6/23/2024 - Senior Hurling - Galway vs Fr Tom's

 Senior Hurling – Galway vs Fr Tom’s

 

By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score:

Galway: 3-23

Fr Tom’s: 2-15

 

Galway got the win a few weeks back and were hoping to make it two from two in this best of five series. Some great hurling by Galway and a strong performance from Aaron Myers at center forward proved to be the difference for the Connacht men.

 

It was Myers who opened the scoring after a strong run and tidy finish. The game was then stopped after a tangle caused Darren Morrissey to pick up a bad shoulder injury. Darren was rushed to the ER. Sources tell me he dislocated his shoulder and we wish him a speedy recovery.

 

The bad injury did nothing to the psyche of the Galway players as they rushed to 1-2 to 0-0 scoreline. Niall Collins capitalized on a turnover to blast the ball into the roof of the Toms net. Fr Toms weren’t long responding with Darragh Flynn scoring a point from a free before Luke Kavanagh broke through from center back on a solo run to score a goal of his own to bring the sides within a point of each other. The skillful Ciarmhac Smyth followed up with a nice point to level the game.

 

Galway started to get a foothold on the game and moved the ball quickly around the middle to create space. They tackled ferociously across the pitch forcing turnovers which they capitalized on to stretch out their lead coming into half time. It could have arguably been more but for a few shots that were just wide of the target.

 

Half Time Score:

Galway: 1-13

Fr Tom’s: 1-6

 

At the start of the second half, Fr Toms started to edge their way back into the game with Darragh Flynn proving to be accurate from the frees and Zak Firman taking on his man and scoring a nice point. Just when they were starting to get a foothold in the game, a second yellow card equaled a red for Luke Kavanagh from the Toms and they were down to 12 men.

 

Galway started using the extra man to their advantage straight away moving the ball quickly and effectively across the middle third. The goal of the game came from the substitute for Galway, Liam Collins. He took on his man with a solo run, flicked it over the defender before finishing with his hurl just before the onrushing Toms keeper got to him.

 

Tom’s had their own chances at goal but an incredible top corner bound reaction save by Darach Fahy in nets denied Chris Nolan a certain goal. At times Fahy proved unbeatable in nets showing great athleticism and reflexes to keep the Toms attack out. At the other end, Billy Power found Myers in space who rounded the keeper and blasted it into the net.

 

Toms kept fighting until the end even with the man down with Cian Folan coming from the bench to kick the ball past Fahy inn nets for a goal.

 

Galway finished comfortable winners in this one and will look to finish the championship in their next outing against Fr Toms on Sunday July 7^th.

 

Man of the Match: Aaron Myers

 

Referee: Ciaran O’Donovan

 

Teams and Scorers:

Galway: Darach Fahy, Darren Morrissey, Ian Fox, Tiernan Killeen (0-3), Cianan Fahy, Eoin Morrissey (0-1), Ronan Glennon (0-3), Alex Connaire (0-1), Sean Walsh (0-2), Aaron Myers (1-8), Brian Cahill (0-1), Billy Power (0-2), Niall Collins (1-0)

Subs: Liam Collins (1-0)

 

Fr Tom’s: Kevin Flynn, Ciarmhac Smyth (0-1), Evan Conolly, Brian Troy, Eoin Lawless, Luke Kavanagh (1-0), Fiachra Fitz, John O’Riordan, Aidan O’Malley (0-2), Luke Elliot, Darragh Flynn (0-6), Chris Nolan (0-1), Zak Firman (0-3)

Subs: Cian Folan (1-0)

June 23 - Senior Football: Aidan McAnespies v Wolfe Tones

Wolfe Tones 0-17 Aidan McAnespies 0-12

Each of these South Boston based teams were in search of their second win of the season, which added to the intensity and excitement of the encounter.  It was the Tones who came out on top and deservedly so.  A performance that was full of heart and determination, and a back line that closed down the spaces for the speedy McAnespies corner forwards were the keys to a big win for the Blue side of Southie.

John Comerford and Stephen Sherry contest

The Tones were full of purpose right from the throw in.  With 20 minutes gone the blue team held a three point lead.  Attacking from the back line, the Tones converted possession into six points.  Thomas Moolick got the ball rolling in the first minute, and was followed by Danny Egan, Charles McCarthy, Jason Hickson and Gary Brilly as once again all the Tones forwards showed they are capable of putting the ball between the posts.  McAnespies found their way back into the game eventually.  Luke Kelly at center forward and both corner forwards Jamie Doolan and Francis Burke started to motor.  Kelly at center forward looked to be a key addition to the McAnespies team, and when on the ball the man from Clara county Offaly looked strong.  Each player pointed to level the scores coming up to the break.

Kian Cleere with Luke Kelly in pursuit.

The second half began with the teams tied at seven points each.  There were changes made early on both sides, some by necessity and some by choice.  The Tones continued to attack from the half back line and strung together six points to one for McAnespies in a strong opening.  Marty Farrell accounted for three points, Egan, Hickson and Martin Kelly the others.  Now behind by five points. McAnespies had to find some kind of answer and introduced Cian McEnroe to the fray.  The change began to pay dividends as Francis Burke and substitute Cathal O'Neill reduced the gap to three with 3 minutes left.  It looked like there would be a grandstand finish after Mark Treanor made it a two point game with a few minutes to go, but it was the Tones with the strong finish as the crucial breaking balls were won by blue shirts.  With a three point finish the Tones pull off a huge win for the club to get their second win of the season.

