Thursday, September 6, 2012

Portland Hurling Club Wins Junior C Shield

Junior C shield:
Portland Hurling Club Junior C team travelled to Philly as runners up of the Northeast junior C hurling championship.  The boys from Maine traveled with just one sub, and were also missing some key players who could not make the trip.  The Mainers went down on Friday to a strong team from Indy, which pushed the Mainers into the shield competition for the second year running.  The Shield was run off on Sunday, and Portland played three matches, all on Sunday, against Portland Oregon, DC, and Denver (final).  With a great effort from all involved and solid performances from Matt Gormley and Larry Maher Portland ended up winning the shield for the second year in a row.



The Portland Hurling Club from Maine won the Shield for the Second Year Running

Monday, September 3, 2012

NACB Finals Report - Tom's and Barley House Wolves Bring the Silverware to the Northeast

The Junior A Hurling Championship Stayed in the Northeast with Fr. Tom's.
New Hampsire's Barley House Wolves Brought the North American Trophy Back to the Granite State.

On Day one, Friday, of the NACB finals at Pennypack Park in Philadelphia conditions were warm and the fields were in good shape.  There were 6 teams from the Northeast division in action and five came through their early round games.

Fr. Tom’s junior hurlers defeated Vancouver comfortably with some good performances from Tadgh O’Huallachain, James Dooley, Kevin Mooney, and James McGrath and ran out 2-28 to 2-7 winners.

The Cork junior footballers had to work a bit harder in their quarter final against Atlanta.  Holding a comfortable lead at the break, Cork fell behind and with 6 minutes left trailed by a point.  Lar Barden and Paddy Ryan swung the game with a goal each and the rebels ended up 7 point winners. 

Donegal took extra time to beat Young Irelands Philadelphia in the junior A competition, a trophy that has proven to be very hard for a Northeast team to win.  Donegal will meet Padraig Pearses from Chicago tomorrow.  The Shannon Blues also played the host team, St. Patricks, in the senior quarter finals and came through to meet Vancouver in tomorrow’s semi-final.

The junior C hurlers had a mixed bag.  The Barley House Wolves played two games and came through both with a bit to spare.  First against Denver and then a Southeast team that entered the competition.  BHW will face St. Louis tomorrow, the team that pipped them in last year’s final.  Portland went down to Indianapolis and will enter the shield competition.

Saturday did not get off to the best of starts from a Boston standpoint.  The Cork junior B’s went down to a young, fresh Baltimore side.  The game was level at half time but Baltimore put three points on the trot over the bar in the second half to take control of the game.  Trailing by five points with five minutes left Cork pulled back a goal and had a chance to goal again but missed.  Baltimore made sure of it with a minute left with a goal of their own.  The Donegal junior A footballers went down to Padraig Pearses from Chicago by a score of 2-6 to 2-9.

On the plus side, Shannon Blues senior footballers made the senior football final by defeating Vancouver by a point in a dour affair.  Though the Blues got off to a great start thanks to a Caolan Rafferty goal, the Blues trailed for most of the game and came through in injury time.  Kieran Hurley was also sent off 5 minutes into the second half, and the Blues trailed by a score of 1-5 to 1-7 coming into injury time, but three points on the trot saw the Boston champions through.  A better performance would be required in Sunday’s final against Ulster San Francisco.  On the junior hurling front, The Barley House Wolves made short work of St. Louis in their semi-final and move on to another NACB final where Allentown stood between the New Hampshire boys in their quest for the cup.  Fr. Tom’s beat the Celtic Cowboys from Austin Texas to make the junior A final where they would play Toronto.  The Texans had been promoted from junior B but Tom’s were a bit too much for them to handle.  Michael Markham came off the bench to net a hat trick, and American Boron Mick Lawrence got his first score for Tom’s with a point.

