6/9/2024 - Junior B Hurling - Sean Ogs vs Worcester Fenians

By Neil McEnaney

Full Time Score: 

Sean Ogs 1-11 

Worcester 2-3

A miserable rainy day didn’t get in the way of a great game of hurling between Sean Ogs and Worcester today. The last time these sides met, Worcester ran out comfortable winners. Today it went the other way, with Sean Ogs having a full squad of men and playing some great hurling. Worcester were down a few men, most notably Jimmy Rigney, who’s wife recently had a baby girl! Congrats, but in the words of Roy Keane: ‘It wasn’t him who had the baby!’

 

Sean Ogs started the strongest and quickly raced to a 6 point lead with Brian Cahill taking a couple of nice points. Worcester had a number of goal chances that they just couldn’t get over the line. It was a first half played in tough conditions that led to both defences being on top. Simon Sinnot led the way for the Worcester defence while Michael Scully did likewise for Sean Ogs.

 

Worcester got into their scoring rhythm before half time, putting 3 points on the board to shorten the gap.

 

Half Time Score: Sean Ogs 0-7 Worcester 0-3

 

The second half started with a great point from a free taken by Daithi Howard from a tight angle on the right. A long ball into the Sean Ogs goal mouth found its way to Sean Sullivan who made no mistake from close range burying the goal. Sean Ogs responded immediately with a well taken free from Howard before they were denied a goal of their own by the post!

 

A long ball pucked in by Sinnot found it’s way to the full forward Tom Laul who scored a great goal from close range! All square! Sean Ogs 0-9 Worcester 2-3.

 

With 15minutes to go, Sean Ogs couldn’t have had a better response. A long ball pucked into Daithi Howard who buried it into the bottom corner of the net. Sean Ogs then went on to add a few insurance points from Brian Cahill and Declan Shea to see out the game.

 

Full Time Score: Sean Ogs 1-11 Worcester 2-3

 

Man of the Match: Brian Cahill

 

Teams:

Sean Ogs: Colm O’Malley, Aidan Flanagan, John O’Riordan, Jack Kelly, John Longworth, Michael Scully, Brian Cahill, Niall O’Malley, Sean McCarthy, Declan Shea, Liam O’Driscoll, Daithi Howard, Ciaran Flanagan

Subs: Conor Kelly, Robert Murphy, Conor Smith, Eoin Faherty, Brendan Smith

 

Worcester: Dan Smith, Dan Williams, Mark Leporte, Zach Podedworng, Simon Sinnot, Jack Green, Patrick Heffernan, Patrick Sullivan, Sean Sullivan, Sean O’Shaughnessy, Joe Wall, Tom Laul, Brendan Reed

Subs: Dylan Walsh, Brendan Hehir, Pat Murray, Matt Dufrane

Pat O'Brien Cup - First Round

Donegal 0-10 Connemara Gaels 0-10

An entertaining, testy affair got Donegal and the Gaels off to their 2018 season start.  Things got a little tense in the final 15 minutes as the game was on the line, Hugh Devine was issued a black card for a challenge on Coleman Mulkerrins, and a scuffle followed.  At the time the Gaels led 0-9 to 0-8 after erasing a four point deficit.  With the game on the line it was Hugh Yank Boyle who rescued a point for Donegal after moving from goalkeeper to outfield in the second half.  



Ryan Caffrey on the attack for the Gaels

It was the Gaels who sprung out to an early lead.  Ryan Caffrey and Mulkerrins with 3 scores between them to one for Donegal.  The northerners played some quick passing, running football for the remainder of the half, however.  There was plenty of productive running from Lee Carr, Sean Donnelly, and Neil McEneaney.  Brian Donnelly was holding midfield well, and Neil McEneany surged forward on occasion, one foray resulting in a point.  Conversions also came from Carr, Darren Doherty, and the wily Christy McLaughlin.  At the break it was Donegal ahead by 2, 0-6 to 0-4.

The second half saw switches from each side, some forced due to injuries.  The Gaels’ Caffrey had to leave the foray with an ankle injury and McEneaney suffered a head wound and had to withdraw from play.  After Donegal had extended the lead by 2 more points after the restart, the Gaels replied with endeavor, and had overturned the deficit by the time we were at the mid-way point.  Noel Graham took up a forward position and proved to be an effective target for the most part.  The tension built in the run in, with McLaughlin leveling before Graham put the Gaels up one with full time almost up.  Yank Boyle saved the day for Donegal with the equalizing point to send the teams back to the dressing rooms, each with a share of the spoils.

Shannon Blues 4-14 Cork 0-7

The Shannon Blues will have been well pleased with their first outing of the season, Cork a little less so.   The rebels played well at times, but missed plenty of chances to keep the Blues in sight.  At the break it was an 11 point Blues lead and the second half was a matter of each side trying to get what they could out of this “preseason” game.

