Wolfe Tones Juniors March On

Aidan McAnespies 0-6 Wolfe Tones 3-9

The Wolfe Tones got their day off to a great start with a convincing won over Aidan McAnespies in the junior football championship.  The Tones came away with another 2 points and looked like they could be considered to be there or thereabouts at the end of August in defence of their junior A title.

Gary McAlinden in Possession for McAnespies

The Tones had things in hand by half time with a lead of 11 points, and heading into the second half with an extra man there was little chance of the outcome changing.  Own McCosker and Joey Farrell got into a tangle and McCosker was adjudged to have struck the Wolfe Tones player after the referee had already sounded the whistle for a free.  Not only that, but Eugene McKenna had to leave the field with an ankle injury, so scoring options were at a premium for the Macs.  Corner forward Dan McCabe netted 2 first half goal for the Tones, while Sean Kelly pointed a couple of exquisitely taken points.  Ger Molloy added to the Tones first half tally with some well taken scores, and McAnespies found themselves behind the 8 ball early.  Gavin Walsh and Farrell enjoyed a wealth of possession in the middle of the field, and the forwards capitalized.

McAnespies made a much better fight of it in the second half.  Tones keeper, Brendan Murray, was called on to make a good save from Joe O’Shea early in the half and on a couple of occasions the Tones back line had to step in to make last minute blocks on goalbound shots.  Gary McAlinden, Aaron McLoughlin, and Maurice O’Scanlon each popped scores over the bar.  The Tones struck with a third goal, this time from Sean Kelly who was found with a great pass by Michael Duffy.  Kelly added another well taken point to his tally to keep the Tones comfortably ahead.  Repeat for the junior championship?

Referee:  Jimmy Trimble (Co. Donegal)

Man of the Match:  Sean Kelly (Tones)

Macs:  R. McCrystal, M. Bogue, P. McCusker, G. McAlinden, G. Hennessy, M. Slane, S. Lynn, M. O’Scanlon, J. O’Shea, P. Nugent, N. Donaghy, E. McKenna, O. McCosker.  Tones:  B. Murray, A. Rooney, K. Gill, E. Carr, A. Curry, M. O’Brien, J. Farrell, G. Walsh, S. Kelly, G. Molloy, J. Carroll, D. McCabe, S. O’Brien.

By Rory O'Donnell

Previews, Schedule, Tables

Boston GAA Previews



At the half way point of the championship the favourites are beginning to emerge. Donegal and Shannon Blues are on maximum points, while Kerry, Wolfe Tones and the Gaels are tied in third on five points each. Galway, Christopher’s, and McAnespies are in the lower half of the table, but along with Cork still look like there is a shot at the playoff spots. No team has an easy run in, and with Cork beating Wolfe Tones last Sunday nothing can be taken for granted this season. Should be an exciting July and August with every game counting for something and it starts next Sunday.



Kerry will be looking to get their playoff run back on track following their defeat to the Connemara Gaels. The Kingdom face Armagh-Notre Dame who have yet to win a game. Based on current form there is a great opportunity for Kerry. There are some good players scattered throughout the field. Kieran O’Connor at center back, Laoisman Ian Whelan in the middle, and Donnacha Fenton up front give Kerry a balanced look. Armagh-Notre Dame have had their struggles of late, but there is some have some talent on the roster also. Old hand Frank Meehan, Conor McGee, Alan O’Donovan, and Kevin Marrow are as capable as any out there, but a win for the Orchard men would have to be considered an upset.



Galway and the Gaels will a huge showdown in the battle of the west. Each side will fancy their chances and I would venture to say, are evenly matched. The Gaels defence will have their work cut out against Galway’s quick forward line that contains Danny Reddin, Kevin O’Hara, and Graham Cullen. The Gaels might be a little bit stronger with the likes of Noel Graham, Daryl Hayden, and Graham Delaney in the half forward line, while Sean Conneely and Padraig Cunningham are playing very will at wing back. American Born Brian Joyce has also had some good outings this season for the Gaels, and based on form so far, I’d have to give the Gaels a slight edge.



