July 28 - Senior Football: Donegal v Galway

Donegal 0-18 Galway 0-9

Donegal faced Galway in a must win game in order to retain their interest in the 2013 senior football championship.  The northerners came through in the end, but not without a fight for most of the way.  Galway kept it close until the final 15 minutes when Donegal managed to put some distance between the teams to give themselves a fighting chance for a playoff spot next weekend when a win over the Connemara Gaels will leave 4 teams on 7 points with 3 spots available.

Ryan Rafferty and Donegal pulled out the win.

At the end of the first half Donegal held a one goal lead.  Donegal had to work for everything they got as Galway were not lying down in their final game in the senior championship this year.  For Galway, target man Conor McGreanor was the main marksman, while Sean Kelly and Sean Burke each put a some nice points over the bar for Donegal.  At the break it was 0-7 to 0-4 in Donegal's favour.

Seamus Conneely and Galway battled to end the season
on a positive note, but it was not to be.

Peter Nolan got the first score of the second half as Galway got of to a lively start to the period.  Andy Kelly proved to be a real dangerman at corner forward for the tribesmen.  Kelly accounted for 2 points and won a free for a third that McGreanor converted.  Donegal had scored through Kelly to keep their noses in front, and Galway crept within 2 points of their opponents.   Donegal took over for the final 15 minutes, however.  Burke and Pat Hughes were key men in the front 5, and more of the ball broke for the yellow and green shirts as Galway's effort waned.  Points went over from substitute Gary Maguire, Burke, Ryan Rafferty, and Hughes as Donegal extended the lead to 5 points.  Galway's attacks were now more sporadic while Donegal added a couple of well worked points, notably one that was finished by wing back James Dolan.  Donegal can set the cat amongst the pigeons next week and force a 4 way playoff should they defeat the Connemara Gaels.

Donegal:  G. Shields, M. Canny, A. Williams, S. Doherty, T. Caldwell, J. Dolan, A. Connolly, C. Bell, P. Hughes, S. Burke, P. McLaughlin, R. Rafferty, S. Kelly.  Galway:  M. O'Connor, P. Cummins, N. Freeman, S. Connelly, M. McGinley, B. Lyons, A. McFadeen, M. Kenny, D. Reddin, K. Cummins, P. Nolan, C. McGreanor, A. Kelly.

By Rory O'Donnell

July 27 - Ladies Senior Football: Connacht Ladies v Boston Shamrocks

Connacht Ladies 5-11 Boston Shamrocks 3-4

The Connacht Ladies faced a stiffer test from the Shamrocks than in their previous encounter, but still pulled away with a handsome win at the end of the day.  The win keeps the current champions in top spot with 3 wins from 3 games.  The devestating forward line came into their own mid way into the first half, and extended a 3 point lead to 15 in the space of 15 minutes to put the Shamrocks in a hole they had not chance of getting out of.

Clodagh McGovern battling for the ball with Hazel Poff.

Two goals in the first 5 minutes got the Connacht Ladies off to a great start.  Center forward, Amy Ring, and corner forward Jane Ward were the finishers.  The Shamrocks hit back with 2 goals of their own.  Clodagh McGovern netted both as the Shamrocks were determined not to let this game get away from them.  Ward and Ciara Donnelly in the other corner added 3 points between them and with the Shamrocks having some success going forward it looked as though we had a game on our hands.  Connacht Ladies pulled away however.  A goal from Jackie McDonagh was followed by points from Donnelly, Ring, and Donnelly again as the Connacht forward line kicked up a gear.  The Shamrocks did not make it easy on themselves and conceded two goals late in the half, Donnelly and Ward the scorers, to leave themselves 15 points adrift at the break.

Eyes on the Ball:  Ann Marie Murphy

In the second half the Shamrocks gave their opponents something to think about in the second half as they outscored their opponents by 2 points.  In order to turn the result of the game there was not much hope, however, with Tír na nÓg standing between them and a third crack at the top dogs in a final, the second half performance provided last year's beaten finalists with something to give themselves encouragement. 

Connacht Ladies:  C. Heraty, S. McAleer, E. Beirne, A. Kerr, A. Murphy, J. O'Connell, M. Breen, H. Poff, A. McGlone, A. Gormley, A. Ring, S. Brady, C. Donnelly, J. McDonagh, J. Ward.  Shamrocks:  K. Rohan, B. Lockwood, L. Larkin, E. McGovern, A. McDonnell, R. McHugh, F. Considine, S. Carroll, S. Woods, E. King, S. McGovern, K. Scanlon, L. O'Brien, K. Mullan, C. McGovern.