Cork's Colm Caffrey

The Blues looked the sharper side from the off, Mike Ralston showing some stuff from the glory days in the early going with a couple of well converted points from play.  Denis McElligott found Ralston for an early goal, and writing was on the wall for what was to come.  Cork generated some good opportunites that drifted wide of the posts, but with the Blues defenders awake and alert it was difficult for Cork to make a dent.  Scores eventually did come, Ian Caffrey and Conor Jenkins converted, but the Blues then struck with a second goal to deflate Cork hopes of making inroads into the 5 point gap.  Darren Wallace came into the game more, and there were some very well worked scores for Jack Kenny and Maurice Young to pop over.

Brian Donnelly in possession for Donegal.

Ian Caffrey opened the second half scoring with a point for Cork, but the Blues continued to dominate the second half and netted two more goals.  Several switches were made to give a run to the players on the line, and the Blues had disappeared out of Cork’s view, over the horizon. Cork battled on, however, with some dogged displays from Jack Lynch and Steven Lambert, and two late points from Colm Caffrey frees topped off Cork’s tally.  An easy win for the Blues, Cork might have deserved more from the game.

Worcester Camogie Club

Camogie is coming back to the New England region with the Worcester Fenians camogie club.  Practices are from 5-7 PM at 28 Sherwood Ave, Shrewsbury Ma. All experience levels are welcome to join.  There are players traveling from Boston, so there may be an option to share rides.  For more information you can find Worcester Fenians on Facebook or Instagram, or email contactworcesterhurling@gmail.com.  

All American Teams v New York

The Boston Northeast division is sending 2 All American Teams to play New York development squad teams next weekend.  The games are part of the celebrations around the New York v Leitrim Connacht Championship match.  The hurlers play at 10:15 and the footballers at 11:45 at Gaelic Park in the Bronx.

Schedule May 5

Irish Cultural Center, Canton Ma.

3:00 Galway v Donegal

4:15 Aidan McAnespies v Cork

5:30 Connemara Gaels v Wolfe Tones

Junior C Hurling Final - Barley House Wolves v Worcester

Worcester v Barley House Wolves

There was no separating these teams when they met earlier in the year, and for most of this final it looked like it was heading towards another draw. But three goals in the second half lifted Worcester to victory, and their captain Liam Kelly lifted the cup on a 3-06 to 0-08 scoreline. 

Worcester Captain Liam Kelly raises the junior C hurling cup.

The Barley House Wolves, from Concord NH, opened the scoring in the day’s first match through a Sean Naughton free. The Wolves were the more physical side in the first half and Michael Gregoire stretched to the max on more than one occasion for a diving block. 

Naughton would add two more frees before the halftime whistle and Barley House led 0-05 to 0-02 at the break. It could have been more if not for a brilliant Mike Default save that denied Barley House’s John Mullen at close range. Worcester’s points came from a C. Kenny free and a fine effort from Liam Kelly on the run. 

Worcester’s Seamus O’Shaughnessy scored the first point of the second half and it was the score of the day. The center forward plucked a sideline cut out of the air and fired a curling point over his left shoulder to get his side moving. Pat Naughton answered with a point for Barley House to keep them in the lead, but the match flipped on its head shortly after. 

Worcester’s corner forward was dragged down inside the box, and C. Kenny stepped up to the spot and blasted home to draw his side level at 0-06 to 1-03. Minutes later Worcester added another as Liam Kelly caught a long ball in and finished to the back of the net with his marker hanging off him. 

Pat Naughton answered with a point for Barley, and both sides ramped up the ante in the game’s closing minutes. A thunderbolt of a shoulder from one of the Western MA men left a Wolf lying in the grass, and Worcester put the finishing touches on their championship with another goal from captain Liam Kelly. 

Teams:

Worcester: M. Dufault, D. Smith, K. Moriarty, J. Alef, C. Kenny, J. Croleau, S. O’Shaughnessy, D. Cawsely, L. Kelly, S. O’Shaughnessy, J. King, Z. Jack, P. Heffernan

Barley House: A. Foley, D. Williams, J. Stasz, R. Nickerson, M. Gregoire, T. Lennon, S. Naughton, S. Dejarlias, M. Mizorski, P. Naughton, S. Durfee, D. Polowski, J. Mullen

By Mark Dunphy

Boston Northeast GAA Finals Next Sunday

Sunday August 20 - Irish Cultural Center, Canton Mass.

4:00 Senior Football Final – Shannon Blues v Aidan McAnespies

McAnespies have made it this far against the odds - can they take the final step?

