moved the ball quickly into the full forward line whenever they got the chance. Mulkerrins followed up with his second point of the day from a breaking ball.

 

The free taking of Carey kept Galway in touching distance. However, Gaels struck another goal through a Ryan Fadden turnover. Fadden slipped it quickly to Nolan who had the width of the goal to aim at and finished coolly from close range.

 

A quick ball into Lawlor on the Galway left wing broke well for him. Lawlor took the ball in his stride and finished neatly to the near post for Galway’s first goal. A trading of points between Eoin Colleran for Galway and Jack Lundy for the Gaels finished the half.

 

 

Half Time Score:

Connemara Gaels: 3-6

Galway Boston: 1-6

 

Galway started the scoring in the first half with two well taken scores from Carey and Grainger respectively. Cunningham responded for the Gaels with a point from distance off his right foot. A long kickout broke kindly for Lundy who tipped it over the bar. Paudi Behan responded in kind for Galway with a great point after some good build up play.

 

There wasn’t much between the sides throughout the second half. Both teams had their defences on top and forced turnovers. Points came from the free taking of Carey for Galway and Fadden for Connemara.

 

A point blank save from James Egan kept Galway in the game but Connemara had the damage done in the first half and Connemara were able to see out the victory.

 

Man of the Match: Mark Nolan

 

Referee: Neil McEnaney

 

Team and Scorers:

Connemara Gaels: Bryan O’Flaherty (0-1), Sean Kennedy, Keelan Beirne, Stefan Okunbar, Sean Brady, Colman Mulkerrin (0-2), Adam Waddick (1-1), Dylan Murtagh, Michael Kerr, Jack Lundy (0-2), Oran Cunningham (0-3), Mark Nolan (2-1), Ryan Fadden (1-3)

 

Galway Boston: James Egan, Tom Creon (0-1), Paudi Behan (0-1), Michael Moylan, Ciaran Potter, Sean Forde, Stephen White, Eoin Morrissey, Eoin Colleran (0-1), Daire Keenan, Nathan Grainger (0-3), Conor Lawlor (1-1), Paul Carey (0-6)

Photo Credit: E Grealish Photography

7/7/2024 - Senior Hurling - Fr Toms vs Galway

 By Neil McEnaney:

 

Full Time Score:

Fr Toms: 6-16

Galway: 5-19

 

While there was two fantastic All Ireland semi finals happening this weekend at home, the crowd in Canton were treated to an equally entertaining game of hurling on Sunday. Galway came into this game knowing they could wrap up this best of five championship with a win. Fr Toms showed great heart and determination to persevere and grind out a draw after being 11 points down at one stage late in the first half.

 

Galway raced to 3 point lead through the free taking abilities of Aaron Myers. Fiochra Fitz pulled one back for the Toms before a Galway man was pulled down running through on goal. Myers stepped up to take the penalty and buried it high to the keepers right.

 

Toms responded immediately with Chris Nolan squaring the ball to Zac Firman who ended up kicking it into the net to beat Darach Fahy in goals. Toms kept the pressure up with Nolan winning a puck out, solo running with the ball before finishing with a nice point off his left side.

 

Not to be outdone, Galway put serious pressure on the Toms puckouts, forcing turnovers and leading to scores. One turnover led to Ronan Glennon being put through from midfield to go on a solo run and finishing with power from the 21 into the Toms net. This put Galway up by 5 points.

 

 Galway finished the half strongly and started winning a lot of the 50-50 breaking balls. A long puck out was gathered well by Niall Collins who got through one on one with the keeper. It was coolness personified for Collins as he lobbed it over the onrushing Kevin Flynn in goals for a great goal.

 

Myers was accurate from another free before turning provider for Glennon’s second goal of the game. He picked him out with a great cross field pass and Glennon made no mistake when given the opportunity.

 

Fr Toms showed some fight just before half time with an absolute rocket of a goal from the corner of the D from Fitz. Toms went into the break 8 points down and with all the work to do in the second half.

