July 21 - Junior A1 Football: Mayo v Aidan McAnespies

Aidan McAnespies 1-14 Mayo 2-11

Aidan McAnespies and Mayo played a great game of football on a day that would not be described as cool, but certainly cooler than the one before.  Mayo looked like taking the full spoils from the game right up until the final moments when Mayoman, Shane Lynn, earned a point for McAnespies with a goal.  McAnespies wasted several chances to secure a win late in the game with a handful of shots at goal fizzing the wrong side of the far post.  Having trailed early in the game, Mayo played some good football and took full advantage of a first half penalty to pull themselves level just before half time.  The westerners will be disappointed not to have secured both points having led by four points late in the game.

A string of points from McAnespies got the game off to a great start for them, but Mayo got into it with center forward Sean Baylon leading the charge with the front 5.  Aiden Lynskey got Mayo off the mark with a point, and Baylon added two more to draw the westerners level.  McAnespies enjoyed slightly more of the play, and Barry Smith line pointed 3 times in a row to pull McAnespies clear.  Baylon had some chances from free kicks that drifted wide, but a penalty for a block with the foot by Ryan McCrystal resulted in a goal for Mayo.  Sean Geeney put the kick away.  Neil Donaghy drew McAnspies level with a well taken score, and late in the half McCrystal saved well from Dan Igoe to prevent another Mayo goal.  At the break it was all square at 1-5 to 0-8.

Mayo played the better football for most of the second half.  Pat O'Malley and Sean Clifford did well in the back line, while up front it was Baylon who was on the mark with his dead ball kicking.  An early goal after a pass from Igoe put Baylon through propelled Mayo into a four point lead.  Craig Oliver and Nigel Regan each had goal shots that went across the face and wide, and the gap remained at 3 points as the sides traded scores.  With time running out it was desperation stakes for McAnespies who made a big push to get something from the game.  Points from Regan and Donaghy reduced the gap to 2 points, before Baylon brought it back to a goal with a fine score.  It looked like curtains for McAnespies after Donaghy was shown a red card, but the northerners pressed on for the goal and eventually it came from the boot of Lynn to level the game at the death.  A hard earned point for McAnespies and maybe a little bit of regret for Mayo not coming away with both points having led for the entire second half.

Macs:  R. McCrystal, A. Fearson, E. Hamill, J. Flattery, R. Brady, N. Donaghy, J. McGourty, S. Lynn, G. McAlinden, C. Oliver, B. Smith, N. Regan.  Mayo:  D. McElligott, K. Barry, S. Clifford, K. Walsh, B. Eliffe, P. O'Malley, P. Shannon, K. Comer, A. Lynskey, S. Baylon, S. Geeney, D. Igoe, A. Coyne.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sunday July 14 - Ladies Senior Football: Connacht Ladies v Tir na nOg

Connacht Ladies 4-15 Tír na nÓg 0-6

Connacht Ladies proved to be too strong for Tír na nÓg in their first ladies senior football championship clash.  Connacht were on a different level to their Brighton based opponents and after one half was played it was pretty much over. 

Amy Ring points for Connacht Ladies

In the first minute after Ciara Donnelly popped over a point with the first attack of the game for Connacht Ladies, and from then on it was pretty much a game of target practice.  Lisa Brick made some excellent saves from close range shots, one came from Elish Gormley who last saw action on the field in Canton when she starred for Roscommon in their first championship victory in 2001.  The champions netted 4 times in the first half, 2 coming from full forward, Jackie McDonagh.  Points flew over the bar at will.  Five of the 6 forwards got on the scoresheet from play as the spoils were shared.  The Brighton side battled to get something going in the other direction, but the Connacht back line were there to cut out the danger before it happened.

In the second half Tír na nÓg pointed twice through Caroline Nee to open their account and it as a much more encouraging performance from them.  Sinead Bannon, Caroline Hanley, and Maggie Sayers did well for the Brighton girls.  Connacht continued to have the better of the game overall, however.  Aisling Kerr, a niece of Elish Gormley, entered the fray and the westerners cruised to the win.  A comfortable 2 points for Connacht Ladies to remain on track to defend their senior championship title.