So, we are down to the last two teams standing after a very close run senior football championship.  Starting with the Shannon Blues.  The Blues have at times looked unstoppable this year, and at other times disjointed and perhaps a little uninterested.  Most of these players have played together over the last several years in Boston, and know each other’s style and tendencies.  The Blues can play physical and can play fast.  All positions on the field are more than adequately covered with the starting 13.  With the diamond of Barry Hartnett, Wayne Guthrie, Brian O’Seanachain, and Darren Wallace, the Blues are sure to win plenty of possession around the middle of the field.   Kieran Hurley and Josh Ryan can convert in the full forward line, while Greg Horan and Lee O’Donoghue can take the scores from farther out the field.  Brian “Biscuits” Kennedy has taken the Blues to the promised land before and the team is on a 4 game winning streak.  The Blues beat McAnespies earlier this year, however, this will be a different game. 

McAnespies made it to the playoffs as the sixth team in the door, and have made the final the hard way.  An extra time game against the Connemara Gaels, and a physical battle with Donegal have been character forming and in these games, the team has shown considerable mental resolve.  One thing McAnespies can do, and do it very well, is defend.  A strategy of getting behind the ball and forcing turnovers or poor percentage shots has worked the last 3 games.  Players such as Robbie Croft have been in an unfamiliar role deep inside their own defence, but have adapted well to winning possession and keeping it.  What McAnespies will be missing is Brian Breslin, who will be suspended for the final following last Sunday’s red card.  However, Marty Mongan has proven to be a goal threat on the edge of the square, and with points engineered by the running of Ferghal McGeough, Michael Walsh, and Niall Rooney, and the leadership of Danny McBride, McAnespies have found a way to make it work. 

The Blues will be the favourites in this one, however, we have learned not to write McAnespies off.  If it still close coming into the final 15 minutes be prepared for anything.

Junior A Football

1:00 Cork v Shannon Blues

Shannon Blues Juniors take the field for a final for the first time since 1999.

Cork have made the junior A football for the first time since 2014.  The rebels scraped through against the Connemara Gaels in the semi-final last week, but for the reprieve of an injury time penalty, Cork could have been on the outside looking in.  Cork showed resolve in reining in a wide Gaels lead, and the experience of that should stand to them in the final.  Cork’s talisman is their all-rounder, Cathail Arnold.  Arnold is the go to guy when the chips are down.  The Mourne man makes a difference whether playing in the middle of the field or in a more forward position, and close to goal the alarm bells ring when he has the ball in hand.  Paudi O’Shea is another dangerman.  O’Shea usually plays at corner forward and knows the way to goal, whether from play or frees.  In the middle of the field Jack Lynch has developed into a strong player.  Lynch has been an underage talent to keep an eye on over the years, and now is starting to deliver on that potential.  At the back club stalwarts Seamus Loftus, Colm Caffrey, and Darren O’Donovan will be tasked with holding the fort in the face of a determined Blues challenge, and will be looking to keep the goals out as this has been their Achilles heel recently.

The Blues have not been here in almost 20 years and now is a chance for dedicated clubmen and local youth products such as Pat Murray, Conor Fitzgerald, and Maurice Young to take the field in the biggest game of the season.  The Blues have a team that can play some nice football.  Mike Moriarty is steady in goal, and the experience of Shane Kelly, Derek O’Brien, Pat Moriarty, Conor Mullen and Mike Ralston will stand to the Blues in the heat of a final.  Combined with the talented Shane Connaughton (nephew of Bernie), and up front, Jack Goulding, the Blues make a strong case to claim the Pat Callaghan Cup.  Last week’s semi-final saw the Blues dethrone a good Donegal team with room to spare.  This game could go down to the wire.

Junior A Hurling Final

2:30 Tipperary v Offaly

Tipperary won the Sheehan Cup in June - can they add the junior championship on Sunday? 

Offaly beat Tom’s out to make it to the final to face Tipperary next Sunday.  The semi-final went to extra time, and with an extra man Offaly eased through in the additional period.  Jimmy Rigney is the first player that comes to mind when thinking of Offaly.  Rigney has the experience and know how, as well as a deft touch that can make all the difference.  Offaly’s half back Iine did well in the semi-final with Rian Dempsey, Jack Murray, and Adrian Cleary the starting point for Offaly attacks.  Along with a solid goalkeeper in Gary Sherlock and Stephen Brown at the other end capable of putting up more than a few scores, Offaly will be hoping to give Tipperary a rattle.

For their part the Premier County boys have been just that all season – the Premier Team.  Tipp have won every game by double digits.  Offaly managed to keep them to 10 points earlier in the year, and that is as close as anyone has got.  Whether Tipp will be held remains to be seen.  Tipp have a handful of seasoned campaigners at the senior level in Sean Delaney, Sean McGarr, and Cronan Dempsey.   Their major strength is at the corner forward positions with Russell Quirke and Sean Stafford liable to rack up the scores and put the game out of sight within a short period.  Along with Pat Moriarty, Kieran Lowrey and captain, Jimmy Maher, at center forward, Tipperary will be confident that Sunday will deliver the junior A championship.  Few would predict that it will turn out otherwise, but, stranger things have happened.