The last game of the day is a massive one for Wolfe Tones. An early season favourite, the Tones have had to juggle with injuries and player availability. With all the cards in the deck the Tones are a match for any team, and have shown some character at crunch time in games this year. The Southie lads suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Cork last week, a game that could define their season either way. Donegal have yet to be beaten, but present an opportunity for the Tones to take a big scalp. The Tones forward line is as good as any out there which contains players of intercounty pedigree such as Cormac Joyce-Power (Limerick) and Barry Grogan (Tipperary).. Midfield is the achilles heal, and Charlie McCarthy a former Meath county footballer, has been shoring up that area of the field. Donegal are led by their midfield of the two Brian’s, Brian White and Brian Donnelly – their strongest point is the Tones weakest. Donegal are also well balanced throughout the field, and word on the street of the arrival of Westmeath’s Dessie Dolan will make them very hard to beat.



Schedule
(All games at the Irish Cultural Center, Canton, Mass unless otherwise noted.)

Wednesday June 27
5:30 Junior A Football: Donegal v Shannon Blues

5:30 Junior B Football: Aidan McAnespies v Kerry

Saturday June 30
Portland, ME

3:00 Junior C Hurling: Portland v Hartford



Sunday July 1

11:30 Junior A Football: Aidan McAnespies v Wolfe Tones

12:45 Senior Football: Armagh-Notre Dame v Kerry

2:00 Youth Games

2:30 Senior Football: Galway v Connemara Gaels

3:45 Senior Hurling: Tipperary v Fr. Tom Burke’s

5:00 Senior Football: Donegal v Wolfe Tones


Field B

12:30 Junior B Football: Galway v Cork

1:45 Junior B Football: Mayo v New England Celtics

3:15 Junior B Football: Aidan McAnespies v Donegal

4:45 Junior B Football: Armagh-Notre Dame v Shannon Blues

Tables

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Junior A Football: Donegal Top Gaels

Connemara Gaels 0-7 Donegal 3-14

Donegal and the Gaels raised the curtain on Sunday afternoon, with Donegal very much the favoured side.  Featuring four American Born players in the team, the Gaels made a game of it for three quarters but in the final 15 minutes Donegal found more space in which to operate and put paid to the Gaels challenge.

A Donegal hand finds the ball as Brian Joyce
tries to burst the tackle. 

Donegal looked the more dangerous side over the first 30 minutes, though the Gaels battled hard.  On at least two occasions Donegal were through for a goal, however, Bosco O’Halloran did well to tip the ball over the bar for the first, and Rocky Ivers shot narrowly wide for the second.  Donegal did clock up some points, Christy McLoughlin accounted for three in the first half, Niall McConnell two, and Kevin Curran the sixth.  The Gaels back line worked hard to prevent Donegal from getting away from them and with Brian Joyce playing well in midfield and Joe Casey making forward runs, the forward line depended on Tom Sally McDonagh and Kevin Owens for scores.  McDonagh delivered three times and Owens once and at the break it was 0-6 to 0-4 in favour of the northerners.

Christy Bell in Full Flight.

Donegal converted a major to begin the second period.  Darren Green finished a move in which Christy Bell and Rocky Ivers combined to open up the Gaels back line.  The Clonmany man made no mistake from 14 yards.  Donegal enjoyed most of the possession but missed some good scoring chances, and Gaels managed to keep themselves in the game for the first 15 minutes of the second period.  Casey, Conor Lohan, and Owens wiped out the goal with three points on the trot, but as the half wore on Donegal got stronger and Gaels faded.  Niall McConnell and Christy Bell put three points over the bar between them, and Bell then delivered the hammer blow with a goal of his own creation.  Bell beat his defender and buried the ball from close range.  After McConnell and Green added to the ever extending Donegal lead, substitute Barney Friel netted the third for Donegal.  A convincing win for the Tir Chonaill men and the Gaels still looking for a point in the junior A championship.