Connacht:  C. Heraty, S. McAleer, E. Beirne, K. Rice, H. Poff, J. O'Connell, M. Breen, A. McGlone, S. Brady, A. Fox, A. Ring, E. Gormley, C. Donnelly, J. McDonagh, J. Ward.  Tír na nÓg:  L. Brick, N. O'Neill, A. O'Leary, M. Shea, M. Sayers, K. Coombes, M. Murphy, K. Brogan, J. Brady, S. Bannon, J. Moran, C. Hanley, E. Kasey, C. Nee, K. Crozier.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sunday July 14 - Senior Hurling - Fr. Tom Burke's v Wexford

Wexford 3-13 Fr. Tom Burke's 1-13

Wexford came out on top of a very entertaining senior hurling match.  Both teams needed to win to set up in third place going into the second round of games next week.  Tom's started well, but 2 late first half goals and a strong finish to the game from Wexford saw them take a 6 point win.

Tom's hurled well but Wexford got the vital scores.

Wexford were the side holding the lead at the end of the first 30 minutes.  Tom's may have felt a little aggrieved as having played the better hurling, they conceded 2 goals late in the half.  Tom's were leading by a score of 0-8 to 0-4 with the back line clearing most of what Wexford sent their way and points coming from David O'Mahoney, Joe Carroll, Mark Deegan, and Shane Howley.  Wexford hit a one two blow that undid all of Tom's hard work.  The first goal came from a 21 yard free that Tony Murphy buried, the second from John Flynn-O'Connor after Eoghan Kavanagh's run opened things up.  Going into the break Wexford held the lead, 2-5 to 0-9.

Wexford's Tom Moloney and Tom's Shane Howley

Tom's came out in the second half with full intention of setting the record straight from their viewpoint.  O'Mahoney accounted for 5 points, 4 from frees.  One score was a goal from a 21 yard free after Joe Carroll was brought down from behind.  Tom's ahead by a goal and now Wexford lifted their game.  Tony Murphy was found twice with a short ball over the top.  The first time his shot was fluffed and Eoin Fleming saved easily.  The second time, a minute later, a similar chance came his way and Murphy buried the shot in the far corner.  Simon Aylward was sent to the line following a second yellow card, but Wexford followed with 3 points, two from Brian Cline and a third from Kavanagh, to one for Tom's and held a goal lead coming into the final quarter of the game.  After O'Mahoney pulled Tom's within 2 points Wexford turned the screws to finish the game strong in spite of playing a man down.  Cline pointed twice from frees and Kavanagh put a lovely score on the run over the bar to put Wexford ahead by four.  As the clock ran down Wexford finished well, and underlined the victory with a great point from Tom Moloney.

Tom's:  E. Fleming, G. Joyce, R. Burke, T. Bowe, S. Coughlan, B. Harding, M. Deegan (0-4), D. Lafferty, S. Howley (0-1), J. Carroll (0-2), M. Dervan, D. O'Mahoney (1-5), A. McEnerney.  Wexford:  E. Spruhan, D. Redmond, M. McCaffery, M. Wornock, P. Nolan, T. Maloney (0-1), J. Kehoe, S. Aylward, B. Cline (0-4), D. Drake (0-2), E. Kavanagh (0-3), T. Murphy (2-1), J. Flynn-O'Connor (1-0).

By Rory O'Donnell 

July 14 - Senior Football: Kerry v Christopher's

Kerry 3-18 Christopher's 2-13

Kerry came out on top in a game where the pressure was on them to deliver badly needed a win.  Kerry who could be accused of underperforming in recent games delivered in style and showed that they will be a dangerous team to meet in the remainder of the championship.  Leading by a goal at the break, Kerry weathered an early second half storm from Christopher's to run out 9 point winners.

Midfielder Aaron Hickey on a first half the attack for Kerry.