Junior C Hurling Championship Final

Barley House Wolves and Worcester will meet for the 2017 Junior C Hurling title at stake.

The junior C hurlers from Worcester and Concord NH will be on the main field Sunday to battle for the Northeast championship.  The Barley House Wolves from Concord finished top of the table, and Worcester close behind with 2 less points.  Their encounter during the season finished in a tie, so all signs point to a close game between these two teams.  Each side contains plenty of talent, and at this stage, plenty of stalwarts for their club’s cause.  Expect some fireworks from this one, the Sean Naughton, Dan Hannah, Alec Foley, Michael Gregoire and Co will be eager to defend the title they won last season and make it two in a row for the BHW.  Worcester, will be just as committed to taking it away down the Mass Pike. 

By Rory O'Donnell

Junior A Hurling: Wexford v Tipperary

Wexford 4-11 Tipperary 2-21

Tipperary gathered another two points in the junior hurling championship with a well-earned victory over Wexford.  Tipp had the run of things for most of the game and at one point led by 14 points however two late Wexford goals provided the Slaneysiders with a sliver of hope in injury time, but the Tipp back line withstood Wexford’s late flurry and the 4 point lead stood.

Another win for the Tipperary junior hurlers.

Tipperary enjoyed the better of things in the first half.  It was Peter O’Keefe the dangerman at corner forward again, O’Keefe accounted for accounted for a goal and six points of Tipp’s first half haul of 2-14, one point a beauty from way out on the wing.  Sean Moriarty was also prominent in the Tipperary forward line with a couple of well taken points and a goal where Wexford really should have done better with clearing the ball.  Moriarty was on hand to drive the ball into the back of the net from inside the 21 following a handful of fluffed attempts to clear.

Wexford struggled against the Tipp defence, although Kevin Joyce booted in a goal that was sandwiched by three points each side of it.  Paddy Whelan, Sean Deanly, and Jason Foley each hit the mark.  Wexford had a couple of chances from 21 yard frees that could have kept them in touch, but went low for the early goals, and the shots were easily dealt with.  At the break it was a commanding 2-14 to 1-6 lead for the Premier men.

A late Wexford surge fell just short on Sunday.

Wexford made a better fist of things in the second half but with Pat Moriarty sweeping up at center back and Mark Jordan and Darren O’Donovan doing well on the wings, Wexford found it hard to make a breakthrough.  Tipp opened with three points on the trot from O’Keefe to further inflate their lead before Wexford answered with a Foley point and a second goal from Joyce.  This time Joyce fetched a high ball, rounded the keeper and tapped the ball into the net.  The use of the young American born hurler as a target man paid dividends.

After Tipp strung another 3 points together Wexford caught a break when Mark Jordan was shown a second yellow and had to leave the field.  Wexford needed goals and started going for them.  After a couple of efforts John Dooley hit the back of the net.  With still 8 points in it Wexford still had a lot of work to do.  An injury time goal from a bullet of a free by Dominic Magill hit the roof of the net and reduced the deficit to 4 points as Gary McGovern had pointed.  Another chance from directly in front of the goal was saved by Michael McGrath, and that was the last chance for Wexford to try and save something from the game, although Tipp really would have felt robbed. Wexford looking shaky to make a semi-final place with just one win from their 4 games.

Wexford: E. Spruhan, D. Brennan, P. Bergin, J. Taggart, D. Magill, JJ O’Neill, G. Lundy, J. Foley, P. Whelan, C. Kerins, S. Deanly, J. Dooley, K. Joyce.  Tipp:  M. McGrath, S. SInnott, C. Madden, M. Jordan, P. Moriarty, D. O’Donovan, S. Fortune, K. Kavanagh, S. Delaney, M. Moriarty, M. Kavanagh, S. Moriarty, P. O’Keefe.

Saturday afternoon the Galway junior hurlers defeated Fr. Tom Burke’s 4-23 to 3-10 and Worcester pipped Barley House Wolves by a single point, 4-14 to 5-12.  

By Rory O'Donnell

Junior A Hurling: Offaly v Wexford; Worcester v Tipperary

Offaly 2-21 Wexford 4-12

Offaly held on to capture 2 championship points in a nail biting junior hurling championship game on Saturday evening at the ICC in Canton.  Offaly looked to have established a comfortable 10 point lead about 20 minutes into the game, however, Wexford hit with 2 goals late in the half  and another 2 in the second to make it a one goal game in the final minutes.  With the spectators on the edges of the benches, Offaly held on as Wexford went for the goal to tie it up.

Wexford just about couldn't catch Offaly Saturday evening.

