8/3/2024 – Junior C Football Final – Trinity Milton vs Worcester Fenians

 

By Neil McEnaney

 

Full Time Score

Trinity Milton: 3-21

Worcester Fenians: 1-8

 

A solid display of football from the young Trinity Milton side saw them as comfortable winners in the Junior C football final. Worcester, to their credit kept fighting but ran out of steam with a lot of their players togging out for the Junior C Hurling Final earlier in the day.

 

It was Worcester who started the brighter with a lovely point from Mike Begley. Trinity weren’t long responding when Liam Faherty forced a turnover leading to a Patrick Heffernan point. The opening quarter continued in this fashion with both teams going point for point. A torn hamstring ended the day early for Eoin Faherty of Trinity. We wish him a speedy recovery.

 

An excellent free kick from the deck from Begley from outside the 45 sailed over the bar to put Worcester ahead by a point. From the resulting kickout, Trinity moved the ball quickly up the field with some excellent play involving Colm Faherty who fisted it through to Declan Walsh who buried it from close range for the games first goal.

 

From here, the momentum started to shift in Trinity’s favor. Brian Kelly rolled back the years with a bomb of a point off his favored left while Liam Faherty and Aidan Rowley started winning ball around the middle third for Trinity.

 

Worcester were able to move the ball quickly up the field through the kick passing of Gareth McAlindon and strong, consistant running of Dylan Walsh. Unfortunately for Worcester, when they got into the final third, Joe Pender was on hand to turn over close to every ball that was near him. A second goal for Walsh before the stroke of half time gave Trinity a sizeable lead.

 

Half Time Score

Trinity Milton: 2-9

Worcester Fenians: 0-5

 

Trinity started the second half as they finished the first with Aidan Rowley going on a mazy run before finishing with a nice point. Begley and Heffernan added points for Worcester which kept their hopes alive but the fitness and running power of Trinity Milton saw them get a stranglehold on the game.  

 

Gareth McAlindon found Cormac Hughes with a long ball who turned and buried it in the Trinity net for a Worcester goal. Rowley was accurate from the frees and from play for Trinity while Colm Faherty wasn’t long adding another goal after a great solo run.

 

Congratulations to Trinity who saw out the game as deserved winners of the 2024 Boston Junior C Championship. Commiserations to Worcester Fenians who will no doubt be back again stronger next year.

 

Teams

Trinity Milton: Charlie Thomlinson, Matty McDevitt, Joe Pender, Kelly McKenzie, Aidan Skillen, Luke Sammon, Liam Faherty, Eoin Faherty, Aidan Rowley, Colm Faherty, Daragh Jordan, Declan Walsh, Brian Walsh

 

Worcester Fenians: Larry Carthy, Gareth McAlinden, Zack Podedworney, Andrew Engel, Dylan Walsh, Patrick Sullivan, Shane Sullivan, Kevin McKane, Mike Begley, Patrick Hefferman, Ryan Hayman, Eoghan Gallagher, Vincent Prendergast

 

Man of the Match: Joe Pender

 

Referee: Diarmuid Boylan

Sat Aug 17 - Junior B Hurling FInal: Worcester v NH Wolves

New Hampshire Wolves 2-8 Worcester 3-10

Worcester Fenians captured the first Junior B Hurling championship in the Northeast division after a hard hitting, exciting game against old rivals, the New Hampshire Wolves.  Worcester got some great performances from several of their number, none more so than center forward, Conor Greene.  Greene accounted for all 3 goals and a number of well taken points to steer his side to the win.

Captains Seamus O'Shaughnessy and Dave Crowley accept

the Cup from Peter Murray.

Worcester got off to a great start with a goal from center forward Conor Greene.  Greene’s shot on the turn looped over Wolves keeper, Steve Desjarlais, and into the corner of the net.  Worcester followed with a point to hold a 4 point lead early on.  It was Sean Naughton who got the New Hampshire side off the mark with two points, one from a free and it was uncompromising stuff as each side threw themselves into the fray with total commitment.  The challenges were heavy with few 50/50 balls easily won.