At the end of a fast paced, well contested, first half it was Kerry ahead by the single goal.  The Kingdom set out their stall early with a goal from center forward Shane O'Callaghan inside the first 5 minutes.  The inrushing O'Callaghan was found bearing down on goal and the Austin Stacks man buried the ball into the far corner.  The goal was preceded by well taken points from Niall Sheehy, Darragh O'Brien, and Aaron Hickey as Kerry moved the ball well and at speed.  Within 10 minutes Christopher's had cancelled Kerry's fast start and the game was level.  Starting in midfield, David Culhane had pointed and a goal came for Christopher's.  Jason Lonergan's effort at a point shot came high off the post, and Gary O'Leary was there to win the rebound and was pulled back in the area.  Chris Brady put the ball away low to the keeper's left, and two points later, one from Padraig Lucey and another from Brady, the game was tied.  Kerry to their credit kept up the tempo and did not let the setback change their mindset.  The Kingdom men's persistence was rewarded with 2 goals.  One was a spectacular shot off the underside of the crossbar from O'Brien following a well worked move, and the second was from a penalty after O'Callaghan was held in the area while contesting a high ball.  O'Brien finished the shot and the pressure was on Christopher's.  Christopher's ended the half with points from Michael Quinlivan and Shane Power frees and at the break it was 3-6 to 1-9 in favour of the green and gold.

Niall Sheehy tries to stop Chris Davies from
coming out with the ball.

Christopher's reduced the deficit to a point early in the second half going on a 4 points to 2 run after the restart, then Kerry missed 2 golden chances to pull ahead further.  First David Clifford had his shot saved by Paudie Kenneally, and a minute later O'Brien hit the inside of the post with his placed shot as Christopher's goal lived a charmed life.  Kerry eventually broke down their opponents and went on a scoring spree that out them eight points to the good.  The back line had their act together and broke up several Christopher's attacks, building well for their own assaults on the Christopher's goal.  There were well taken points from Joe Fitzpatrick, Aaron Hickey, O'Brien, and O'Callaghan.  As the Kerry lead stretched with the clock ticking away Christopher's were thrown a lifeline.  A penalty was awarded by referee Jimmy Trimble for holding in the penalty box.  Brady put the shot away, but Kerry underlined their dominance by answering with a Sheehy point.  It was a morale boosting win for Kerry heading into the final 2 games of the championsip, but consistency is an issue that needs to be addressed if the Kerry men are to make a fist of it for the playoff stages.

Kerry:  P. Bailey, S. Driscoll, D. Larkin, E, Mullan, S. Cunningham, D. Clifford, A. Hickey, I. Whelan, D. Clabby, S. O'Callaghan, J. Fitzpatrick, D. O'Brien, N. Sheehy.  Christopher's:  P. Kenneally, C. Lordan, C. Davies, C. Murphy, E. O'Neill, G. O'Leary, D. Culhane, P. Lucey, J. Lonergan, M. Quinlivan, S. Power, C. Brady, M. Mennis.

By Rory O'Donnell

July 14 - Senior Football: Donegal v Shannon Blues

Donegal 0-9 Shannon Blues 0-18

Shannon Blues underlined their championship credentials with a victory over a game Donegal side that ran out of steam and ideas in the final 15 minutes.  In spite of the scoreline it still very much a game with 10 minutes to go, but the Shannon Blues turned the screw and put 6 points on the trot over the bar in the final quarter to put themselves top of the table with 9 points from 5 games.

Antrim man Sean Burke helped Donegal stay in the game
in the first half, but the Tir Chonaill men
ran out of steam in the second.

