Donegal and the Connemara Gaels served up the best game of
the season so far in front a good crowd of supporters. It was an exciting contest that ended all
square thanks to a goal in the final minutes from Mikey Kerr for the
Gaels. The result leaves a slim opening
for the Gaels to get the bye into the senior football final should Aidan McAnespies
defeat Donegal in the final game of the league portion on Wednesday night.
Paddy McGee Fires Home for the Gaels
Late in the First half.
There was not much between the teams all game long. The Gaels relied on the running of Jack
Bambrick and Colman Mulkerrin at times, each player produced some wonderful
points. Donegal played well through the
lines and a goal from Darren Grant in the first half gave the northerers a
slight edge. Lee Carr was lively up
front and tagged a couple of good points.
Tom Duignan suffered a game ending injury after a foray forward,
twisting his knee, which was a blow to the Gaels efforts. A goal late in the half from Paddy McGee
meant that it was a 1-6 to 1-5 Donegal lead at the break.
The second half saw Donegal edge in to a 3 point lead, with
Ryan Caffrey frees keeping the Gaels in touch.
It started to look like Donegal were wrapping up another win with Shane
Carthy providing the scores when needed.
The Gaels made a big push towards the end, and were rewarded with the
goal from Kerr who latched on to a rebound and put the ball into the far bottom
corner. A fair result in the end that keeps the door
slightly open for the Gaels to get the bye into the final.
Sean Kelly Showed some Flashes of old Form
with a couple of great scores on Sunday.
Wolfe Tones added another win in the junior A football
championship to finish top and make the final.
The Tones held Galway scoreless in the first half, while at the other
end got some great scores from Sean Kelly, and steady free taking of Gavin
Walsh added 3 more points. The missed opportunities
were adding up for Galway, and just before the break Walsh netted to put the
Tones into a 1-5 lead.
Enter JJ Doyle in the second half for Galway and the wily
veteran’s shooting from frees and play chipped away at the Tones lead until
there was just the goal in it 10 minutes into the second half. Galway and Doyle were unable to keep up the
momentum, the water break may not have done them any favours as the Tones
retook the field with renewed purpose and netted a second goal from Dan
Kenneally to take the wind out of the westerner’s sails. The Tones nursed the 2 goal cushion and ended
up 2-9 to 0-7 winners. The win puts the
Tones straight into the final awaiting the winners of Cork and Galway next
weekend.
McAnespie's Peter O'Connell Drives Forward.
Aidan McAnespies had a comfortable win against the Shannon
Blues, netting two penalty kicks in the first half. The first was for a foot block and Robbie
Croft slotted home to the keeper’s right.
The second soon after came after Eoin Gormley was held in the box after
being played though by a superb Peter O’Connell pass. Croft stepped up and the put this one to the
left of the keeper. The Blues battled
gamely and were rewarded with points from Darren Wallace, Maurice Young and
Mike Moylan, but McAnespies were just too strong. The second half saw another 2 goals for the
Macs who will now play a Wednesday night game against Donegal to round out the
league portion of the competition.
The Junior B Football championship ended with a playoff
required between Kerry and the Connemara Gaels.
Christopher’s defeated the Gaels in a close run affair. The Gaels led by 9 points to 2 at the break
but Christopher’s stormed back with a 4 goal second half and ended up 4 point
victors to secure a semi-final place against Sean Og’s next week. The winners of Kerry and the Gaels will meet
Donegal in the other semi-final on Saturday.
Mark Delaney Rises High for Christopher's.
Junior B Hurling sees Worcester into the final after
defeating the Wolves of New Hampshire on Saturday in Canton. Portland Junior C Footballers went 4 for 4
with a win over Sean Og’s Sunday and have the automatic place in the
final.
Some teams to be decided for next weekend’s games, the
schedule is at www.gaaboston.com
and will be updated as soon as the results are in.
By Rory O'Donnell
Photos by Rachel O'Driscoll
No comments:
Post a Comment