Tables - August 3

Senior Football:  Top 3 teams drawn for seeding.  

1. Aidan McAnespies 

2. Shannon Blues

3. Donegal

Quarter Finals Sunday Aug 10

2:30 Donegal v Kerry

5:00 Wolfe Tones v Connemara Gaels

Aidan McAnespies and Shannon Blues into semi finals.

Senior Hurling:  Top Team into final; 2v3 semi final.

Remaining Games

Sat Aug 9:  5:30 Tom's v Wexford

Sun Aug 10: 3:45 Galway v Tipperary

Tir na nOg into final.
Shamrocks and Connacht Ladies playoff Saturday afternoon.

 

Junior A Football

Top 2 into semi finals

Quarter Finals

Gaels v Blues - Sat Aug 9 5:30pm

Tones v Macs - Sun Aug 10 1:15pm

Junior B Tables 

Semis:  1 v 4; 2 v3

Remaining

August 9:  Hartford v Worcester

August 10:  Shannon Blues v Aidan McAnespies

August 13:  Aidan McAnespies v Cork

Tables July 29 - Senior Football, Hurling, Junior A Football, Ladies Senior Football, Junior B Football

Junior B Table

Tables July 7

Tables Aug 9

Christopher's beat the Wolfe Tones last Saturday, and came from behind to do it. Now the Tones must sit a wait to see what happens Sunday as the outcome of the Kerry v McAnespies game will determine their fate. The Tones will be hoping that Kerry can overturn McAnespies, which would mean a playoff between the teams for the fourth and final Playoff spot. Kerry really have nothing to play for as they are locked in to the intermediate semi-finals, but the prospect of beating the Boston and North American champions could be enough for them to raise their game heading into the playoffs. Either way, a toss of a coin will have to determine who plays who in the senior semis as it is likely that Donegal and Christopher's will be joint top with 14 points. Donegal just need to beat Cork who are out of it altogether. Most likely McAnespies will join the Shannon Blues to share third and fourth.

On the intermediate front we will probably have the Wolfe Tones, Kerry, the Gaels and Armagh-Notre Dame. Armagh-ND need to beat Mayo to ensure their place in the intermediate playoffs. Galway will be hoping for Mayo to make a face saving effort and then beat the Gaels themselves.

I'd be betting on a Wolfe Tones v Armagh-ND and Gaels v Kerry semi-finals pairing.

Sunday next features Galway and Tom's. A Galway win puts them into a playoff spot. Tom's need to win to force a playoff game with Galway for a semi-final place. Both teams have blown hot and cold, but if Tom's can find the resolve that they showed last Sunday Galway will be in for a difficult hour. Tom's have already beaten Galway, and Galway will need to tighten up their game in all areas in order for them to continue in the championship. Could be a good one next Sunday!

The Roscommon ladies pulled off a win last weekend and will again play the Shamrocks to see who advances to the ladies final where Tir na nOg await the winners.

Tables August 2

Kerry 0-13 Galway 0-13

There was some controversy at the end of the Kerry v Galway game as Kerry had nudged themselves into a 0-13 to 0-12 lead late in the game. With Galway leading by two points, Robbie Croft put three frees from off the ground over the bar. Trailing by a point, Galway were attacking with the last possession of the game and the referee awarded a free in for what seemed to be a fair shoulder by a Kerry defender, and Greg Rogan chipped the ball over for the leveling score with the final kick of the game.

Needless to say, that ended Kerry's outside shot at a playoff since the Kingdom can only finish with 9 points and a minimun of 10 is needed to have any chance. In fact, there could be playoffs with 4 teams on 12 points if the Blues, McAnespies, and Wolfe Tones all win their final games. Donegal are the only side that would avoid a playoff for sure if they beat Cork in their final game.

In senior hurling it looks like Tipp and Wexford are the most likely finalists, but Galway and Tom's could produce a surprise. Cork are out of it with their loss to Galway.

Tables

Donegal, Macs, and Christopher's looking good for senior playoffs. It looks like 12 points will be needed to ensure playoff spot. Shannon Blues and Wolfe Tones have to fight it out for the last place. Cork look like missing out entirely, while Mayo, Galway, Armagh-Notre Dame and the Gaels will duke it out for the last 2 intermediate playoff places. Kerry seem to be destined for the Inter semis.