It was a closely contested opening period.  There were some fine saves, the first came from Donegal keeper Sean Connolly who saved well from Darragh Treacy, and shortly afterwards Darragh O'Brien between the posts for the Blues did well to keep a close range shot from Sean Burke out.  The Blues opened a 3 point lead through Barry John Keane and Darragh Treacy scores after 5 minutes, and signs looked ominous for the northerners.  Donegal settled however, and were soon back on level terms.  Center forward Sean Burke was key to their success.  The St. Galls man accounted for two of Donegal's 7 first half points, both fine efforts and for a period Donegal enjoyed the bigger share of possession.  Shane Brennan, Gary Maguire, and Aaron Connolly also contributed to the scoreboard tally.  While the breaks may have been slightly in Donegal's favour, the Blues always looked dangerous going forward.  Any time the Blues broke upfield a score was on the cards.  Led by Darragh Treacy at center forward the forward line was efficient and running smoothly.  Conor McHugh, Keane, and Sean Moriarty pointed.  At the break it was a one point Blues lead.

Cathal McHugh was part of a formidable Shannon Blues
forward line that tallied 18 points.

In the second period the Blues opened a gap of 4 points as, with their challenge flagging, Donegal introduced a plethora of subs to bring some fresh legs into the fray.  A couple of points from Pat Hughes and Maguire stemmed the tide somewhat and with 15 minutes left there was 2 points in it.  But the forays forward began to fall on fallow ground for Donegal.  The Blues started to win most of the ball around the middle of the field and close down the spaces in which the Donegal forwards needed to operate.  Keane, Kieran Hurley who entered as a sub, and Treacy put the game beyond the reach of Donegal in the final 15 minutes with some well taken points as the Blues finished the game by far the stronger of the 2 teams.  Shannon Blues alone at the top with 2 games to go before the playoff stages.

Donegal:  S. Connolly, M. Canning, S. Tim, M. Cannon, T. Caldwell, J. Dolan, A. Connolly (0-1), T. Gallagher, P. Hughes (0-1), S. Burke (0-2), G. Maguire (0-4), R. Rafferty, S. Brennan (0-1).  Blues:  D. O'Brien, K. Hartnett, G. Ryan, P. Domican, S. Brosnan, S. Moriarty (0-1), S. Kiely, B. Hartnett, A. Duffy (0-2), D. Treacy (0-2), C. McHugh (0-1), BJ Keane (0-9), C. McHugh.  Subs:  K. Hurley (0-1), R. Blaine (0-1), M. Butler (0-1).

By Rory O'Donnell

Tables July 7

July 7 - Senior Hurling: Tipperary v Galway

Galway 1-14 Tipperary 2-16

Tipperary and Galway battled it out for top spot in a game that swung to and fro.  Tipp weathered a first half Galway storm to find their way back into the game and pull away as the second half neared its end.  Eanna Murray's second half goal tipped the scales towards Tipp and the Premier men held on for the win as thunder storms approached. 

Kieran Morris on the attack for Tipp.

The first half was a well contested affair marked by some well taken points, two goals, and a schmozzle.  Galway looked to be pulling away with a string of points from John Moylan, Dan McCormack, and Sean Curran in the early going.  Ten minutes into the game there were awful scenes as a melee broke out.  Referee Paddy Ivors gave the players time to cool down and issued 3 yellow cards, the players concerned would be forgiven for considering themselves very fortunate to be allowed remain on the field.  Stephen Brown and Philip Ivors for Galway and Morris Power for Tipp were cautioned.  Ivors then netted for Galway and the tribesmen looked like they were in full control, Tipp were very much playing second fiddle.  Tipp inched back into it however.  Lifted by the efforts of Kieran Morris, the man from Maycarley also put a handful of frees over the bar, the gap on the scoreboard narrowed to the point where the teams were level near the end of the half.  The goal was recovered thanks to an attempted short puckout gone wrong.  The ball ended in the hands of Denis Maher inside the 14 yard line and the wing forward placed the ball past Martin O'Connor.  By the time the short whistle sounded it was Tipp with a one point edge, 1-8 to 1-7.

Contesting a puckout.