The Wolves were in the lead after Will Mullen netted.  The corner forward’s initial shot hit the post but the rebound was put away to the cheers of the numerous supporters who traveled from Concord, NH.  Liam Kelly restored parity with a well taken point and the writing was on the wall for a close game.  In the run up to half time the Wolves established a two point cushion, outscoring their opponents 4 points to two with some well taken scores from each side.

The second half saw the boys from Massachusetts drop two goals into the net, both from Conor Greene long range frees that dropped just below the crossbar and the ball found its way through the forest of sticks and into the net. The two goals were the difference between the teams as Worcester had pointed 3 times on one for New Hampshire.  

Worcester win the first Junior B Cup in the Northeast Division.

With the game going back and forth the Wolves needed a goal to get back into it, and at one stage a Sam Durfee shot hit the crossbar.  Worcester defended well with the Wolves pushing, Timmy Jackson cleared well on a couple of occasions and Dave Crowley in the middle of the field kept the ball moving.  The Wolves had their chances, but with Sean O’Shaughnessy standing tall in defence the Wolves were going to have a tall order to breach the ramparts.  Worcester held firm and kept the door closed for the remainder of the game to end up 5 point winners and will represent the division in Leesburg, Virginia next weekend at the USGAA Finals.

Wolves:  Steve Desjarlais, Alec Foley, Dan Hanna, Torrie Lemmon, Ryan Nickerson, Justin Stasz, Sam Durfee, Jay Abramowicz, Tanner Starmer, Sean Naughton, Mark Misiarski, Jason Burpee, Chris Rougeaut.

Worcester:  Dan Smith, Luke Lagorce, Timmy Jackson, Dan Williams, Sean O’Shaughnessy, Seamus O’Shaughnessy, Dave Crowley, Nate Crowley, Tom Lind, Conor Greene, Zack Jacobs, Liam Kelly, PJ Heffernan.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sat June 22 - Junior C Hurling: NH Wolves v Worcester

It was a road trip I’ve been meaning to make the last few seasons, and eventually today I made it.  Up to New Hampshire to see the New Hampshire Wolves take on the Worcester Fenians in an acute hurling rivalry that is growing here in the Northeast Division.   Google maps told me 1 hour and 35 minutes, so I gave myself 2.  Traffic in and out of Boston being what it is, a stop for gas and Dunkin Donuts, along with roadworks and rubberneckers for an fender bender on the other side of 93, meant that I arrived at Amoskeag Field in Bow New Hampshire with about 10 minutes left in the first half.  The field is tucked away right off Interstate 93, a direct run North of Boston.

There was a nice crowd of supporters for each side.  The game was fairly evenly contested, each team had their fair share of wides but at the end of the first 30 minutes the visitors from Massachusetts fired 3 points over the bar.  Tom Lind, who was a force at center forward for Worcester, Liam Kelly at corner forward and wing back Tim Jackson.  P.J. Heffernan, who was locked in a tussle with Wolves corner back, Alec Foley, had netted earlier.  At the half time break it was a 1-5 to 0-3 lead for Worcester.

The second half saw the visitors strike with another goal, this one from Zach Jacobs.  It was a blow for the Wolves who would have hoped for the early scores after the restart, especially after Sean Naughton had pointed well from distance to get things going again.  Lind, who was causing a lot of problems for the Wolves, followed with a point and Worcester held a decided advantage with scores proving hard to come by.

There was a glimmer of hope for the Granite State side after 3 unanswered scores pulled them within a goal and plenty of time left.  Naughton netted expertly after Will Mullen had pointed, and the Wolves midfielder added another point.  The Wolves created some great chances, with some missing the mark and others saved well by Dan Smith between the posts.  With the game now finely balanced it was Worcester who finished with the decisive scores.  Wolves keeper, Steve Dejalais had been called upon to save a couple of dangerous chances, but eventually one went in from Lind.  It was from Heffernan with the final point and a final score of the game with Worcester drawing first blood in 2019 with a  3-7 to 1-7 win.

The game was well refereed by Paul Cannon, a former United States Marine from Craughwell Co. Galway, who now resides in Boston.