Tipp put the Wexford hex past them last Saturday afternoon, and now top the senior hurling table. Galway were looking good, but their performance last Sunday was shaky while Tom's could make a late run at it. There is less between the teams in this year's senior hurling championship than in recent years. Stay tuned.

Tables July 19

Christopher's looked the most impressive of the senior football teams in action last weekend. Donegal and the Wolfe Tones each sputtered to victory, while Christopher's played some very good football to defeat the Gaels. In senior hurling Tipperary comfortably beat Cork, and it looks like it could be another Tipp versus Wexford final unless Galway can find a gear to pick up their performances a bit. (Reports below).

The Tir na nOg ladies senior footallers pretty much blew away Roscommon by a score of 7-18 to 0-3.

On the junior football front, McAnespies junior A side beat Cork well, and they sit jointly on top of the table with Cork and Donegal, while the Wolfe Tones are in fourth place.

The Tipp junior hurlers easily beat Galway, 1-14 to 1-4, and Wexford beat Tom's. Wexford and Tipp top the junior hurling table, with Tom's and Galway each still looking for a win.

July 12 Tables

Top 4 make the senior championship playoffs, 5-8 make the intermediate championship playoffs.

Tables July 5

Finally the weather has improved, and hopefully the fixtures that were postponed can be made up reasonable time (even though as I write this there are thunderstorms outside). The playoff spots have to be decided in the next 6 weeks.

Make up games aside, next Saturday sees 2 senior football championship games, Wolfe Tones play Armagh-Notre Dame, and Donegal play Kerry. It would take an upset of major proportions if we do not see the Tones and Donegal adding two more points each.

Sunday presents a more interesting encounter as Mayo and Cork meet. Can Cork pick themselves up after last weekend's defeat and salvage something from the season? Also, McAnespies and Shannon Blues meet in the 5:00 game. Macs will be favoured to win, but the Blues will give them a real test of where they stand and whether they can make it 5 championships in a row.

There are 2 senior hurling games on the card. Tom's play Wexford - Wexford will be comfortable favourites for that one. Cork and Galway also face off, I have not seen Galway play this year, but Cork could look at this as a chance to add to their victory over Tom's in their last game.

Tables - Weather Hitting Boston GAA Hard

Senior Hurling Championship

Ladies Senior Football Championship

With the weathermen talking of record numbers of days without sun, it's as if the current state of the economy is not enough to dampen spirits, but the weather is also piling on the misery. The GAA schedule has been hard hit. Two mid-week games had to be postponed, and over the weekend all of Saturday's games and some of Sunday's games also had to be postponed making a total of 6 games to make up. They could not even be rescheduled for this week, so poor are conditions still.

In any case, following the fixtures that were played on the senior front, the Wolfe Tones have started to make a move towards the upper end of the table, and it looks like the Donegal McAnespies showdown on July 26 will be eagerly anticipated with both teams on full points. Barring an upset between now and then, things could well remain that way. Christopher's will have a few games to test them later in the year when they face the Wolfe Tones and the Gaels, while the Gaels themselves will need to pick it up to avoid finding themselves looking at the Intermediate playoffs again. The Shannon Blues should also be in the mix for the senior playoffs as they played hard against Donegal, but could not convert chances often enough to worry the northerners. Let's hope that July and August bring some relief from the wet and cold and things can get back on track.

Full Schedule Played Sunday (despite the weather)

SENIOR FOOTBALL JUNE 21

In spite of the miserable weather there was a full schedule of games on Sunday. Regretfully I did not get to the Irish Cultural Center. I was looking forward to going and bringing the kids (honestly), and have a father’s day dinner of chicken fingers and curry fries (curry sauce and chips) after the games, but after a night of rain Saturday night and persistent drizzle that varied from light to heavy during the day Sunday, I decided that I could not subject the kids (or myself) to the miserable conditions and try to get it together in what would likely be a press box bursting with humanity. Also, I was not going to head off on my own, sans enfants, for several hours given that it was father’s day. Anyway, I missed all Sunday’s action so no reports, my apologies.

And while we’re on the weather, for those of us living in the Boston area, it has been absolutely miserable. So far it has been more like what we were used to at home in Ireland. In June it has rained for 15 out of 21 days. Great for making the grass green and the garden grow, but lousy for those of us who were looking forward to some good summer weather.

