Senior Football: Connemara Gaels v Christopher's - August 15

Connemara Gaels 0-12 Christopher’s 1-15


Christopher’s booked their place in the semi-finals with a comprehensive win over the Connemara Gaels. Christopher’s started with a bang. Jerry Kenneally goaled inside the first minute of play and from that point on the Gaels were chasing the game. Early in the second half the Gaels looked like making a game of it, but Christopher’s closed up shop, not allowing the Gaels a much needed goal and maintaining the six-point gap between the teams until the final whistle.

Christopher's Cillian Brosnan and the Gael's Sean Conneely challenge for the ball.

Christopher’s got off to the best possible start. Right from the throw in Jerry Kenneally was found on the edge of the small square to blast the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Sean Conneely replied for the Gaels with a point, however, Christopher’s had a decide edge. Christopher’s worked well for each other and the ball was well played into the corner forwards . The Gaels ball movement was not as tight. Coming out of defence there were some sloppy passes, and getting the ball into the dangermen was not as easy for the westerners. Christopher’s outscored the Gaels six points to two up to the 25th minute. The scoring was well spread. Cathal McNally, Eoin McCarthy, Sean O’Hare, Alan Maloney, and Sean Kelly had a share in the spoils for Christopher’s, while James Donnelly and Martin Coady pointed for the Gaels. Late in the half Jerry Kenneally almost had another goal, but on this occasion Bernard Power stood his ground and was equal to the shot. The sides traded scores as the half wound down, with Christopher’s six points ahead by a score of 0-5 to 1-8.

Martin Coady gets away from Ciaran McDonald.

The Gaels opened the second half brightly. Pearce Clancy was found on the run clean through and his shot cleared the crossbar by inches. Michael Lundy finished another nicely worked effort, to reduce the deficit to four points. Christopher’s set about restoring their lead, McNally put a lovely point from play over the bar, followed by a free. Eoin McCarthy then extended the lead with another point. The Gaels could not rein Christopher’s back within reach. The Connemara men worked hard to find openings in the opposition defence, but Christopher’s did a good job of closing down the spaces. The sides traded scores and after Martin Coady pointed a free the difference between the sides was unchanged from half-time, and less than three minutes remained. The Gaels went looking for goal and carved some openings, but could not breach a solid defensive wall. McNally and substitute Eoghan Buckley rounded out the scoring for Christopher’s, while Coady and Dooner pointed for the Gaels. With Armagh-Notre Dame falling to the Blues, the win was enough for a place in the top four.


Gaels: B. Power, D. Ryan, H. O’Neill, P. McNicholas, R. Dooner (0-2), S. Cashen, M. Geoghan, M. Lundy (0-2), S. Conneely (0-2), J. Donnelly (0-1), P. Clancy (0-1), M. Coady (0-4), T. McDonagh. Sub: M. Kane (0-1). Christopher’s: P. Kenneally, C. Alyward, C. McDonald, B. Kelly, B. McNally, C. Brosnan, D. Kenneally (0-1), S. O’Hare (0-1), A. Maloney (0-1), S. Kelly (0-2), J. Kenneally (1-0), C. McNally (0-6), E. McCarthy (0-3). Sub: E. Buckley (0-1).


By Rory O'Donnell