 

 

Half Time Score:

Fr Toms: 2-9

Galway: 4-11

 

Whatever was said at half time in the Toms dressing room definitely got them going in the second half. Flynn opened the scoring with a free from midfield. From the resulting puck out, Luke Kavanagh made a brilliant solo run down the left wing before finding Ciarmach Smyth with a handpass who buried the goal.

 

Galway responded immediately with Myers popping over a free before he went on a solo run of his own and finished with a great goal. Then on the next play, Fr Toms got a goal! Chris Nolan picked up a long puck out and hand passed it through to Fitz who buried it into the bottom corner.

 

Galway came up the field and hit a wide before Flynn found Aidan O’Malley with the puck out. O’Malley hit a great cross field pass into Chris Nolan. Nolan had it all to do, he squared up his marker, took him on and finished with a great goal past Darach Fahy in the Galway nets.

 

After the exchange of all the goals, the score was Galway 5-12, Fr Toms 5-10.

 

Galway hit three points without reply including a monster point from the goalkeeper from the left wing of his own 45. But Fr Toms had a never say die attitude today and a brilliant catch by Nolan was finished into the back of the net again. Back to a 2 point game.

 

Both teams went point for point in the last quarter of the game with the accurate free taking of Flynn keeping Toms in touch. Nolan was denied another goal by a great Fahy save in the Galway nets. The resulting 65 went short to Aiden O’Malley who scored a nice point to narrow the gap to 2 points once more.

 

Nolan found a bit of space to score another point off his left side. A long ball into the full forward line found Nolan once more who went straight for goal but was denied by a great Fahy save once more. Nolan had the advantage and Flynn tipped over the point to level the sides. The referee blew the full time whistle and what a great game of hurling we witnessed.

 

Man of the Match: Darragh Flynn

 

Referee: Niall Malone

 

Team and Scorers:

Fr Toms: Kevin Flynn, Ciarmach Smyth (1-0), Evan Connolly, Brian Troy, Eoin Lawless, Luke Kavanagh, Cian Mulqueen, John O’Riordan, Aidan O’Malley (0-1), Fiochra Fitz (2-1), Darragh Flynn (0-10), Zac Firman (1-0), Chris Nolan (2-3)

 

Galway: Darach Fahy (0-1), Ian Fox (0-1), Donal Mannion, Tiernan Kileen (0-1), Ciaran Fahy, Sean O’Shaughnessy, Ronan Glennon (2-1), Alex Connaire (0-3), Sean Walsh (0-1), Aaron Myers (2-6), Brian Cahill, Niall Collins (1-2), Billy Power (0-2)

7/6/2024 - Senior Football - Aidan McAnespies vs Galway Boston

 By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score:

Aidan McAnespies: 4-16

Galway Boston: 1-13

 

Galway came into this game undefeated at the halfway point in the senior championship while Aidan McAnespies needed a win to keep their championship dreams alive. Despite playing the full second half with a man down, the Macs dug deep, took their chances that came their way and deserve full credit for their victory.

 

The first half started slowly with both teams trading scores and building slowly when they got the ball. Galway took an early 0-5 to 0-2 lead with some well taken scores by Conor Lawlor in the full forward line. The Macs weren’t long responding with Adam Fanning leading the way with some well taken points of his own to put the Macs ahead 0-6 to 0-5.

 

The first goal of the game came for the Macs with serious pressure being put on the Galway kickout. Rurai Scott forced the turnover, moved the ball quickly to Eoin Gormley who broke a tackle and set up Fanning to finish into the bottom corner from a tight angle. The Macs kept the pressure on and started winning the middle third and tipping over their points.

 

Paul Carey for Galway showed off his dead ball taking abilities adding 2 points including a beautiful score from the sideline.

 

A moment of madness came just before half time as Steven Ward was judged to strike a Galway player in the head while attempting to tackle. Steven was given his marching orders and the Macs went in at half time 6 points up but a man down.

 

Half Time Score:

Aidan McAnespies: 1-10

Galway Boston: 0-7

 

It was the Macs who started the second half the brighter as Gormley used his speed to great effect to set up Fanning for another point. Cormac McKeogh made a great run up the right wing before kicking a cross field pass to the unmarked Tohill in the middle who buried it past the Galway keeper.