SENIOR HURLING JUNE 21

I did get most of the results. McAnespies junior footballers beat the New England Celtics by a point, 1-12 to 4-5. Macs were well ahead at half time but the Celtics hit with a few second half goals to come charging back, but Macs kept their noses in front. In senior football Shannon Blues beat Kerry, McAnespies beat Cork, and Donegal beat Wolfe Tones by a goal, 2-5 to 1-5.

In senior Hurling Tipperary made it 2 out of 2 with a 0-11 to 0-8 win in conditions that were less than ideal for hurling. Tipp led by 0-9 to 0-4 at half time, and in spite of managing just 2 second half points did enough to put themselves alone on top of the table.

Playoffs and Final Tables

With the win over Galway last Sunday, the Shannon Blues have earned the right to play McAnespies in the semi-final of the senior football championship next Sunday at 5:30. Donegal and the Wolfe Tones will meet earlier in the day at 2:30. Earlier in the season McAnespies were the hot favourites and looked unbeatable, however, a couple of losses in personnel for the Macs has opened the door for the other teams. The Wolfe Tones have a well rested squad of players and look like a solid outfit, while the Blues have been playing well at the right time of the year. Like McAnespies, Donegal have also suffered a loss in personnel, but Donegal have a good midfield and several nifty forwards that can cause headaches for any back line. While McAnespies are undefeated and going for their fourth Boston championship in a row, it is still not a done deal. No clear favourites this Sunday, but all year it has been looking like the Macs and Tones in an all Southie (Both teams are based in South Boston) final and I'd say both games Sunday will be theirs to lose.

In many ways Tipp are a surprise package to be at the top of the table, in particular since it seemed that it would be Galway or Wexford earlier in the year. Wexford go into the playoffs looking to defend a championship, but have not been playing well of late and will meet a very good Galway team. It would seem that unless Wexford can raise their game that it will be Galway and Tipp in the final Sunday week. Wexford and Galway will meet next Sunday at 4:00.

Tir na nOg make the final by virtue of some very good football, the ladies from Brighton have looked strong all year. Next Sunday the Shamrocks and Roscommon will meet in the semi final at 1:00. Roscommon have not looked sharp in recent outings. Sunday's semi-final should be interesting, the Shamrocks will be favoured to win but in recent years Roscommon have been known to turn it on at crunch time.

The full playoff schedule for next weekend is:

Semi Finals Schedule
Saturday August 16
Field A
2:30: Junior Hurling: Fr. Tom Burke’s v Galway/Wexford
4:00: Intermediate Football: Connemara Gaels v Galway
5:30: Intermediate Football: Kerry v Armagh-Notre Dame

Field B
3:00: Junior A Football: McAnespies v Kerry
4:30: Junior B Football: New England Celtics v Shannon Blues

Sunday August 17
Field A
11:30: Junior A Football: Donegal v Cork
1:00: Ladies Senior Football: Roscommon v Shamrocks
2:30: Senior Football: Donegal v Wolfe Tones
4:00: Senior Hurling: Wexford v Galway
5:30: Senior Football: McAnespies v Shannon Blues

Field B
1:30: Junior B Football: McAnespies v Mayo
3:00: Ladies Junior Football: Roscommon v Shamrocks

Weather forecast update:

Changed from earlier in the week to mixed sun and showers Saturday, with the possibility of scattered thunderstorms - so bring an umbrella.
(Press box passes available for a nominal fee on a first come first served basis).

Sunday is for sunny all day - so bring the kids.

Tables July 29

Tuesday evening (July 29) McAnespies defeated the Connemara Gaels by 1-17 to 0-14, which more or less ends the Gaels hopes of a senior playoff game. Sunday's game between Kerry and the Shannon Blues could well decide the fate of each team, with the winner having the best chance of the fourth senior semi-final berth. Also, with Christopher's managing a draw with Armagh-Notre Dame last Saturday, it looks as if the 3 teams that will will miss out on the intermediate playoffs are Christopher's, Mayo, and Cork - unless the Blues lose their last 2 games against Kerry and Galway, and Christopher's win their final game versus Kerry....you'd never know what might happen.

With Tom's now out all that remains to be decided, next Sunday, is whether it will be Tipp or Wexford getting the extra weekend off and automatically making the final.