Gaels: B. O’Halloran, B. O’Connell, C. Conroy, J. Casey, M. McDonagh, S. Murray, B. Joyce, C. Lafferty, J. Geoghan, T. McDonagh, PJ Kelly, K. Owens.  Donegal:  B. Farrelly, P. McNulty, D. Renath, D. McBride, E. Doonan, D. Doherty, M. McGinty, C. Bell, C. McLoughlin, K. Curran, R. Ivers, D. Green, N. McConnell

By Rory O'Donnell

Tones Juniors Impress

Donegal 1-6 Wolfe Tones 2-9

The junior senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, made an appearance at the Irish Cultural Center as the defending Junior A football champion Wolfe Tones took the field on Sunday and faced Donegal in a repeat of last year’s final.  It was a keenly contested game, and in spite of losing Mick Sammon to a red card in the second half, the Tones maintained their superiority to take the spoils.

John Cunningham, Mick Sammon, Emmet Doonan, Eddie Feeley,
John Farrell, and Peter Murray introduce senator Scott Brown
to the ins and outs of Gaelic Football before the game.

Though Donegal enjoyed an advantage on the scoreboard early on, neither side was able to impose themselves on the game.  Michael McGinty opened the scoring with a well taken point, and was followed by Kevin Curran and Brian Farrelly.  Play flowed back and forth as each back line mopped up, but neither forward line could breach their opposing defenders.  The Tones got themselves back into it on the scoreboard towards the end of the half as the points eventually began to flow.  Mick Sammon, Mike O’Brien, and two more Sammon frees brought the champions on level terms at the half, 0-4 to 0-4.

Donegal's Michael McGinty bursts past the tackle.

The Tones took the bull by the horns in the second half.  The middle of the field belonged to Thomas Murphy and Gavin Walsh as the champions enjoyed most of the possession and played the ball around nicely.  Christy Bell opened the scoring for Donegal but Sammon answered with two well taken points from play.  Sammon added two more points from frees, and then the Tones struck with a goal.  Darren Lowry fielded the ball well in the corner and combined with Fergal Conway who found Murphy on the 14 and the number 9 blasted home to give the Tones a five point lead.  Donegal quickly got the goal back thanks to some some industrious work from Bell who finished low from close range.  Donegal had an opening to turn the game around after Mick Sammon was shown the red card for his reaction to a foul by his marker, Darren Doherty.  Doherty was given a yellow for the foul.  The Tones, as they did in the senior match beforehand, dug deep.  Gavin Walsh stepped up in midfield and Shane O’Brien put in a hard fought effort aftercoming on to the field of play.  Another goal came, and again it was Thomas Murphy who was the finisher to restore the Tones lead as the champions held on to win the two points on offer. 

Referee:  Jimmy Trimble who did an excellent job refereeing the game.

Man of the Match:  Thomas Murphy - Tones

Donegal:  J. Byrne, P. McNulty, D. Doherty, N. McLaughlin, E. Doonan, P. McLaughlin, M. McGinty, C. Bell, E. McCarney, K. Curran, B. Friel, B. Farrelly, N. McConnell.  Tones:  B. Murray, A. Rooney, K. Gill, M. O’Brien, K. O’Regan, C. Malone, G. Walsh, D. Lowry, T. Murphy, G. Molloy, F. Conway, M. Sammon, G. Leonard. 

By Rory O'Donnell 

Galway Steal a Point

Aidan McAnespies 1-11 Galway 1-11

Galway and McAnespies shared the spoils in a game that huffed and puffed and never really came to life.  For a time it looked as if McAnespies would finally take advantage of the extra man following the sending off of Sean Gallagher, but there was a twist in the tale and Galway snatched a late equalizing goal from Peter Nolan at the death.

Sean Cournane was in good form for McAnespies.

