Senior Football: Donegal End McAnespies Playoff Hopes

Note:  Contrary to the report, McAnespies are not out of the champioship since depending on other results next weekend, there could be a playoff with a won versus Connemara Gaels in the final game.

Aidan McAnespies 0-12 Donegal 2-11

Aidan McAnespies were knocked out of the running for the 2012 Boston senior football championship following a loss to Donegal.  McAnespies battled very hard to stay in it and had one of their goal chances gone in would have at least secured a draw and have had an outside chance of the playoffs.  It was a disjointed game with neither side settling into any sort of rhythm.  Donegal featured a side loaded with intercounty talent.  Louthmen Brian White, Brian Donnelly, and Derek Maguire were joined by Kevin Cassidy and Dessie Dolan.  However, the game was not decided until a late Dessie Dolan goal put four points between the teams with a minute remaining. 

Donegal's Derek Maguire gets away
from Niall Gallen.

Donegal threatened to run away with the game after the first 15 minutes.  Derek Maguire was on form at corner forward.  The first time ball worked well for Donegal and Maguire pointed, and then won a penalty shortly afterwards following a similar situation.  Brian White took it and though Paddy Coakley went the right way, the ball ended in the net.  McAnespies made some positional changes as it was clear the Maguire was on a tear.  Fergal O’Doherty was given the Maguire assignment and things improved for McAnespies.  After Kevin Cassidy looped a stylish point over the bar McAnespies nearly netted, but Peter Boyle saved well from Sean Cournane.  Boyle was called on later in the half to pull off another fine save, again from Cournane.  A free fell short and a fist from the St. Mary’s man looked goalbound but Boyle was quick to react and save.  Donegal held a 1-4 to 0-2 lead with 10 minutes left but McAnespies worked hard to get back into it.  Gareth O’Neill, Emmet Bradley, Emmet McGuckian and Colm Donnelly pulled McAnespies within four points to make it 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.

Donegal's Brian Donnelly and McAnespie's
Donie Kingston up for the kick out.

McAnespies continued the second half where they left off the first and put the first three points of the half over the bar.  Bradley put a well earned effort over, followed by Cournane, and Bradley again.  As Donegal struggled to gel, McAnespies had plenty of possession to work with.  Another high ball into McGuckian nearly ended up in the net but went just wide of the far post.  With a point between the teams a Dolan free and a Gary Reynolds point from play restored the lead to three points as Donegal did enough to remain ahead.  Again McAnespies continued to work through Gareth O’Neill and Donie Kingston in the middle.  Bradley and Donnelly reduced the deficit to a point and with six minutes to go it was all on the line.  However, Donegal secured the points with the simplest of goals from Dessie Dolan.  Kieran Williams slid the ball to Dolan who side footed past Paddy Coakley from the edge of the small square, and with a minute left McAnespies had it all to do to stay alive.  Donegal kept possession and played out the final minutes.  There will be a new name on the cup with McAnespies failing to make the playoffs for the first time since their inaugural season in 2005.

Referee:  Colm Schwer (Cill Dara)

Man of the Match:  Peter Boyle

Macs:  P. Coakley, P. McConway, M. Bogue, E. McGuckian, F. O’Doherty, N. Gallen, G. O’Neill, E. Bradley, S. Cournane, C. Donnelly, D. McKenna, C. McCrory, D. Kingston.  Donegal:  P. Boyle, D. Reynolds, M. Canning, K. Mulhern, G. Reynolds, K. Cassidy, E. Kelly, B. Donnelly, F. Clancy, D. Dolan, B. White, K. McWilliams, D. Maguire.

By Rory O'Donnell

Senior Hurling: Galway Dig Deep to Beat Tipp

Galway 3-13 Tipperary 1-15

Tipperary and Galway played out an entertaining 60 minutes of hurling on an unusually cool Sunday afternoon.  Galway looked like they would run away with the game at times, but Tipeprary closed the gap and made it interesting in the latter stages.  Galway did enough to hold off their opponents with some fine displays from John Moylan at corner forward and Cian McBride in the middle of the field.

Seamus Corry on the attack for Galway.