The senior hurling final was played on Saturday at the request of Na Fianna, and the westerners won their second North American title in a row at the expense of a team from the Northeast.  Wexford traveled to Philadelphia just short of a few who had won the championship in Boston last weekend, but hoped for a NACB cup to go with the Boston trophy.  Trailing at the break by a score of 2-11 to 1-5, Wexford put in a tremendous performance to stage a comeback from a massive 15 point deficit in the second half.  In goal for Na Fianna was Waterford reserve keeper, who stopped three or four goal bound shots at the death as Wexford tried to pull off the impossible, but it was not to be.  The Slaneysiders fell short by four points, Final Score Wexford 5-10 Na Fianna 4-17.  Eire Og entered a team into the camogie competition but also came to end of the road on Saturday. 

Fr. Tom Burke’s win the junior championship with a fine display against a tough Toronto team in the final.  While the scoreline of 5-16 to 3-5 might indicate a one sided affair, that was not the case.  Tom’s led by 1-10 to 1-3 at the break, but shortly after the second half started Toronto fired in a goal and a point.  Tom’s went scoreless for 10 minutes, but came good towards the end.  Michael Markham and John Cuddy each netted, and Tom’s got some crucial scores from Cormac Joyce-Power down the stretch.  Fran Keenan made no mistakes in goal and the puckouts were excellent.  The back line was solid with a fine display from Dylan Costello, along with Tom Corcoran, Kevin Mooney and James Dooley.  Barry Smith put in an excellent 60 minutes in the middle of the field, while David Hession did a lot of damage in the forward line. 

The junior C hurling cup also went to the Northeast as Concord New Hampshire’s Barley House Wolves defeated Allentown in a nail biting final.  With the game tied at 0-8 to 1-5 at the break the Wolves got their noses ahead.  Driven on by Mattie Pulomina and with Rory O’Mahoney on target several times, the Wolves got into a three-point lead.  It took a great save from Denis Treanor in goal to maintain it, and the back line were put on their heels several times by Allentown’s speedy forwards.  Unlike last year, when the Wolves were turned by a goal in the final minutes, the New Hampshire-ites were determined not to let it happen again and held out until the final whistle.  A first North American for the Wolves and a very satisfying win in their sixth year of existence.

The senior trophies eluded the Northeast this year as Connacht Ladies fell to the hosts, Notre Dames of Philly.  At the break the Boston champions had it all to do as Notre Dames led by a score of 0-8 to 0-2.  The back line had their work cut out for them as the local girls piled on the pressure.  Eventually it told as Notre Dames banged home three goals to win by a score of 3-12 to 0-8, and the Ladies Senior Football Championship remains in Philadelphia.

Shannon Blues senior footballers also had a tough run.  Having come through their rousing extra time Boston victory one week ago, the Blues made the final having played on Friday and Saturday.  The Blues, playing their fourth game in 8 days, were up against a strong Ulster side from San Francisco.  The Boston representatives also went into the game without key men Kieran Hurley who had been red carded in Saturday’s semi-final and Sean Moriarty who shipped an injury and could not play, leaving the team with 7 players who started last week’s final in Boston.  The Blues fought hard and had a few chances at goal that slipped by, but Ulster just about deserved to come out on top by a goal.  Two cups to Boston, maybe there will be one or two more coming back from Cleveland next year.

Thanks to all the reporters on the ground in Philly for helping get this together!  Gerry, Jamesie, Christina, David, Lore, Rob, Noel, and Laura.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

NACB Finals - Day 2


Saturday did not get off to the best of starts from a Boston standpoint.  The Cork junior B’s went down to a young, fresh Baltimore side.  The game was level at half time but Baltimore put three points on the trot over the bar in the second half to take control of the game.  Trailing by five points with five minutes left Cork pulled back a goal and had a chance to goal again but missed.  Baltimore made sure of it with a minute left with a goal of their own.  The Donegal junior A footballers went down to Padraig Pearses from Chicago by a score of 2-6 to 2-9.