Tones:  C. Hynes, K. Cleere, S. O'Hagan, S. Higgins, J. Hickson (0-3), J. Gonoud, T. Moolick (0-3) J. Comerford (0-1), M. Farrell (0-1), G. Brilly (0-1), D. Egan (0-2) C. McCarthy (0-1) C. Joyce-Power.  Sub:  M. Kelly (0-1).  Macs: P. Coakley, N. McGovern (0-1), E. Delmar, N. Gallen, G. O'Neill, E. Rigney, D. McKenna, S. Sherry, M. Treanor (0-3), L. Kelly (0-2), C. Tobin, J. Doolan (0-2) , F. Burke (0-3).

By Rory O'Donnell 

Aidan McAnespies Win Third NACB Senior Football Title

Final: Aidan McAnespies 1-14 Parnells Chicago 1-7


Aidan McAnespies brought a full squad of players to contest the senior football championship and were the talk of the finals. Sean Treacys provided the opposition for the semi-final and the reigning NACB champions went into the game with high hopes of retaining their title. McAnespies had to work hard to dispel those hopes, especially in the first half. Treacy’s went into an early three points to one lead, and the stiff breeze forced McAnespies into a short passing game to work the ball into scoring post. The Boston side eventually figured out the formula and started to put some scores over the bar. Plunkett Kane showed the way and accounted for three points, while Paul O’Donoghue, Gareth O’Neill, and Sean Cournane scored one each to put McAnespies into a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at the break. The second half proved easier as Treacy’s began to tire. In fact Treacy’s were limited to two points in the second half, while McAnespies netted three times; Kane, O’Donoghue, and O’Neill were the goal scorers. McAnespies had every reason to be confident going into Sunday’s final against Parnells Chicago.

Plunkett Kane in action in Saturday's Semi-Final.

Parnells made the Boston side work for the victory in the final. The Chicago team swarmed defence in an effort thwart the vaunted McAnespies forward line, and when in attack looked dangerous. It was a tight first half. McAnespies tried to get their running game going and Colm McCrory was instrumental in the effort. The Monaghan man tried to open up the Parnells defence with his trademark running and accounted for two points. Parnells took the game to McAnespies however, and caused a lot of problems for the back line. With 20 minutes gone it was four points each. Points from Eoin Keating and Paul Carey kept the Chicago side on level terms. Sean Cournane and Plunkett Kane also pointed for McAnespies, while corner forwards Paul O’Donoghue and Cournane had a tough time of it with the conditions and crowded Parnells defence. McAnespies also suffered a setback when Ryan McCloskey had to leave the action due to a leg injury and was replaced by Rory Bracken, who in turn experienced a recurrence of his shoulder injury and also had to be taken from the field. Kane and Sean Cournane pointed late in the first half to put McAnespies two points ahead at the break, 0-6 to 0-4.

Niall Kerr lifts the NACB Trophy.

McAnespies were forced to defend early in the second half as Parnells kept the pace up. The shooting from the Chicago side was wayward however and McAnespies were let off the hook with four wides. Philip Toner and Colm McCrory added a point each to the McAnespies lead, and McAnespies had the ball in the net at one stage, but the referee had blown for a penalty. O’Donoghue took it and John Rafter pulled off a fine save for Parnells to put the ball out for a 45. O’Donoghue made amends somewhat and put the ensuing kick over the bar to make it 0-4 to 0-9 with just over 15 minutes left. Things began to get a little dirty as challenges got heavy and Parnells grew a little desperate. Little added a point for McAnespies, but the Boston side almost conceded a goal but a high ball into the box came off the crossbar. The game was still very much up for the taking. Chicago made a push for a goal in the final 10 minutes and it was backs to the wall for McAnespies for a while. Parnells tagged two points, one from Cunningham and another from Carey. With 5 points in the game McAnespies started to live dangerously. Parnells needed a goal and went for it, hitting the post. With five minutes to go McAnespies led by six. Hughes made it seven as the clock ticked away. Parnells netted a late goal as full time approached to reduce the deficit to five points but back came McAnespies with a classic goal from Plunkett Kane to more or less put the issue to rest. The move began with Little and involved Toner before all Kane had to do was finish into the empty net. It was a hard earned third NACB senior football championship for McAnespies but a wholly deserved one.  McAnespies went unbeaten for the season at senior level, winning all 10 Boston Championship games and both NACB games.  


Macs: C. Kendrick, N. Gallen, R. McCloskey, S. Hughes, N. Kerr, G. O’Neill, P. Kane, C. McCrory, P. Toner, P. O’Donoghue, M. Little, S. Cournane, B.Curran, R. Bracken, M. Bogue, W. Carroll,R. McCrystal. Parnells: J. Rafter, J. Hegarty, S. Gallen, D. Givney, E. Keating, S.Prendergast, W. Sherlocl, J. Cunningham, R. Werity, S. Donaghue, R. Doherty, P. Carey.


By Rory O'Donnell