After the game the teams retired to the Wolves Sponsor, Lithermans Limited, a nearby nano-brewery, who even created a specialized brew with the Wolves crest on the can.

Teams

Worcester: Dan Smith, Dan Williams, Luke LaGosce, Jamison Croteau, Sean O’Shaughnessy, Tim Jackson, Jon Dorr, Dave Crowley, Zach Jacobs, Tom Lind, Seamus O’Shaughnessy, Liam Kelly, PJ Heffernan.  Jack Weissman.

Wolves: Steve Desjarlais, Alec Foley, Juston Stasz, Torrie Lemmon, Ryan Nickerson, Mike Spacone, Jay Abramowicz, Sam Durfee, Mark Misiourski, Sean Naughton, Tanner Starmer, Scott Lentz, Dan Hanna.  Dean Williams, Will Mullen, Cory Anderson, Jamie Timlin, Dave Cook, Phil Falco, Chris Fiori.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sat Aug 25 - Junior C Hurling Final: NH Wolves v Worcester Fenians

Worcester Fenians 2-9 NH Wolves 2-11

The Junior C Hurling final came as advertised, with hardly a puck of a ball between the teams.  There was a healthy contingent of supporters who came to the Irish Cultural Center, Canton Mass. from Worcester and Concord NH to cheer on their teams.  There was some excellent hurling and great scores – and saves.  It was a testament to how far these clubs have come since forming 10 short years ago.  It could have gone to either team, and in the end it was the New Hampshire side who came out winners.

The New Hampshirites Celebrate the Championship Victory.

The first half was as tight as can be with just a point separating the teams at the break.  The Wolves had the better of things in the early going, but missed several opportunities to point.  A goal from Pat Naughton maintained the Granite State boys advantage for the half.  After Mikhael Gregoire pointed, a hopeful long, high ball from Naughton sailed into the back of the net.  Mike Durfee followed with another point and the Wolves had a three point lead.  Worcester then came into the game.

The men from western Mass. outscored their opponents 5 points to 3 in the approach to half time.  Connor Green put some excellent scores over, one from a very tight angle after Worcester had almost netted.   Tom Lind also pointed from distance as the Worcester side had a slight edge and were hurling well.  Steve Desjarlais was very busy in goal for the Wolves and held his nerve well under many high balls, and delivered several lengthy clearances.  At corner back Alec Foley also did well to keep Worcester at bay and cope with the pressure.

Worcester got off to a great restart with a superb goal from Greene.  PJ Heffernan found Greene with a high cross field ball and Greene fetched and finished expertly into the far corner.  The goal put Worcester up a point, but the Wolves came right back.  Pat Naughton leveled the scores with a point, and then rifled the ball into the corner with a pull off the ground shortly afterwards.  Naughton at center forward was a force for the Wolves in the second half.  The teams traded scores with Worcester needing to catch up as the game entered the final quarter.

Zack Jacobs who entered as a sub for Worcester made an impact, pointing after entering play and driving his side forward, along with Dave Crowley who tried to find a way through the Wolves defence.  The Wolves held a 4 point lead, which seems huge in such a tight game, but Seamus O’Shaughnessy netted for Worcester and just like that it was a point in it with the clock winding down.  Jason Burpee got the insurance point after cutting in from the corner, and his goalbound shot was excellently saved by Mike Dufault and went over for a point.  Burpee had to leave the field following a heavy challenge after the shot for which Seamus O’Shaughnessy was sent off.

The Wolves held on to win It and in the end probably just about deserved to.  A great victory for the New Hampshire team, and on the Philly next weekend!

Fenians:  Mike Dufault, Dan Smith, Tim Jackson, Joe Nett, Liam Kelly, Jason Cretais, Sean O’Shaughnessy, Jeremy, Seamus O’Shaughnessy, Tom Lind, Connor Green, Dave Crowley, PJ Heffernan.

Wolves:  Steve Desjarlais, Alec Foley, Dean Williams, Torrie Lemon, Ryan Nickerson, Jason Stasz, Sean Naughton, Dan Hanna, Will Mullen, Pat Naughton, Sam Durfee, Mikhael Gregoire, Jason Burpee.

By Rory O'Donnell