Galway opened the game brightly and put over three unanswered points to get affairs underway.  Ollie Doherty scored after the first sequence in play, and points also came from Jamie Kehoe and Doherty free.  The Galway forwards looked quick and played the ball around nicely.  McAnespies began to show a little more as the half wore on.  Sean Cournane pointed a free and Niall Gallen added another from wing back.  A Cournane free leveled the scores, and Cournane then followed with a lovely point from play as he weaved his way on the endline and finished with the left boot.  Mid way through the half Sean Gallagher was shown the line by referee Tadhg Lucey for striking an opponent, and Galway looked like they had it all to do.  McAnespies played the extra man in the back line, and Galway still enjoyed plenty of possession.  After Gareth O’Neill put McAnespies two to the good Galway showed patience on the ball to wait for the right scoring opportunities. Danny Reddin, Doherty, and Graham Cullen put four over the bar between them to make it a two point half time advantage for Galway, 0-7 to 0-5.

Paul McConway tries to rally McAnespies.

McAnespies quickly got themselves back ahead with a goal from Cournane in a flash of the type of football we saw from the champions a short year ago.  Colm McCrory played a great handpass to the inrushing Cournane, and the Caherciveen man blasted home low and hard.  McCrory followed up with a point and Macs led by two.  Galway pulled level thanks to two Doherty pointed frees with 15 minutes left.  Macs then seemed to turning the screw as Galway began to tire.  It was the effort of individuals that led McAnespies back, Colm McCrory in particular and Fergal O’Doherty making forward runs in efforts to claim both points.  The champions, however, missed some easy scoring chances that would bite them in the end.  Cournane put McAnespies ahead with a great score, and followed with a second as time was winding down.  Colm McCrory appeared to have put the game away for McAnespies with another point, but thanks to Galway’s quickness and endeavor in the forward line an opening was created for substitute Peter Nolan who slotted home from close range at the final whistle.  Disappointment for McAnespies, and for Galway a point salvaged that will do their confidence no end of good. 


Referee:  Tadhg Lucey

Man of the Match:  Jamie Kehoe - Galway

Macs:  P. Coakley, P. McConway, M. Bogue, C. Dempsey, F. O’Doherty, N. Gallen, G. O’Neill, M. O’Ganaill, G. McAlinden, N. McCrory, S. Lynn, S. Cournane, C. McCrory.  Galway:  P. McComiskey, S. Fox, J. O’Callaghan, S. Gallagher, E. Whelan, R. Vickers, O. Doherty, E. Kavanagh, J. Kehoe, L. Kelly, D. Reddin, G. Cullen, M. Kenny.

By Rory O'Donnell

Senior Football: Gaels and Tones all Square

Connemara Gaels 2-8 Wolfe Tones 2-8

A warm sunny afternoon greeted the footballers of the Connemara Gaels and Wolfe Tones amid the sounds and smells of the Irish Festival at the grounds of the Cultural Center in Canton.  The game ended in a draw, but it is likely that neither side was pleased with the result and probably more so the Gaels as it really was a blown opportunity to knock off one of the early favourites.  The Tones were favoured coming into the game, but Gaels played most of it with a man advantage and held on to a one point lead into injury time, with the equalizing score coming from Gary Brilly with virtually the final kick.

The Gaels Eric Monahan is pursued by Pauric McGuirk.

The Tones were first out of the gates with two points and wearing the tag of favourites, it seemed inevitable that the South Boston side would continue to press in the early stages.  The Gaels answered with two points to even things up, but then a two-goal salvo came from the Tones.  Collie Carr netted a fortunate first, James O’Donnell in goal for the Gaels should have done better to field what appeared to be a fairly routine catch, but somehow lost the ball and it ended up in the back of the net.  Corner forward Barry Grogan followed up shortly afterwards with another from close range and the Gaels were reeling.  The Connemara men kept working at it; Sean Conneely was a leading factor in the back line and Brian Joyce worked hard in the middle of the field.  After a point from a Noel Graham dead ball, the Gaels answered with two goals of their own.  Both came from corner forward Eric Monahan.  Sean Conneeley cut out a forward ball by the Tones to set up the move for the first goal for the Caherlistrane man.  The second came shortly after Collie Carr saw red following an off the ball incident.  At the break it was the Gaels by a point, 2-3 to 2-2.

