Sun July 8 - Junior A Football: Christopher's v Connemara Gaels

Connemara Gaels 2-10 Christopher’s 5-16

Christopher’s won their first game of the season in convincing style against a decent looking Connemara Gaels team.  The game was still very much open until back to back goals from Christopher’s knocked the stuffing out of the Gaels about 10 minutes into the second half.

Ronan Geraghty smells a score.

Christopher’s were looking good to secure their first win of the season after the first 30 minutes had been played.  Ronan Geraghty at corner forward was hard for the Gaels defence to handle.  The Westport native tallied 2-3 in the opening stanza, one point a fantastic effort from distance.  Tom Kinsley in the half back line was motoring well, as was John Cronin who popped forward for his own score. 

The Gaels kept pace.  Liam Costello hit with an early goal and later in the half with Christopher’s threatening to pull away, AJ Maguire hit with a well taken goal.  Cullen McDonagh chipped in with a couple of points and at the break it was Christopher’s by four, 2-8 to 2-4.

The second half started with the Gaels threatening to make a comeback, the westerners put plenty of pressure on the Christopher’s back line and points were converted by McDonagh, Noel Graham, and Liam Costello.  The deficit was reduced by just a point however as Christopher’s had pointed through Geraghty and Liam Costello, while after much toil from the Gaels forwards, there were a handful of missed chances to pull closer.

Paudie Kenneally focused on the dropping ball.

After the opening 10 minutes, the game drifted away from the Gaels.  Killian Ryan won a turnover just inside his own half and the Christopher’s midfielder ran unchallenged to inside the Gaels penalty area and finished nicely into the top corner.  The goal was followed by another a minute later from Conal Dooey after Geraghty’s initial shot was saved by Stephen Murray.  The difference between the teams was now a yawning 9 points.

Christopher’s continued to pile on the pressure as the Gaels challenge waned.  Another goal from a Mark Delaney penalty rubbed salt into the wound as Christopher’s cantered to the finish line with the scores coming easy down the stretch.  Christopher’s have clearly beefed up the ranks since the first outing and could be a team to mount a serious challenge to holders and fellow Munster rivals, Cork.

Gaels:  Stephen Murray, Michael Coyne, Sam Ferrick, Domhnall Reaney, Colman Mulkerrin, Kevin Walsh, Johnny Woods, Gerard Davoran, AJ Maguire, Cullen McDOnagh, James Langan, Kevin Owens, Liam Costello.

Christopher’s:  Jerry Kenneally, Mark Russell, Gerry Bannon, Tom Kinsley, Paudie Kenneally, John Cronin, Killian Ryan, James Horgan, Mark Delaney, Chris Moynihan, Conal Dooey, Dan Kenneally, Ronan Geraghty.

By Rory O'Donnell