Galway went in at the break with a nice cushion thanks in part to goals from Moylan and McBride.  Moylan’s goal was the result of quick thinking from Eoin Guinan.  Guinan had a point for the taking, but hesitated and dropped the ball into Moylan who had stole behind his man.  Moylan made no mistake and Galway were off to a flying start.  Towards the end of the half, it was McBride who drilled from 21 yards.  The shot took a slight deflection and ended up in the back of the net.  The teams were even in the points column after 30 minutes.  The pick for Tipp was a Kevin O’Loughlin free from his own 65, and a minute later his fellow Dubliner, McBride, answered with a superb point from play.  With McBride playing well in the middle of the field, the Galway backs also did well, Chris Murphy and Brian Watkins in particular clearing their lines on several occasions.  Paul Haughey finished the half with 2 points as Tipp closed the gap slightly before the break, at 2-7 to 0-7.

John Moylan tries to escape two Tipp defenders.

Tipperary made some changes for the second half.  John Kindregan and Mickey Doyle entered the fray.  Doyle netted shortly after the restart to bring Tipp within a goal, but Galway got it right back.  Stephen Brown found room on the wing and passed to John Moylan in front of goal, Moylan did well to score his second, and Galway’s third, goal of the game.  Tipp did not panic and patiently took their points and kept in touch.  Daniel Edmonds and Paul Haughey brought Tipp within a goal once more, but Galway again kept their noses ahead with scores from Guinan and McBride.  McBride’s was another fantastic point as the St. Vincent’s man fired over from inside his own 65.  Tipp made it interesting over the final 10 minutes.  The game looked in the bag for Galway, but five Tipp points on the trot brought them within two points.  O’Loughlin, Bill O’Carroll, Sean McGrath, and Haughey chipped away and now a goal would deliver the game for Tipp.  Once again Galway lifted their game and did enough to hold off their opponents.  The lead was extended as Moylan intercepted a pass out of the Tipp defence and was fouled.  Guinan pointed twice from frees to make it a four point game at the final whistle.  Much satisfaction at the end from the Galway supporters who urged their boys on for the full 60.

Referee:  Jason Long (Corcaigh)

Man of the Match:  John Moylan (Galway)

Galway:  M. Mulrooney, D. Shaw, C. Murphy, B. Watkins, S. Nolan, S. Corry, C. McBride, B. McNamara, S. Brown, K. Canty, T. Bolger, E. Guinan, J. Moylan.  Tipp:  S. Delaney, J. Roche, B. O’Carroll, J. Dougan, J. Rigney, A. Hanigan, C. Dempsey, S. Norton, A. Callinan, D. Edmonds, K. O’Loughlin, P. Haughey, M. Ryan.


By Rory O'Donnell

Senior Football: Shannon Blues Continue Winning Ways

Wolfe Tones 1-10 Shannon Blues 2-8

The Blues and Tones met to decide who would get the automatic bye into the semi-finals.  After Sean Moriarty was sent off for a second yellow card after 20 minutes, it looked like curtains for the Blues, but they are used to winning and dug deep and worked hard for the duration and pulled of a fantastic result.  The Tones missed Michael Newman in the forward line and the front five never really clicked.  In fact, there were 3 changes made in the Tones forward line during the game.  Despite a late charge in the last 10 minutes, the Tones effort fell just short and the Blues 100% record remains intact.

The Tones Sean Furlong and
The Blues David Dineen.

The Tones were guilty of a good handful of missed chances in the first half.  Gary Brilly, Marty Farrell, and Collie Carr missed chances to put a little distance between themselves and the Blues.  There was nothing between the teams on the scoreboard after 15 minutes, though the Tones enjoyed the majority of possession and their back line kept it very tight.  Pauric McGuirk and Kieran Hurley were in a tussle on the edge of the square.  Hurley must have been wondering what he had to do to get some space from the tight marking McGuirk.  With the sides tied a two points each the Blues Sean Moriarty was sent to the line for a second yellow card resulting from a high challenge on Fergal Conway.  The sending off changed the game – it lifted the Blues.  Caolan Rafferty, who had a great game at corner forward, finished a great move involving David Dineen and James Hynes.  Kieran Hurley followed up with a booming free kick, and following the sending off the Blues were ahead by four.  The Tones scrambled to make changes and introduced Barry Grogan to the forward line and Brian Kinahan to the half back line.  A point came from Paul Bannon, but the alarm bells sounded in the Tones back line once again as Rafferty was through a second time and hit the post from inside the 21.  The extra man at the back can sometimes cause confusion with assignments and it seemed that the Tones were not playing as tight as before the sending off.  At the break it was 1-3 to 0-3 for the Blues.