Gary Brilly dispossesses Noel Graham.

Starting the second half off a man to the good, the Gaels built their lead by adding two points through frees from Monahan.  The tide then turned in favour of the Tones.  The Gaels short kickouts were not working and persistent fouls in front of their own goal led to some easy frees for the Tones, who were making a tremendous effort to create the space and make up for the deficiency in personnel.  Barry Grogan took two points from frees and followed them with two tremendous points from play to put the Tones into a surprising three point lead.  The Gaels re-gathered their concentration and pulled back two points through Monahan and substitute, Dara McCormack.  After a badly missed free from Marty Farrell at one end, the Gaels swept upfield for Padraig Cunningham to level the scores with a well taken effort from range.  The Tones again threatened to take the lead, but again a poorly taken shot was gathered by the Gaels.  Graham carried upfield and eventually the ball found wing back Fiacra O’Beara who put a great effort between the posts.  The Gaels tried to kill off the game by keeping posession, but the Tones had one final effort to get a result from the game and Gary Brilly leveled the scores with a point to make it all square. 

Referee:  Nobby Walsh

Man of the Match:  Sean Conneely, Connemara Gaels

Gaels:  J. O’Donnell, D. Doolan, C. O’Donnell, S. Conneely, J. Vaughan, F. O’Beara, B. Joyce, G. Delaney, C. Mulkerrins, N. Graham, P. Cunningham, E. Monahan, D. Hayden.  Tones:  R. McKeown, P. McGuirk, C. Lynch, G. Brilly, B. Kinahan, D. McGuire, C. McCarthy, J. Farrell, C. Carr, C. Joyce-Power, M. Farrell, B. Grogan, M. Newman.


By Rory O'Donnell

Blues, Kerry, Donegal and Wolfe Tones Take the Spoils on Opening Day

Donegal 2-17 Christopher’s 0-9

Donegal and Christophers began their championship campaigns under blues skies at the Irish Cultural Centre in Canton on Sunday afternoon.  The teams also met at the opening stage this time last year and are no stranger to each other.  Donegal had the edge that day, and as it turned out, also did one year later.  Christophers started sharp with a point from local youngster, Paudie Kenneally.  Christopher’s also almost had a goal with the ball nearly trickling into the net, but the scare had the effect of waking Donegal out of their slow start.  The northern side began to dominate the game.  Christy Bell and Brian White fired the opening salvos, and were followed with points from Ciaran wiliams and veteran stalwart, Kevin Curran.  A well worked goal from Garbhan Friel followed after a great ball from Brian Donnelly.  White and Donnelly, who made is debut for Donegal, pointed again and shortly afterwards, White scored Donegal’s second goal.  Things were not going well for Christopher’s.  The 2009 champions battled back however, and scores came from Dan Kenneally and Eoin Gorham.  Christopher’s were unlucky not to have a goal as Paudie Ken rally's chance just went wide of the post.  Donegal were in a comfortable half time position, leading by 2-10 to 0-3 for Christopher’s.

Christopher’s opened the second period brightly with a nice scores from Paddy Mainiry and mid fielder Shane Flannagan.  However, once White settled the Donegal nerves with a point from a free that could easily have been a goal, the northern gale began to blow.  Hugh. Devine and Niall McConnell came in for Paul Mc Nulty and Kevin Curran, and scored came from Ciaran Williams and Michael Mc Ginty.  Christophers fought back hard with some great scores from the impressive Eoin Gorham and Shane Flanagan, but the Donegal team under new manager Barney Laverty finished strongly to get their quest for 2012 silverware off to the best possible start.