The end of the first half saw Offaly sitting on a comfortable 6 point lead.  The Faithful men picked off their points well, and also combined well in opening up shooting angles.  James Kilmartin at wing forward was the big dangerman and the former Offaly underage player opened the scoring with a point from each side of the field.  Barry McManaman at corner forward was also a major threat, and it was he who accounted for a goal that put Offaly into an early 1-6 to a point lead.  Wexford pulled themselves back into it with 2 goals.  One Kevin Joyce at full forward and a second from John Dooley with Joyce involved.  At the break it was 1-14 to 2-5 for Offaly.

Joyce hit with a third Wexford goal shortly after the restart, however it was none other than Kilmartin who pulled it back within minutes to dampen Wexford hopes.  Offaly extened the lead to 7 points again through Barry Kealy and Kilmartin scores, but Wexford finally found the target.  Peter Ryan andPaddy Whelan pulled the side within four as the Wexford men worked very hard throughout the field to rein in their counterparts.  

Whelan put a free from outside the 21 into the net to set up a grandstand finish with one point in it, however McManaman and Kilmartin restored the lead to four.  After a Dooley point made it a one goal game Wexford had one last chance to tie it up but with Offaly back in numbers the ball never made it into the danger zone.  A very exciting win for the newcomers, and great Saturday evening entertainment for the visitors to Canton.

Tipperary 5-15 Worcester 0-10

If it weren’t for the goals Worcester were very much in this game against Tipperary in the early game.  Tipperary streaked into a a1-6 to a point lead before Worcester settled into the game.  Peter O’Keefe was the free taker and corner forward dynamo for Tipperary.  Pat Moriarty was very much involved in the half back line, while his brother Sean was another headache for Worcester opposite O’Keefe in the corner.  Between them Moriarty and O’Keefe accounted for all of Tipperary’s 3-8, Moriarty with 2 of the 3 goals.

It was goals that separated Tipperary
and Worcester at the ICC.

For their part, Worcester settled into the game in the latter part of the first half.  John Griffey, Sean O’Shaughnessy and Dan Brown accounted for Worcester’s 6 points, O’Shaughnessy putting two fine efforts over the bar.  John Donohoe did well in the half back line to return several threatening looking Tipperary attacks.  At the break it was a 3-8 to 0-6 Tipp advantage.

Two Tipp goals in the first 10 minutes after the restart put the dampers on any hope of Worcester getting into touching distance.  Again, it was Moriarty first and then O’Keefe hitting the majors.  Worcester kept at it, O’Shaughnessy with another booming point and Dan Sweatland getting his name on the scoresheet.  Tipp saw it out, but needed those goals to feel comfortable.

Offaly:  G. Sherlock, J. Murray, A. Bergin, R. Reynolds, T. Rigney, C. McMahon, D. Kealy, C. Mahon, C. Flynn, L. Kiely, J. Kilmartin, M. Markham, B. McManaman.  Wexford:  E. Spruhan, E. Goff, J. Taggert, JJ O’Neill, D. Magill, P. Bergin, G. Lundy, S. Delaney, P. Whelan, P. Ryan, P. Guinan, J. Dooley, K. Joyce.

Worcester:  T. O’Brien, D. Smith, T. Falise, P. Mann, C. Berry, J. Donohue, S. Shaughnessy, T, Gahan, D. Brown, D. Sweatland,  P. Dolan, J. Grifffey, PJ Heffernan.  Tipp:  M. McGrath, M. Moriarty, S. Sinnott, M. Jordan, P. Moriarty, D. Donovan, S. Fortune, C. Madden, M. Kavanagh, T. Hanley, S. Delaney, S. Moriarty, P. O’Keefe.

By Rory O'Donnell

Junior Hurling: Worcester v Tipperary

Tipperary 1-15 Worcester 2-7

Worcester made their foray into the higher levels of junior hurling for the first time Sunday afternoon.  In an unusual start, a clash of colours meant that the visitors had to don red bibs for the duration of the game, and Tipperary started the game a handful of players short of the 13.  Worcester led at the break, and in spite of battling hard in the second half, the Worcester men ended up on the losing end as Tipperary pulled away to end up five point winners.

Tipperary Corner Back, Craig Gillis breaks away to clear the ball.

Worcester held a one point lead at the break, in large part thanks to 2 goals from PJ Heffernan.  Both goals came in the latter part of the half.  Tipp keeper, Sean Delaney had made a good stop from Liam Kelly’s shot and Heffernan was on hand to clean up the rebound for the first.  Heffernan was again on hand at the edge of the box to poach another away just before the break. 

Tipp had got off to a good start although the Premier men started the game with just 10 players.  Simon Sinnott, Pat Moriarty pointed before Skippy O’Donnell netted from outside the 14.  Johnny McGrath was playing well in the Tipp half back line, however, the Worcester men gradually worked their way into the game and Dan Swetland’s striking from the dead ball was on the mark.  Brendan Greene added a point from play to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Worcester.  It was Moriarty putting them over for Tipp who had eventually filled out their ranks to the full 13 by the time half time came.

