With the Boston GAA season well over by now, I wondered what a Pick of Boston football team would look like. When I started writing reports on the games in Canton almost 10 years ago, Boston All-Star football and hurling teams were a fairly easy pick as there were so many home based players. In fact, until two years ago, there was an All-Star banquet where home-based players were recognized with All Star and player of the year awards. Things have changed drastically in the time since. Clubs are working harder than ever to field top quality teams, trying coax the veterans into giving one more year, and filling out the home base with early arrivals. There have been some positive developments on the home-based front however. There are American Born players now coming through the youth systems that have been in place for more than 10 years. Brendan Kelly and Dan Kenneally, who play with Christopher’s, and Pat Murray with the Shannon Blues, make my Boston team, however, there are also American Born players coming through with other clubs who will make their mark at the highest level in the years to come. In addition, many of the junior football teams are seeing increasing numbers of kids who have learned the game here in Boston filling their ranks, and many will progress to senior level. The New England Celtics, a team composed entirely of local boys, with nary a sanction player to be found, made the semi-finals in their first foray at Junior A level. Also, right at the root, there is a growing youth league. There are now more than 6 underage football clubs in the New England area compared to one youth program 3 years ago. All that, combined with the hurling clubs in New Hampshire and Maine, means that the GAA is becoming more deeply rooted in the New England area then it ever has been.
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| Pat Murray is one of the talented local born players making an impact with the Boston GAA. |
Thar an Trasnán
Boston Team of 2010
Goalkeeper: Willie O’Dowd (Wolfe Tones)
Right Corner Back: Pat McNicholas (Connemara Gaels)
Left Corner Back: Frank Meehan (Armagh-Notre Dame)
Right Half Back: Brendan Kelly (Christopher’s)
Center Half Back: Neil Donaghy (McAnespies)
Left Half Back: Sean Gallagher (Galway)
Midfielders: Michael McGinty (Donegal), Dan Kenneally (Christopher’s)
Right Half Forward: Colm McCrory (Aidan McAnespies)
Center Forward: Pat Murray (Shannon Blues)
Left Half Forward: Joey Farrell (Wolfe Tones)
Right Corner Forward: Robbie Croft (Kerry)
Left Corner Forward: Marty Farrell (Wolfe Tones)