Kerry 3-6 Aidan McAnespies 1-10

The reigning Boston champions met Kerry to open their title defence and were defeated in a tight, intense game.  McAnespies got off to a flying start with 2 points in the opening 5 minutes, one coming from Colm McCrory.  Kerry opened their account with a fisted goal from Ian Whelan, who met a cross square ball from Robert O Hanlon.  The goal put some fire into the Kerry furnace and the men from the kingdom got on top, and had the aid of a firm breeze.  Padraig doyle pointed for Kerry after 10 minutes, and just after the mid way point of the opening period, Ian Whelan again pointed.  Kerry had a couple opportunities from frees but failed to convert.  McAnespies suffered a long dry spell, but after 24 minutes pointed.  Rather than settle and impress themselves in the game, McAnespies got hit with a one-two punch just before half time.  Two goals in the last 5 minutes rocked the champions.  The first came from Paddy Tanny and the second from Donncha Fenton.  After McCrory pointed for McAnespies it was Kerry who held the lead at the break, 3-2 to 0-5.

Kerry continued to enjoy the advantage in the second half.  A point from Tanny after 8 minutes was followed by another after 14.  McAnespies then went to work realizing that there was a game to win and it was Kerry who experienced the barren period.  For a time it looked as if the experience of the champions would carry them through.  Gareth O’Neill pointed after 19 minutes and converted a free shortly afterwards, while Fergal Doherty urged his cohorts to lift their game..  With less than 10 minutes to go McAnespies won a well earned penalty.  Colm McCrory being the player fouled and also got up to fire the shot home. 

Kerry though, showed some character and fought back, scoring points in the 25^th and 30th minutes.  Mike McCarthy pointed a free and Whelan accounted for the other score.  McAnespies were forced to go for goal and almost generated chances on a couple of occasions, but each time the final pass went astray.  With time up McAnespies won a 45 which they dropped into the square, Kerry broke the ball out, and with it Joe Moriarty called time.  First blood to Kerry in what was perhaps a surprise result.

Kerry:  Shane O’ Leary, Mike Godley, James Dooley, Rob Coyne, Kieran O’Connor, Maurice fallon, Ian Somers, Ian Whelan, Padraig Doyle, Paddy Tanny, Donncha Fenton, Rob O Hanlon, Mike McCarthy.

Shannon Blues 2-14 Galway 0-7

With key forwards Danny Reddin and Gearoid O’Connor out with early season injuries Galway faced a tough task on Sunday and went down to an excellent Shannon Blues side.  Eoghan Kavanagh was the man of the match for Galway, while for the Blues Brian Curran and Shane Kelly led the charge. 

Armagh-Notre Dame conceded to Wolfe Tones

Orla Benson Cup

Connacht Ladies 1-1 Tir na nOg 3-10

Tir na nOg got a win over Connacht Ladies to earn a place in the Orla Benson Cup final against old enemies, Boston Shamrocks.  The Connacht Ladies played some great football in the first half and kept with their more established opponents, at the break it was a close 1-0 to 1-3 for Tir na nOg.  In the second half the Brighton side took over as superior fitness told.  Aisling Kerr and Carolyn Egan fought hard for Connacht Ladies, and for Tir na nOg Sinead Bannon and Carolyn Egan played well.


Thanks to John Cunningham, Dan O'Connor, Sharon O'Brien, and Ciara Burns for contributing to this report, and to Majella McFadden for the photos.

Blues Make it to Quarter Finals at Kerry's expense.

Shannon Blues 0-7 Kerry 0-2


The Shannon Blues advanced to the quarter final of the Pat O’Brien Cup with a solid display against a gallant Kerry side in difficult, windy conditions. It was a game that Kerry will look back on and rue many missed opportunities in the second half. The wind played a factor as kicking frees into the gate end goal proved nearly impossible. Trailing by three points at half time, the kingdom lifted their efforts in the second half but having won several frees that would have been very scoreable under normal conditions, conditions were not normal and the ball had very little chance of making it in freetaker’s intended direction.

Kerry's Mike Taylor and the Blues Conor Mullen
 grapple for the kickout.