On the plus side, Shannon Blues senior footballers made the senior football final by defeating Vancouver by a point in a dour affair.  Though the Blues got off to a great start thanks to a Caolan Rafferty goal, the Blues trailed for most of the game and came through in injury time.  Kieran Hurley was also sent off 5 minutes into the second half, and the Blues trailed by a score of 1-5 to 1-7 coming into injury time, but three points on the trot saw the Boston champions through.  A better performance will be required in Sunday’s final against Ulster San Francisco.  On the junior hurling front, The Barley House Wolves made short work of St. Louis in their semi-final and move on to another NACB final where Allentown stand between the New Hampshire boys in their quest for the cup.  Fr. Tom’s beat the Celtic Cowboys from Austin Texas to make the junior A final where they play Toronto.  The Texans had been promoted from junior B but Tom’s were a bit too much for them to handle.  Michael Markham came off the bench to net a hat trick, and American Boron Mick Lawrence got his first score for Tom’s with a point.

The senior hurling final was played on Saturday at the request of Na Fianna, and the westerners won their second North American title in a row at the expense of a team from the Northeast.  Wexford traveled to Philadelphia just short of a few who had won the championship in Boston last weekend, but hoped for a NACB cup to go with the Boston trophy.  Trailing at the break by a score of 2-11 to 1-5, Wexford put in a tremendous performance to stage a comeback from a massive 15 point deficit in the second half.  In goal for Na Fianna was Waterford reserve keeper, who stopped three or four goalbound shots at the death as Wexford tried to pull off the impossible, but it was not to be.  The Slaneysiders fell short by four points, Final Score Wexford 5-10 Na Fianna 4-17.  Eire Og entered a team into the camogie competition but also came to end of the road on Saturday. 

So, in tomorrow’s finals are:
Men’s Senior Football:  Shannon Blues v Ulster
Ladies Senior Football:  Connacht Ladies
Junior A Hurling:  Fr. Tom’s
Junior C Hurling:  Barley House Wolves

Friday, August 31, 2012

A Good First Day for Boston Teams at the NACB Finals


2012 North American Finals – Day 1

On Day one of the NACB finals  at Pennypack Park in Philadelphia conditions were warm and the fields were in good shape.  There were 6 teams from the Northeast division in action and five came through their early round games.

Fr. Tom’s junior hurlers defeated Vancouver comfortably with some good performances from Tadgh O’Huallachain, James Dooley, Kevin Mooney, and James McGrath and ran out 2-28 to 2-7 winners.

The Cork junior footballers had to work a bit harder in their quarter final against Atlanta.  Holding a comfortable lead at the break, Cork fell behind and with 6 minutes left trailed by a point.  Lar Barden and Paddy Ryan swung the game with a goal each and the rebels ended up 7 point winners. 

Donegal took extra time to beat Young Irelands Philadelphia in the junior A competition, a trophy that has proven to be very hard for a Northeast team to win.  Donegal will meet Padraig Pearses from Chicago tomorrow.  The Shannon Blues also played the host team, St. Patricks, in the senior quarter finals and came through to meet Vancouver in tomorrow’s semi-final.

The junior C hurlers had a mixed bag.  The Barley House Wolves played two games and came through both with a bit to spare.  First against Denver and then a Southeast team that entered the competition.  BHW will face St. Louis tomorrow, the team that pipped them in last year’s final.  Portland went down to Indianapolis and will enter the shield competition.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Senior Football: Shannon Blues Complete an Unbelievable Season


Donegal 1-17 Shannon Blues 4-13

The stands and sidelines were bursting with anticipation for the senior football final between Shannon Blues and Donegal and the punters were not disappointed by the classic game of football served up by the two top teams in Boston this year.  Donegal looked to have the game in the bag with a five point lead and three minutes left.  The Donegal crowd was singing in the stand, but the Blues forced extra time thanks to a Kieran Hurley goal and two Sean O’Connor points.  At the break in extra time the northerners again led, this time by three but back to back goals by the never say die Blues catapulted them into a lead.  The Blues slowed it down in the last few minutes of extra time, and got two insurance points, to win the 2012 senior football championship in amazing style.