By Rory O'Donnell

Saturday July 27 - Junior A hurling: Fr. Tom Burke's v Wexford

Wexford 1-15 Fr. Tom Burke's 2-10

Wexford joined Tipperary at the top of the junior hurling table with a win over defending Boston and NACB champions, Fr. Tom Burke's on Saturday afternoon.  The game was anybody's entering the last 10 minutes, and it was Wexford who did enough to cross the line ahead of Tom's by a nose.  Inistoige was to the fore as native son Ritchie Ryan accounted for the bulk of Wexford's scores.  Though Ryan was the free taker, there were 3 or 4 lovely points from a play from the corner forward, and a goal early in the second half.

Wexford Junior Hurlers came through at the end to beat Fr. Tom Burke's.

The game started with Wexford going into a four points to no score lead.  Tom;s hardly had an attempt at goal in the first 10 minutes, and though there were a few balls dropped into the square, a Wexford player was there to make the clearance.  In addition when the chances did come, Tom's squandered them, two missed frees and a chance or two where a goal attempt was cleared instead of taking the point meant that the Wexford lead remained intact.  Ryan accounted for 6 of Wexford's first half tally, while additional points from Eoghan Flaherty and Dominic Magill meant that there was a four point difference at the break.

Tom's Juniors still looking for the first win of the season.

The game looked like it would get away from Tom's in the second half after Ryan netted.  His marker, Paul Heneghan, did a fine job at corner back but Ryan just needed an inch of room to make his openings and was often found isolated with plenty of room to maneuver.  Tom's had a great chance at goal just beforehand when Fran Keenan was found with room on the 21, but Craig Neville made a superb save to deflect the ball over the bar for a point.  Keenan finally got his opening, not once but twice mid way through the half.  The second goal squirmed under the stick of Neville, and with that Tom's were just a point behind.  Keenan leveled the scores with a point and with less than 10 minutes to go it was all square.  Wexford, who had that little bit more quickness around the middle of the field, got the edge on their opponents with the next three points, 2 Ryan frees and a point from play.  Tom's tried to peg them back, but with time running out needed a third goal and never got a clear chance.  Tom's still looking for a win, and Wexford with 2 wins from 2 games.

Wexford:  C. Neville, P. Nolan, P. Copper, D. Brennan, D. Magill (0-1), T. Edward, J. Foley, S. Connelly (0-1), C. Kerins, E. Flaherty (0-1), J. Cullen, T. Dunne (0-1), R. Ryan (1-12).  Tom's:  E. Cummins, T. Doran, P. Heneghan, K. Mooney, C. Horan (0-2), J. Dooley, S. Wogan G. Kelly, C. Lee, C. Donoghue, P. McCoy (0-1), M. Markhan, F. Keenan (2-7).

By Rory O'Donnell

Senior Football Picture Clears, Senior Hurling Wide open

This coming weekend sees a trio of massive senior football games on the schedule at the Irish Cultural Center, with the result of each having a bearing on the final shakeout.  With just 2 weeks of the regular season to go it is a tight race not to be the one left out in a fortnight's time. 
 

Donegal, sitting on 3 points, can stay in the race by beating Galway who are already out of the running.  Kerry have a huge game ahead as they need to beat the Wolfe Tones in the final game in order to keep their hat in the ring, and what about the Aidan McAnespies versus Shannon Blues tie to end the day?  Sitting on 6 points, McAnespies need to beat the Blues in order to be sure of a berth in the playoffs and the game promises to be a humdinger.  The Blues are also not guaranteed a semi-final spot and need the win to be sure of one, and with no love lost between these clubs the game is sure to be a classic. 

I'm not one to make predictions, but with Galway out, and Donegal improving with every game, one would expect the northerners to come through and remain alive for the final week when they meet the Connemara Gaels.  Kerry have blown hot and cold, last week they went cold in the second half and will need to put in a good performance in order to take the points off a Tones team that without putting in any spectacular performances, has itself quietly sitting in second place.  The Blues and the Macs will be a do or die affair, and for my money these teams are playing the best football right now.  The Blues are solid all the way through the team and play a tough, no nonsense style of football while McAnespies have strengthened the lineup with the addition of Declan Lally and Cathal Shine.   