 

Galway came up the field and Daire Keenan finished off a patient attack with a point from the top of the D. Tohill then turned provider by finding Fanning with a kick pass who took on his man before beating Egan in goals to score his second goal. The Macs were 3-11 to 0-8 up at this point and were hitting Galway on the fast break when given the opportunity.

 

A fantastic solo run by Conor Lawlor for Galway opened up the Macs defense before he finished well into the bottom corner of the Macs net. At this stage of the second half, Galway started going for goal whenever they had the chance, with Carey coming close having his shot fisted over the bar by Jimmy Rigney in goals.

 

The goal of the game came from Eoin Gormley. Gormley found himself in space just outside the 45 with it all to do. He used his trademark speed to take on the Galway defense before finishing with a great goal.

 

Galway kept on fighting until the end but were unable to pierce the Macs defense to score another goal with some goal line saves from Rigney as well as the Macs defenders helping them to see out the game.

 

Man of the Match: Adam Fanning

 

Referee: Niall Malone

 

Team and Scorers:

Aidan McAnespies: Jimmy Rigney, Cormac McKeogh, Darran Gibney, Conall Devlin, Matthew Murnaghan (0-1), Owen Ward, Anton Tohill (1-1), Steven Ward, Joe Hagan (0-5), Rurai Scott, Rory Brolly, Eoin Gormley (1-2), Adam Fanning (2-6)

 

Galway Boston: James Egan, Tomas Crean, Ciaran Potter (0-3), Aidan Flanagan, Stephen White, Paudi Behan, Eoin Morrissey, Declan Doyle, Eoin Colleran (0-1), Daire Keenan (0-2), Maidhc MacGearaitt (0-1), Conor Lawlor (1-2), Paul Carey (0-4)

7/6/2024 - Senior Football - Connemara Gaels vs Donegal Boston

By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score:

Donegal Boston: 3-15

Connemara Gaels: 1-11

 

A comprehensive victory for Donegal kept their seniors undefeated in this years championship. Donegal raced to a 9 point lead early on in this game which the Gaels were never able to recover from.

 

Donal O’Sullivan opened the scoring for Donegal with a well taken free from the top of the D. Jordan Morrissey added another from play after some quick build up play between Cian O’Grady and Donal O’Sullivan.

 

From the resulting kickout, Cory Gallagher and Ciaran McDevitt forced the turnover with McDevitt unselfishly squaring it to O’Grady for a simple palm into the net. O’Sullivan added another point from a well taken free close to the 45.

 

A beautiful sideline point from Oran Cunningham opened the scoring for Connemara. Stefan Okunbar broke a ball through to Jack Lynch who was denied by a sprawling save by Hugh Boyle in nets for Donegal. From the turn over, Neil Mulcahy made a strong run up the field to set up O’Sullivan who was denied well by Bryan O’Flaherty in the Gaels nets.

 

Sean Lowry picked up a kickout in his own half before using his speed to devasting effect running the length of the field before finishing into the bottom corner. McCarron added a point to extend the lead to 9.

 

Connemara battled back before half time to narrow the gap with some well taken scores from Cunningham and a beautiful outside of the boot point from corner back Jack Lundy. It was Lundy who turned provider for Connemara’s goal, with a brilliant through ball finding Cunningham who slotted the ball under the outrushing Boyle’s legs.

 

 

Half Time Score:

Donegal Boston: 2-6

Connemara Gaels: 1-5

 

While Connemara did well to narrow the gap to 4 points, they weren’t able to keep that momentum going into the second half. Points from McCarron and O’Grady kept the scoreboard ticking over for Donegal.

Ciaran Murtagh came off the bench for Donegal and made his presence known immediately, taking on his man and scoring a nice point. It was Murtagh who turned provider for Donegal’s last goal of the game. He found O’Sullivan inside with a great kick pass who made no mistake from close range.

 

Connemara, to their credit never gave up and battled back with a flurry of points from Waddick and Keogh to finish the game strongly.