The pace of the game picked up in the second half with the teams at parity in terms of personnel.  Tipperary put the first 3 points over the bar with Liam Butler the man on the mark.  Worcester had several chances to add to their tally, but some wayward shooting saw a yield of just 2 points for their efforts.  Moriarty tallied three in a row to put Tipperary into a five point lead with the last 10 minutes to go.  

Worcester worked hard to generate a goal chance that would give them a lifeline, but Tipp had the game sewn up at that stage and a goal looked a remote possibility.  The teams traded points to finish out the game.  A first taste of the higher level of junior hurling for Worcester who acquitted themselves well against an opposition of seasoned veterans and skilled young players.

Tipp:  S. Delaney, C. Gillis, D. O’Brien, J. McGrath, M. Moriarty, S. Sinnott, P. Moriarty, B. Crowley, L. Butler, S. Kennedy, K. O’Donnell, B. O’Regan, J. McGrath. Worcester:   J. Grimes, M. Dufresne, M. O’Connor, J. Donahue, D. Swetland, D. Smith, Sean O’Shaughnessy, J. , B. Greene, Seamus O’Shaughnessy, M. Dufault, L. Kelly, PJ Heffernan.

By Rory O'Donnell

Junior C Hurling: Portland v Worcester

Portland 5-8 Worcester 3-8

Portland made a major statement with the defeat of the North American Junior C Champions at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton.  A blistering first half performance saw Portland open a substantial lead to have their opponents chasing the game.  Worcester made somewhat of a comeback in the second half and threatened to make a run on a couple of occasions, but some good defending and timely scores kept Portland ahead till the final whistle.

Portland Held the Cards Sunday afternoon at the ICC.

At the break it was a double digit lead for the men from Maine.  Portland had hammered in four goals, three from Bryon Williams and one from Alan McGrath.  While Worcester kept pace in the points column they would have a lot of work to do to make ground up on the goals side as the Mass. Pike men found it hard to breach the Portland back line where it hurt most.

The central Mass men did get a lift with a goal from Derek Byrne and followed with a Tom Lind point to get the second half going.  At this point they had their tail between their legs and a run at that Portland lead looked possible, however, and handful of good scoring chances drifted wide of the posts and that difference remained eight points.

Worcester's Tom Lind clears as Dan Flanagan moves in.

Portland recovered from the brief shock and re asserted themselves on the game with scores from Alan McGrath and Matt Anderson.  After a brief stoppage due to an injury to Worcester goalkeeper, Mike Dufault, the ball was in the back of the Portland net a second time with a Seamus O’Shaughnessy long range effort and there was life in Worcester again.

Portland dampened any hope of a second half comeback with a fourth goal from Williams.  As Worcester pressed for a couple of goals Joel Wezowicz and JJ Twohig provided good protection for the keeper, and cleared from inside their own penalty area on several occasions.  With the win Portland are in a good place to be there when August rolls around.

Portland:  JJ Twohig, J. Wezowicz, M. Delahunty, E. Burns, T. Schneider, D. Adams, C. Boyle, L. Maher, D. Flanagan, B. Williams, A. McGrath, S. Matthews, M. Anderson.  Worcester:  M. Dufault, M. Dufresne, S. O’Mahoney, D. Smith, Sean O’Shaughnessy, J. McCaty, Seamus O’Shaughnessy, P. Mannion, M. O’Connor, T. Lind, J. Dorr, J. Goery, D. Byrne.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sheehan Cup Q'/F: Fr. Tom Burke's v Worcester

Worcester 1-6 Fr. Tom Burke’s 3-20

After a tight first half in which Worcester proved to be a good match for Tom’s, the game opened up in the second and Tom’s pulled away thanks in large part to an early flurry of scores from Laois marksman David O’Mahoney.  O’Mahoney put away a quick 2-2 to extend the Tom’s lead to 11, and the outcome was in little doubt from then on.

Terry Doran in action for Tom's.

The North American Junior C Champions got off to a flying start with an early goal from PJ Heffernan.  David O’Mahoney and Dan Swetland had traded scores to get things going.  Heffernan’s goal was followed by a Liam Kelly point as Worcester opened a 4 point lead.  Tom’s gradually worked their way into the game and were level by the time the half was 15 minutes old.  Jack Martin almost had a goal, however, Jared Gorry saved well and Martin satisfied himself with a point.  Points came from O’Mahoney, Chris Donoghue, and Terry Doran as Tom’s built patiently from the back.  Worcester worked hard throughout.  The O’Shaughnessy brothers gave little away in midfield, however, an ankle injury to talisman player, Dan Swetland near the end of the half did not help Worcester’s cause.  A free from Swetland just before the break closed the gap to three points at the break, 1-4 to 0-10 in Tom’s favour.

Worcester Hurling Team.