Tipp took the initiative early in the half with an unlikely goal from Eanna Murray.  Galway had drawn level after Curran and Moylan pointed and Morris had put one over for Tipp.  After the goal Galway were playing from behind and chasing the game.  Peadar Boran extended the Tipp lead by another point, and Galway tried to rally the troops.  Moylan almost netted, but James Logue pulled off a fine save from the low shot.  Each time Galway got within 2 points, Tipp seemed to be able to put a point or two over the bar to keep the distance between the sides.  With the game still in the balance Tipp put three unanswered points over the bar from substitute David Butler who entered the game mid way through the half.  Tipperary on full points after 3 games with Galway a close second, and  Wexford and Fr. Tom's to decide who will claim the third spot at the half way mark next Sunday.

Galway:  P. Connors, P. Ryan, C. Lordan, E. Casey, P. Gahan, C. McGovern, R. Bergin (0-2), D. Collins, S. Brown, D. McCormack (0-2), P. Ivors (1-0), S. Curran (0-3), J. Moylan (0-6).  Sub:  P. Lupton (0-1).  Tipp:  J. Logue, M. Power, S. Stanton, A. McGrath, R. O'Donnell, G Brennan, S. O'Connor, C. Dempsey (0-1), P. Boran (0-1), D. Maher (1-2), E. Murray (1-2), C. Flynn, C. Morris (0-7).  Sub:  D. Butler (0-3).

By Rory O'Donnell

July 7 - Senior Football: Wolfe Tones v Connemara Gaels

Connemara Gaels 0-8 Wolfe Tones 0-10

In a game that was delayed by thunderstorms, saw four sendings off, and a dramatic finish, the Wolfe Tones added another important win their quest for the championship.  Great performances from Leixlip man Thomas Moolick and Tyrrellspass native Jamie Gonoud with the game on the line saw the Tones through a close game against the once high flying Connemara Gaels.

Cormac Joyce-Power Lines up a shot.

It was another game marked by a first half scuffle, with 3 sendings of by referee Colm Schwer who did not settle for any messing.  The Gaels Michael Lundy, along Gary Brilly and Mike O'Brien from the Tones saw red with about 15 minutes gone in the game and the Gaels ahead by 3 points to one.  Damien Comer opened the account for the Gaels with Ian Burke adding 2 further points.  Then came the red cards and the Gaels held a man advantage and the lead in the game.  The Tones battled back to stay in the it.  Moolick had a golden chance to net for the Tones just before half time, but the big midfielder put the ball over the bar from close range.  The Tones had pulled back two points and at the break it was the Gaels with their noses ahead, 0-4 to 0-3.

Kian Cleere tries to stop Sean Conneeley.

Things evened up in the second half after Trevor Mullins was shown a second yellow card and with 20 minutes to go it was evened up.  The Tones had managed to pull even in spite of being down, and now saw the opportunity to take both points from the game.  The Southie side put five points over the bar to go into a three point lead.  The Tones half back line did well, John Comerford, Jamie Gonoud, and Sean Higgins battled hard.  With the momentum in their favour, the Tones points went over from Danny Egan and Cormac Joyce-Power.  The Gaels had life left in their game however.  Sean Conneely and Noel Graham, who came on as a sub, battled to turn the tide.  Points from Caoimhin Seoighe, and Burke (2) leveled the scores with 5 minutes to go and it was up for grabs now.  The Tones were the side the pushed it over the line at the end.  Gonoud and Moolick got the critical scores and the Tones kept possession to see out the clock.  Two valuable points for the Tones while the Gaels will be looking to get their season back on track against Christopher's in 2 weeks time.

Gaels:  E. Connolly, S. Cullen, L. Cullen, E. O'Gorman, C. O'Donnell, S. Conneeley, T. Mullins, R. Hyde, M. Lundy, D. Comer, C. Mulryan, I. Burke, K. McGrath.  Tones:  C. Hynes, K. Cleere, S. O'Hagen, S. Higgins, J. Hickson, J. Gonoud, T. Moolick, J. Comerford, M. O'Brien, G. Brilly, M. Kelly, C. McCarthy, D. Egan.

By Rory O'Donnell