 

Man of the Match: Donal O’Sulliivan

 

Referee: Niall Malone

 

Team and Scorers:

Donegal: Hugh Boyle, Cian Lynch, Neil Mulcahy, Cory Gallagher, Jason Noctor, Ethan McDevitt, Shane Carthy (0-1), Jordan Morrissey (0-2), Sean Lowry (1-0), Ben McCarron (0-3), Ciaran McDevitt, Donal O’Sullivan (1-6), Cian O’Grady (1-1)

 

Connemara Gaels: Bryan O’Flaherty, Sean Kennedy, Jack Lundy (0-1), Colman Mulkerrin, Stefan Okunbar, Keelan Beirne, Jack Lynch, Adam Waddick (0-1), Bryan Fadden, Dylan Murtagh, Oran Cunningham (1-4), Ross Keogh (0-2), Mark Nolan

6/30/2024 – Senior Football – Donegal vs Galway

Full Time Score:

Donegal: 0-13

Galway: 0-13

By Neil McEnaney

 

A share of the spoils for Galway and Donegal in what was at times cagey but always entertaining game. A black card for Galway in the second half let Donegal take advantage and spring to a 4 point lead, but Galway didn’t panic, and dug in well to salvage a draw.

 

Donegal won the throw up and moved the ball quickly into Donal O’Sullivan who fisted it to Cian O’Grady on the loop who pointed from a tight angle. Galway responded immediately with Eoin Colleran linking up well with Paul Carey before Eoin Colleran kicked a great point with the outside of his left boot from a difficult angle to level the sides.

 

Ben McCarron finished off a nice move for Donegal before Carey converted from a free. The two sides went point for point for the whole first half with neither sides giving the other an inch. Galway started moving the ball quickly into the forwards and Daire Keenan finished off some great moves with two well taken points.

 

A high sideline ball from Shane Carthy into the square created a half a goal chance that was blasted over the bar by McCarron. From the resulting kickout, Donal O’Sullivan rounded his man before fisting it across to McCarron who hit the side netting with a diving fisted attempt.

 

Colleran continued to show his point taking ability with a great point coming from the right wing. At the other end, McCarron broke through for a goal chance but James Egan in goals narrowed the angle well forcing him to kick it wide.

 

Galway created a great goal chance of their own with Carey getting an early ball inside and taking on his man before fisting it across the goal to Daire Keenan who was brilliantly denied by Hugh Boyle in nets diving on his boot for the block. Egan came up for the resulting 45 and slotted it over the bar.

 

Sean Lowry for Donegal won the resulting kickout and used his speed to great effect opening up the Galway defence. He was one on one with Egan who made a spectacular save to deny him a certain goal. Just minutes later, Jordan Morrissey played McCarron through on goal before Egan made another great save, diving on the left boot of McCarron. A few more points traded between the teams ended the first half.

 

Half Time Score:

Donegal: 0-8

Galway: 0-8

 

Donegal started the second half brighter with Lowry finishing off a point after a strong run from the kick out. Carey took a free from a tight angle which dropped short into the hands on Neil Mulcahy. The ball moved quickly to Morrissey who fisted it off before being stopped by the shoulder into the chest by Paul Carey. The third man tackle was enough for the referee to issue the black card to Carey.

 

With the extra man, Donegal made their advantage count racing to a 4 point lead with points from O’Sullivan, Lowry and Carthy. Galway played smart football when they got a hold of the ball, slowing the game down and winding down the black card clock.

 

A great move between Colleran and Carey set up Colleran for a goal chance that was well saved by Boyle in nets for Donegal. Colleran kicked a 20 yard dink pass into Carey and run off the shoulder for the return before being denied by the Donegal shot stopper.

 

Carey came back from his black card and kicked a point on the loop from the top of the D to leave 3 between the sides. The break seemed to rejuvenate Carey as he followed up with another point shortly after. O’Sullivan for Donegal did well to win his own free which he tapped over to extend the lead to 2 points. A few kickable wides for Donegal will leave them disappointed they didn’t extend their lead further.