The game opened at a fast pace and the Blues streaked into a four points to none lead to get things going. Nicky Murray, Simon Sinnott, Sean Moriarty, and James Hynes scored as the Blues were moving and passing the ball well. Waterville man Donnacha Fenton stemmed the Blues wave with a pointed free, and after the excellent Conor Mullen cancelled it out for the Blues, Kerry center back Kieran O’Connor put a massive effort over the bar to lift Kerry spirits. At the break there was very much a game on with three points separating the teams.

The Blues Pat Murray looks to get this breaking ball.

James Dooley at wing back and Ian Somers in the middle of the field in particular lifted the Kerry effort and the Kingdom generated several chances to score as the Blues back line committed several fouls. Fenton, however, was unable to cope with the strong breeze and put a couple over the bar, and Kerry remained scoreless. As the half wore on and Kerry failed to take advantage, the Blues found their rhythm of the first period and motored again through Mike McGowan, Mullen, Sean Moriarty, and James Hynes to put the lock down on the game. Moriarty and Hynes pointed three between them to make it a 0-7 to 0-2 final score.

They Kerry football club would like to extend the greatest sympathy to Paddy Tanny and his family on the passing of his father.

Blues: C. Wallace, S. Kelly, D. O’Brien, M. Keegan, M. McGowan, C. Mullen, P. Murray, D. Clarke, S. Moriarty, J. Hynes, K. Sullivan, G. Henry, N. Murray. Kerry: S. Leary, M. Godley, G. O’Caobhain, J. Dooley, K. O’Connor, P. Doyle, I. Somers, G. Cummings, T. Fitzgerald, D. Fenton, M. Taylor, J. Kennedy, T. Caobhain.


By Rory O'Donnell

Late penalty sees Armagh-Notre Dame through

Armagh-Notre Dame 1-3 Christopher’s 0-5


Armagh-Notre Dame pulled off somewhat of a dramatic victory over Christopher’s to earn a quarter final game against their local Brighton rivals, Galway. The game was empty of scores in the first half as both sides floundered in front of goal, but the second was much more enjoyable. Christopher’s looked like pulling away only to be reined in and eventually overtaken by a determined Armagh-Notre Dame side.

Dan Kenneally makes a clean catch this time.

Mid-way through the first half the game remained scoreless, and it was only with the period winding down that either side chalked up a score. For the men in the orange jerseys it was Dominic Magill, and then for Christopher’s it was Owen Keohane who made it a point each at the break. Christopher’s opened the second half looking like they were about to steamroll their opponents. Some great play resulted in four points for Christopher’s. The quick ball into the corner forwards paid heavy dividends. Armagh-Notre Dame dug in however. Conor McGarry popped over a point, making it a one-score game. Midfielders Adrian Gunn and Kieran Sheerin made things difficult for their opposite numbers, and Pat Delaney ended up getting a second yellow card for rough play handing the Orchard men a numbers advantage with plenty of time left to play.

Dominic Magill on the run for Armagh-Notre Dame.

Armagh-ND kept up the tempo and dug deep in a big effort to get the season off to a good start, and their efforts eventually paid dividends. At the end of a fine move the ball ended up in the hands of McGarry, and a penalty resulted. McGarry was pulled down and Frank Meehan slotted the kick into the bottom corner. All square now and with Christopher’s frustration growing and the bit between the teeth for the Brighton team, veteran Darren Maguire popped over a free in the dying moments of the game to send his side through to the next round.

Armagh-ND: O. Murphy, S. Redmond, S. McKenna, F. Meehan, N. Lowry, M. Graham, A. Gunn, K. Sheerin, G. Hall, D. Magill, M. Tiffany, C. McGarry, D. Maguire. Christopher’s: J. Duane, N. Ryan, L. Luke, M. Delaney, C. Murphy, P. Manning, D. Kenneally, J. Kenneally, P. Mannion, P. Delaney, L. Hickey, D. Keohane, R. Kenneally.


By Rory O'Donnell