Shannon Blues Celebrate the Senior Football Championship
A goal separated the sides at the end of the first 30 minutes, though it could have been more.  Donegal missed a penalty early in the half after Fergal Clancy was pulled down in the area.  Brian White went low for the corner and ball rolled wide of the post.  The Blues tried to get their quick handpassing game going and had a degree of success.  Sean O’Connor put two well worked points over the bar, James Hynes two, and Caolan Rafferty one that came from running moves that the Blues managed to craft.  Donegal had the upper hand though, especially in the middle of the field.  Clancy was in great form at wing forward and at times opened up the Blue rearguard.  Conor Phelan did well at corner back to recover several balls, and Thomas Sayers made three very good saves when a goal beckoned for the northerners.  Dessie Dolan was on form putting three points over, two from frees while Derek Maguire also found the mark on two occasions.  Donegal’s goal came from a typical defence splitting move.  Kieran Williams found White who was steaming down the middle and the Louthman’s shot gave Sayers no chance.  At the break Donegal were a goal to the good.

The excitement level rose considerably in the second half.  Donegal stretched their lead to five points and were on top of the Blues short kickouts.  One score came straight from a short one that was returned over the bar by Kevin Mulhern.  The Blues kept up their running game but when it was critical to hold on to the ball, the Blues spilled it at crucial moments.  James Hynes netted to bring the Blues within two points and Cathal McHugh pointed to make it a one point game.  The Blues then had several chances to take the lead but chance after chance went awry as the forwards lost their touch.  Donegal made the Blues pay for their errors.  With less then 10 minutes to go Donegal turned a one point lead into five.  Donnelly, White, Maguire and Kelly each put fine points over the bar and it looked as the game was Donegal’s.  Driven forward by captain Brian Curran, the Blues earned a last chance to win the game with a few minutes left.  Peter Boyle made a great save from Caolan Rafferty from point blank range but the ball spilled to Hurley who pulled on it and into the net.  Sean O’Connor put two points over the bar, one from a free to level it, and unbelieveably extra time was now necessary to separate the teams.

Donegal got off two quick points to get extra time going.  The Kickouts favoured Donegal who ran the ball at the Blues back line.  Dolan curled over a beauty and Kelly followed with another.  Dolan and Cassidy put two more over as the Blues found themselves under pressure in the early going.  O’Connor pointed once for the Blues before the break in play.  Could the Blues keep the running game up enough to pull off a win?  The answer was a yes.  Two goals, both characteristic of the Blues handpasssing game carved open the Donegal defence.  Cathal Cregg fired home to draw the teams level and shortly afterwards Rafferty buried a spectacular shot to the far side after begin fed by O’Connor.  The goal stunned Donegal who were now all at sea and the northerners failed to score in the second period of extra time.  Cregg now went into holding mode and used up time before pointing and then Brian Curran put another over the seal the victory.  Delight for the Blues which surely more than made up for a tough season last year.  Good luck in Philly!  

Referee:  Syl Doyle

Man of the Match:  Brian Curran (Shannon Blues)  The Blues captain kept the side going when the chips were down.

Donegal:  P. Boyle, D. Reynolds, M. Canny, K. Mulhern, G. Reynolds, K. Cassidy, B. Donnelly, B. White, F. Clancy, D. Dolan, E. Kelly, K. Williams, D. Maguire.  Blues:  T. Sayers, C. Phelan, R. O’Callaghan, B. Curran, M. McGowan, S. Moriarty, D. Clark, D. Dineen, C. Cregg, J. Hynes, S. O’Connor, C. Rafferty, K. Hurley.

By Rory O'Donnell