 

Carey won a free and tapped it over for Galway setting up a grand stand finish with just two minutes left. Galway didn’t panic and were patient with their attack. They worked the ball to Carey who kicked a great point from the left wing on the loop to level the match.

 

Team and Scorers:

Donegal: Hugh Boyle, Neil Mulcahy, Cian Lynch, Cory Gallagher, Jason Noctor, Sean Winston, Shane Carthy (0-1), Jordan Morrissey, Ciaran McDevitt, Ben McCarron (0-3), Sean Lowry (0-2), Cian O’Grady (0-2), Donal O’Sullivan (0-5)

 

Galway: James Egan (0-1), Tomas Crean, Ciaran Potter, Michael Moylan, Stephen White, Paudi Behan, Eoin Morrissey, Declan Doyle (0-1), Maidhc MacGearaitt, Daire Keenan (0-2), Eoin Colleran (0-2), Conor Lawler, Paul Carey (0-6)

Subs: Jack Lavin (0-1)

 

Man of the Match: Paul Carey

 

Referee: Paul Walsh

6/29/2024 - Intermediate Football - Donegal vs Shannon Blues

 

Full Time Score:

Donegal: 5-16

Shannon Blues: 5-6

 

By Neil McEnaney

Donegal intermediates kept up their impressive 100% win record with a win against Shannon Blues. 5 goals for each side made for an entertaining game as both teams moved the ball well in attack to open the opposition defences.

 

It was Donegal who started the scoring through Alex Doherty who found himself in space and put the ball over the bar. Shannon Blues weren’t long responding with a beautiful outside of the boot point from Michael Moylan from the right wing.

 

A great solo run by Ben Bradley released Doherty who snuck the ball into the bottom corner for the games first goal. Ethan McDevitt won the resulting Blues kick out and moved the ball quickly through the hands to Blake McGarvey and on to Conor O’Neill who made no mistake when one on one with the keeper.

 

Shannon Blues had a goal chance of their own as Moylan kicked long to Aodhan O’Luasa who shot just wide of the post from a tight angle. The Blues were creating chances but unable to put them on the scoreboard. Their first goal came from Darragh O’Leary after a strong run through the middle from Moylan.

 

They weren’t long getting their second goal as Darren Wallace tried to take it around the keeper only to be brought to the ground for a penalty. A good save by Darren Grant in nets could only be rebounded to O’Leary who made no mistake at the second time of asking.

 

Donegal responded immediately with O’Neill fetching the resulting kickout and moving the ball quickly through the forwards before Doherty finished for his second goal.

 

Just before half time, a flashpoint between Ryan McMahon and Michael Moylan ended in the two men getting their marching orders for striking each other after the foul was given. Donegal went in at the break 7 points to the good.

 

Half Time Score:

Donegal: 3-6

Shannon Blues: 2-2

 

Shannon Blues started the scoring in the second half with a well taken score from Tom Murrane. With both teams down to 12 men, spaces opened up in both defenses making it an entertaining game for the spectators.

 

A well worked move by Donegal between McGarvey and Doherty left Jack O’Brien with the simplest of tap ins for a goal. Shannon Blues didn’t quit and came up the other end of the field for another well taken goal from O’Leary.

 

From here, Donegal kept the pressure on and started dominating the middle third to see out the game. Some well taken points from O’Neill and Tiernan McHugh extended the lead to 11 points which Shannon Blues were unable to recover from. A flurry of goals from both sides ended the game as Donegal joined Cork at the top of the Intermediate Championship.

 

Team and Scorers:

Donegal: Darren Grant, James Newell, Mark McFadden, Ryan McMahon, Jack O’Brien (1-0), Sean Donnelly, Leo Cunningham, Conor O’Neill (2-5), Ethan McDevitt (0-1), Alex Doherty (1-3), Ben Bradley, Blake McGarvey (0-1), Tiarnan McHugh (0-4)

 

Shannon Blues: Nik Albarran, Teddy Shay, Tommy Cronin (1-1), Patrick Moylan, Gearoid Fennessy (1-0), Derek O’Brien, Michael Moylan, Tom Murrane (0-2), Niall Walsh, Darragh O’Leary (3-1), Declan Rogers, Darren Wallace, Aodhan O’Luasa

 

Man of the Match: Conor O’Neill

 

Referee: Robbie Croft

6/23/2024 - Senior Football - Connemara Gaels vs Aiden McAnespies

Senior Football – Connemara Gaels vs Aiden McAnespies

 

By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score:

Connemara Gaels: 2-16

Aiden McAnespies: 1-18

 

Last but not least today was Connemara Gaels against Aiden McAnespies in the Men’s Senior Championship. Both teams were looking to get their season back on the right track after disappointing losses in their last games.