Hurley shoots and McGuirk blocks.

Blues started the second half with two quick points.  The first from a Hurley free and the second was almost a goal, but James Hynes shot came off the crossbar and Rafferty was on hand to pop the rebound over.  The Blues worked hard for each other, Ross O’Callaghan at corner back did well having been given his second assignment of the day in the form of Grogan.  The Tones eventually broke their scoring drought with a point after 17 minutes of play.  It came from a Grogan free – not a good return when you have a man advantage.  The Tones however dragged themselves within a point with plenty of time to play and one wondered whether fatigue would eventually wear the Blues down.  Another three points from Farrell, Martin Kelly, and Grogan and it looked like the Tones could go on to win as the Blues tired and there was just the one point in it.  The Blues had brought on two sets of fresh legs to the forward line however, and for the second game in a row Cathal McHugh proved to be an ace in the hole as he put a goal away with three minutes to go.  It came from a turnover as the Tones came out of defence looking for the equalizing score.  The Blues now had the overlap and McHugh finished well from an angle.  The Blues lead was now five as McHugh had pointed just before the goal.  With three minutes to go the Tones made a push to try and turn the tables.  Martin Kelly pointed and then James Doyle, the third change in the Tones forward line, netted from a tight angle.  Another substitute, Kiniahan, leveled the scores in injury time – who would have that bit left to go on and win it?  The Blues got their chance when Sean O’Connor calmly put a free kick over from inside the 45.  The Tones by contrast missed three chances to earn at least a point.  Doyle, Grogan, and Farrell each missed good chances, Farrell hit the post from a free.  The Blues straight into the semis, while the Tones still on nine points and will have to settle for a quarter final place.

Referee:  Colm Schwer (Cill Dara)

Man of the Match:  Ross O’Callaghan (Shannon Blues)

Tones:  R. McKeown, P. McGuirk, D. Dalton, K. Dias, C. Lynch, F. Conway, C. McCarthy, S. Furlong, G. Brilly, M. Farrell, P. Bannon, C. Joyce-Power, C. Carr.  Blues:  T. Sayers, C. Phelan, R. O’Callaghan, B. Curran, M. McGowan, S. Moriarty, D. Clarke, D. Dineen, S. O’Connor, C. Gregg, J. Hynes, C. Rafferty, K. Hurley.

By Rory O'Donnell

Ladies Senior Football: Shamrocks Book Place in Final

Boston Shamrocks 3-15 Tir na nOg 0-6

The Shamrocks underlined their championship credentials with a comprehensive win over current champions, Tir na nOg.  The game was close until the last 5 minutes of the first half when a double strike put the Shamrocks in pole position, and the ladies in the green shirts pulled away in the second period

Linda Cronin tries to shake
Caroline Hanley's challenge.

The first 25 minutes were close as Tir na nOg hung tight with their opponents, but the tide turned decisively in the final minutes of the first half with two goals.  The goals came with the score finely balanced at four points to two.  The first came from the boot of Linda Cronin who finished a lovely move from close range.  The second was Sarah Cunningham who was found with a great cross-field pass by Sharon McGovern.  Cunningham finished well and the Shamrocks lead was eight points.  Cunningham followed up with a point and it was 2-6 to 0-2 for the Shamrocks at the break. 

Orla Heavey points a free.

Tir na nOg opened the second half brightly and generated some good moves.  Noelle Healy popped over two well earned points.  However, the Shamrocks came motoring back.  Mary Cronin and Orla Heavey put a couple of fine points over the bar.  Denise Hallissey then got on the scorecard from corner back, and the icing was put on the win with a superb goal from Mary Cronin.  Ciara Hegarty played a deft pass over the top of the defence and Cronin finished with a brilliant strike from a tight angle.  The Shamrocks continued to add to the tally, Sharon McGovern and Hegarty added a couple more as their team drove forward.  Tir na nOg had a chance at a consolation goal with the final kick of the game – a penalty.  But the kick was low and wide, as if to underline their afternoon.  The Shamrocks are in pole position to get the bye into the final with the win.