Tom’s made some positional changes to begin the second half, with O’Mahoney moving to the half forward line from midfield, and a goal was netted by the Laois native.  O’Mahoney followed with another two points and a second goal as the game slipped away from Worcester.  Aidan Davoran pointed, which along with Jack Martin, got two American born players on the scoreboard for Tom’s.  Matin netted a third goal for Tom’s after pouncing on a rebound off the keeper and from that point on the result was in little doubt. 

Worcester:  Jared Gorry, M. Dufrene, S. Mahoney, D. Smith, D. Swetland, T. Jackson, Seamus O’Shaughnessy, Sean O’Shaughnessy, M. O’Connor, L. Kelly, P. Mannion, M. Jones, PJ Heffernan.  Tom’s:  D. Fox, J. Dooley, J. Dowling, D. Burke, D. Costello, R. Driscoll, S. Higgins, D. O’Mahoney, A. Davoran, C. Donoghue, G. Kelly, J. Martin, T. Doran.  

By Rory O'Donnell

Junior C Hurling Final: Worcester v Barley House Wolves

Worcester 3-8 Barley House Wolves 1-10

Worcester Captain Dan Swetland is presented
with the trophy.

The Worcester and Barley House Wolves teams and supporters traveled from central Massachusetts and Concord NH respectively to contest the junior C hurling final at the Irish Cultural Center.  It was an intensely contested, hard hitting affair with Worcester coming out on top.  Three first half goals and some great defensive work carried the day for the Worcester men to win back to back championships.

BHW 's Sean Naughton strikes the ball.
Naughton is an example of the many
highly skilled American hurlers. 

Playing with the benefit of a fairly stiff breeze, Worcester went in at the break five points to the good on the back of three goals.  Two came from the dangerous Liam Kelly at corner forward, the third from Kyle Connor just after the New Hampshire men had tied the game.  Dan Swetland’s free taking was assured for Worcester, the center back tallied three points from the dead ball.  Sean Naughton was also on the mark for the New Hampshire men with points from play and frees.  After Jay Abramowicz had netted for the Granite State side with a goal, Will Mullen tallied a fantastic point to level matters.  Connor’s goal came minutes afterwards, a sequence that left two Worcester men prone and needing treatment following the intensity of the challenges leading to the score. 

Worcester kept up the intensity level in the second half, blocking at every opportunity and allowing little room to their opponents.  There were no easy opportunities for the Wolves.  The scores did not come so easy at the other end either.  Swetland and Kelly each tallied points and Worcester tallied a decent number of wides.  The Barley House Wolves worked hard to try and put a dent in the two goal difference and had a number of chances that went awry.  Two Sean Naughton frees were the fruits of their second half labors.  The Concord men went after a momentum changing goal with decent time still left to play, but it was not to be as Worcester establish themselves as the divisional champions for the second time running.  Now it is on to the finals and on home turf where Worcester be hoping to improve on last year’s outing in Cleveland.

Towards the end of the game there was a lengthy delay after, Dan Hanna, of the Barley House Wolves suffered a serious neck injury.  Wishing Dan a full and speedy recovery.

Worcester:  Aidan O’Shea, Luke Lagorsse, Matt Dufresna, John Donoghue, Dan Swetland, Ian Geraghty, Sean Shaughnessy, Cian Clifford, Timmy Jackson, Tom Lind, Kyle Connor, Liam Kelly, Mike O’Connor.  BHW:  Denis Trainor, Alec Foley, Michael Gregoire, Matt Palomeno, Dan Pawloski, Dan Hanna, Sean Naughton, Ryan Nickerson, Dean Williams, Will Mullen, Jay Abramowicz, Ruairi O’Mahoney, Darragh Madden.

By Rory O'Donnell

Saturday June 28 - Junior C Hurling: Worcester v Portland

Portland 3-2 Worcester 4-14

The Worcester Hurlers made a significant statement Saturday afternoon.

Worcester and Portland each made the journey to the Irish Cultural Center in Canton Mass. for their junior C clash on the main field.  Defending champions Worcester came away with a convincing win, and in doing so sent a clear signal about their intent to reclaim the Northeast championship.  The men from down the Mass. Pike proved to be too strong for their opponents and were on top from start to finish.  Corner forward, Liam Kelly, completed a hat trick early in the second half, and Worcester's half back line was on top of everything that came their way.

Worcester built up a formidable lead over the course of the first 30 minutes.  Kelly looked dangerous with the ball in his hand, and at the tail end of the half accounted for 2 well taken goals.  Seamus Shaughnessy in the middle of the field saw plenty of the ball, while the half back line of Timmy Jackson, Dan Swetland, and Tom Lind did tremendous work to keep most of the play headed in the direction of the Portland goal.  Points were converted by Shaughnessy, Kelly, and Cian Clifford for Worcester as they built a 10 point lead.  Portland battled to try and make something happen, and forced Worcester goalkeeper, Aidan O'Shea, to earn his corn on a few occasions.  Aidan O'Brien accounted for Portland's only score of the half with a booming 65.  Chances fell to Joel Wezowicz and Matt Anderson to net for Portland.  O'Shea was up to the task for Wezowicz's shot and Anderson just missed the far post late in the half.