 

There was a goal chance straight from the throw up for the Gaels as Stefan Okunbar was well picked out by Oran Cunningham, who then laid it off to Adam Waddick who was denied by a great save by Robbie Croft in goals for the Macs. It was Okunbar who got the opening point of the game after another strong run through the middle shouldering his own man out of the way at one point!

 

A well taken free by Joe Hagan levelled the game for the Macs. Captain Coleman Mulkerrins responded straight away for the Gaels. He dummy solo’d on his right foot before kicking it high and accurately over the bar with his weaker left foot.

 

We were treated to some excellent points from play on both sides with Joe Hagan, Rory Brolly and Adam Fanning kicking some great points for the Macs and Ryan Fadden, Ross Keogh and Oran Cunningham doing likewise for the Gaels.

 

The first half was as evenly matched as two sides have been in Canton this year as neither team went more than one point ahead at a time. The Macs just about edged it going into the half time break.

 

Half Time Score:

Connemara Gaels: 0-10

Aiden McAnespies: 0-11

 

Anton Tohill started the second half strong winning the throw up and continued his run down the right wing to kick a point from a tight angle. Gaels responded immediately with Ross Keogh scoring three points without reply (1 free, 1 mark and 1 from play). Keogh looked unmarkable at times and was a constant threat to the Macs full back line.

 

The two Gormleys (Rurai and Eoin) linked up brilliantly to put Rurai through on goal with a Gaels a defender and keeper still to beat. He went for control and side footed it past Bryan O’Flaherty in nets for the games first goal.

 

Aiden McAnespies kept the pressure on after their goal. Continuous running at the Gaels defence led to frees within the scoring zone which Brolly and Fanning kicked accurately.

 

A mazy solo run by Oran Cunningham opened up the Macs defence before he set up Okunbar one on one with the Macs keeper. Croft got down well to make a great save to deny the Kerry man to keep 4 points between the sides. A series of bad wides for the Macs ensued with some kickable points going astray.

 

The goal of the game came from Connemara’s captain, Colman Mulkerrins. He started the move on the right wing from a kickout, continued his run into the middle before being found by Cunningham in front of goal. Mulkerrins didn’t panic and side footed it past Croft in the Macs nets.

 

The teams traded points before disaster struck for Aiden McAnespies. A high press by the Gaels led to a turnover by Jack Lundy. Lundy released Cian Folan who took on his man and finished with a great goal to go two up. Brolly converted a free for the Macs to leave the minimum between the sides. The Macs had one last attack and launched it high into the square but to no avail as the Gaels turned it over and the full time whistle was blown.

 

Man of the Match: Colman Mulkerrins

 

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan

 

Teams and Scorers:

Connemara Gaels: Bryan O’Flaherty, Sean Kennedy, Keelan Beirne, Colman Mulkerrin (1-1), Stefan Okunbar (0-1), Michael Kerr (0-1), Adam Waddick, Jack Lynch, Ryan Fadden (0-1), Dylan Murtagh, Jack Lundy, Ross Keogh (0-7), Oran Cunningham (0-4)

Subs: Cian Folan (1-1)

 

Aiden McAnespies: Robert Croft, Cormac McKeogh, Darran Gibney, Conall Devlin, Matthew Murnaghan, Owen Ward, Anton Tohill (0-1), Steven Ward, Joe Hagan (0-5), Eoin Gormley (0-1), Rurai Gormley (1-2), Adam Fanning (0-3), Rory Brolly (0-5)