Shamrocks:  L. Beehan, D. Hallissey, B. Gallagher, S. McMahon, A. McDonald, E. McGovern, N. Lonergan, A. Smith, O. Heavey, S. McGovern, L. Cronin, S. Cunningham, C. McGovern, C. Hegarty, M. Cronin.  Tir na nOg:  A. O’Neill, N. O’Neill, L. Brick, K. Coombs, N. Daly, P. Greene, C. Mullin, C. Keoghegan, A. Connolly, N. Healy, L. Keogh, C. Hanley, S. Walshe, S. Bannon, E. Power.

By Rory O'Donnell

Christopher's Book Playoff Place

Senior Football

Christopher’s 1-12 Kerry 0-8

Christopher’s and Kerry met on a rainy Saturday afternoon in a key game for both teams.  With Waterford man Sean O’Hare joining the lineup, Christopher’s ended up comfortable winners and have a place in the quarter-finals.  Kerry have to wait until their final game against Shannon Blues to try to stay in the playoff picture. 

The Press Box was a popular place Saturday
 afternoon as Chris Brady waits for play
to restart.

At the end of the first half Christopher’s held a six point lead.  David Culhane proved his versatility.  Lining out at wing forward, the Ballylongford man pointed twice, while Gavin O’Grady, Daithi Casey, and Chris Brady (Kerrymen all) contributed to the Christopher’s tally.  Kerry had plenty of chances to keep it close, but kicked some bad wides.  Coming up to the break Christopher’s were ahead by nine points, but finally some points went over the bar for Kerry from Gavin Nugent and Mark Schutte to make it a 1-7 to 0-4 Christopher’s lead at the break.

The second half really needed a Kerry goal to spark the game to life, but the Kingdom never looked like breaking open the Christopher’s defence.  James Coffey and Nugent pointed for Kerry early in the second, but Christopher’s eventually soon restored the difference.  The midfield of Dan Kenneally and Pat Delaney worked hard to win ball, and once it was won the forwards went to work.  Brady took a point in expert fashion, Casey another, while Culhane and O’Grady followed.  With 5 scoring forwards Christopher’s are hard to shut down and Kerry struggled to keep the door closed.  Christopher’s could have had a second goal when subsititue Seamus Corry was through, but Donnacha Fenton got down well to tip the ball on to the post.  The win puts Christopher’s on 10 points, which will be enough for the playoffs.  Kerry will be trying to beat Shannon Blues in their final game next week to keep their season alive.

Referee:  Mark Schwer (Cill Dara)

Man of the Match:  David Culhane

Christopher’s:  P. Kenneally, N. Ryan, C. Murphy, T. Clancy, B. O’Regan, D. O’Leary, D. Kenneally, P. Delaney, D. Culhane, S. O’Hare, D. Casey, G. O’Grady, C. Brady.  Kerry:  D. Fenton, C. O’Mahoney, T. Huallachain, M. Godley, J. McGrath, K. O’Connor, I. Whelan, J. Coffey, P. O’Neill, M. Schutte, J. Dooley, G. Nugent, C. O’Brien.

By Rory O'Donnell

Tables and Schedule

Boston GAA Schedule

All games at the Irish Cultural Center unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, July 25

5:00 Junior Hurling:  Fr. Tom Burke’s v Tipperary

5:30 Junior B Football:  Mayo v Aidan McAnespies

Saturday, July 28

4:15 Senior Football:  Kerry v Christopher’s

5:30 Senior Hurling:  Fr. Tom Burke’s v Wexford

Field B

5:45 Junior B Football:  Shannon Blues v Galway

Sunday, July 29

12:00 Ladies Senior Football:  Boston Shamrocks v Tir na nOg

1:15 Senior Football:  Armagh-Notre Dame v Mayo

2:30 Senior Football:  Shannon Blues v Wolfe Tones

3:45 Senior Hurling:  Tipperary v Galway

5:00 Senior Football:  Aidan McAnespies v Donegal

Field B

12:00 Junior A Football:  Donegal v Aidan McAnespies (Rescheduled from July 22)

1:45 Junior B Football:  Donegal v Cork

3:15 Junior B Football:  Hartford v New England Celtics

4:45 Armagh-Notre Dame v Kerry