Portland Hurling Club made the trip to Canton, but faced a formidable foe in Worcester.

The second half began as the first ended, with 2 Worcester goals.  The first came from a Mike Dufalt tip off a Seamus Shaughnessy shot, and the second from Kelly to complete his hat trick.  Portland continued to fight on and their efforts were eventually rewarded with a penalty that was expertly converted by Aidan O'Brien.  Wezowicz and Alan McGrath each scored late consolation goals for Portland as the game wound down, though at that stage the game was beyond the Mainers.  So, a successful outing to the ICC for Worcester as they stay on track to claim a final berth come late August.

Worcester:  A. O'Shea, L. Lagorce, M. Dufrane, T. Jackson, S. Swetland, T. Lind, C. Clifford, Sean Shaughnessy, M. O'Connor, Seamus Shaughnessy, K. O'Connor, M. Default, L. Kelly.  Portland:  JJ Twohig, J. Gormley, A. McGrath, M. Gormley, A. O'Brien, D. Adams, L. Maher, J. Clifford, B. WIlliams, T. Schneider, J. Wezowicz, M. Anderson, E. Burns.

By Rory O'Donnell

Northeast Colleges Fall Tournament

College Football and Hurling is coming to the North East!  College teams from across the northeast region will be converging on the Irish American Home Society in Glastonbury CT in just over 2 weeks for the inaugural fall tournament of Gaelic Football and Hurling.  The IAHS and Hartford GAA have graciously agreed to host the tournament.  Teams from Boston College, St. Joseph’s (Philadelphia), Fordham (New York), Iona (New York), and UConn (Connecticut), along with club teams from Hartford and Worcester, will compete for the fall trophy.

UCONN Hurlers

Gaelic Football and Hurling Clubs have formed in recent years in third level institutions from Southern California to New England. The National Collegiate Gaelic Athletic Association was established in 2009 to assist in the development of new hurling and Gaelic football teams on college campuses throughout the United States, and to provide a structure in which competitive games can be played.  With GAA clubs springing up on college campuses in the northeast region a need was seen to put some organization and structure around the games.  This year a committee was formed to help with the efforts, and the Northeast Collegiate Gaelic Athletic Association was formed.  The board covers the an area including New England, New York, New Jersey Pennsylvania, Maryland, with the goal of spreading awareness and advancing gaelic sports in colleges in the region.

The tournament is the first of it’s kind in the area and the inaugural trophy will be awarded to the winners.  It is a huge first step towards the development of games in colleges in the northeastern region.  “We are really looking forward to hosting our first ever tournament,” says Simon Gillespie, Chairman of the Northeast Collegiate Board.  The tournament is a block to build upon, and the goal being that eventually the clubs themselves will be in a position to administer the games and competitions.  Many of the players involved have come through the youth ranks in their respective areas.  Over the years a gap to be bridged was that from minor to adult level.  It is a gap made all the more difficult because most of the players who come through underage ranks do not have the opportunity to continue to play when in college.  Growing gaelic games in third level educational institutions will go a long way to bridging that gap, though there is a learning curve involved as Simon points out.  “The success of the day will be based on whether the Colleges teams themselves are a success.  Most of these teams have players who have grown up with clubs and a community but now these players must not only play the game, but also learn to set up, administer, and coordinate their teams without influence from parents or coaches.  That is also an important learning curve for the players. The work put in by these kids will hopefully pay off and we can use this day as a starting point for Colleges GAA in the North East” pointed out Simon.

There will be local television present to cover the events of the day, a big boost for the fledgling teams and organizational setup. According to Simon, “The news today from Hartford is that Fox News may also be present on the day to find out more about Gaelic Games in the Colleges.  This will expose our organization, a relatively small Irish American Community, to a possible audience of thousands of people in the local area.  It really bodes well.  Thanks to the Hartford GAA for seeing the possibility of involving National Media sources.”

November 9th in Glastonbury, CT will hopefully mark the start of a transformation of Gaelic Games in the Northeast and the United States as a whole.  The Northeast also will have the opportunity for further exposure since the 2014 National Collegiate GAA Finals will be hosted in the Northeast, with college teams from all over the country traveling to take part.  As Simon emphasized, “We really need this day to be a success if Collegiate GAA is going to be a success on the East Coast of the US and we are going to make a success of the NCGAA Finals Memorial Day next year.”  Simon thanked the people in Hartford for their willingness to open their doors, “I would really like to thank the Irish American Home Society for the use of their facilities as well as the Hartford GAA club who have always shown they to be willing to host any tournament that promotes Gaelic Games.”  

Maybe one day we will look back at November 9, 2013 as the day it all began.

By Rory O’Donnell