As for senior hurling, with last weekend's wins for Wexford and Tom's, the competition has been blown wide open.  With the end of the first half of the championship, it looked like Galway and Tipp were destined for the final.  Sunday sees the Brighton teams do battle.  Galway will not want to suffer 2 defeats in a row, and Wexford would love nothing more than to overtake their local rivals in the standings.  Who knows what Sunday will hold, but there is plenty to look forward to! 

Kerry have a huge game Sunday versus the Wolfe Tones.

 

Sunday July 28

1:15 Senior Football:  Galway v Donegal

2:30 Kerry v Wolfe Tones

3:45 Galway v Wexford

5:00 Shannon Blues v Aidan McAnespies 

Full schedule available at www.bostongaa.com. 

July 21 - Senior Hurling: Galway v Fr. Tom Burke's

Galway 1-12 Fr. Tom Burke's 1-13

Fr. Tom Burke's won their first game of the 2013 championship with an exciting win over Galway.  The game went right down to the wire and was won with practically the last puck of the game.  Tom's determination was evident, not least in the play of corner backs Gordon Joyce and Ronan Burke who were alert to the danger and made many important interceptions.  It was a point in injury time from David O'Mahoney that won the game in the end, but Offaly native Stephen Quirke who lined out at corner forward also played a big part in the victory.

Galway's Bobby Bergin tries to find room.

Tom's had a slight edge at the end of the first period.  Quirke accounted for 4 points from frees and Barry Harding a powerful fifth point from play.  Tom's hurled with determination and in a game that they really had to win, looked focused on the task at hand.  Galway for their part maintained pace with their opponents.  John Moylan was on form at corner forward and scored a couple of neat points.  Neither side really came to grips with the game, though for Tom's, Quirke at corner forward added an outlet for them in the forward line.

David O'Mahoney fired the winning score for Tom's.

Tom's fought hard in the back line to deny Galway room to swing, and for the most part were successful.  Galway did miss some chances from within range of the goal early in the half.  However, a goal came for the tribesmen after a cross field ball from Bobby Bergin was batted the ball into the net from the edge of the small square by Moylan to put Galway into the lead.  A point followed and the story for Tom's looked like it would play out as it has for the first 3 times this season.  Mark Deegan rallied with a point however, before Quirk restored the lead as Tom's were not about to die.  The Offaly man from the St. Rynagh's club drilled the ball home from 21 yards and Tom's led by two again.  Deegan followed with a fine score as Tom's kept up the effort to secure a vital win.  Galway had matters level with 3 minutes to go however.  David Collins, Bobby Bergin, and Moylan pointed before substitute Pat Lupton leveled things.  Tom's had the final say as a heretofore quiet David O'Mahoney took his chance in the final minute to pop the ball over the bar and seal the win for Tom's.  Tom's on two points, and much needed after Wexford delivered the first defeat of the season to Tipperary the day before.

Galway:  P. Connors, P. Ryan, C. Lordan, E. Casey, P. Gahan, C. McGovern, B. Bergin (0-1), D. O'Connor, D. McCormack (0-1), D. Collins (0-1), P. Ivors, S. Curran (0-1), J. Moylan (1-7).  Sub: P. Lupton (0-1).  Tom's:  E. Fleming, G. Joyce, R. Burke, D. Lafferty, S. Coughlin, B. Harding (0-1), S. Higgins, M. Deegan (0-2), S. Howley (0-2), J. Carroll, D. O'Mahoney (0-1), A. McEnerney, S. Quirke (1-6).

By Rory O'Donnell

July 21 - Senior Football: Christopher's v Connemara Gaels

Connemara Gaels 1-14 Christopher's 4-5

It was a game that will leave the Gaels scratching their heads wondering where it went wrong.  A spectacular first half performance was followed by a flat second, and Christopher's netted 4 times, twice in each half, to earn a valuable point.  Chris Brady had a hat trick of goals, and a fourth from Shane Power propelled a Christopher's comeback.

Damien Comer tries to shake Chris Lordan.

The Gaels were in flying form in the first half.  The forward line were clicking on all cylinders.  There were goal chances at either end in a fast start to the game, but once the Gaels settled the westerners played some effortlessly smooth flowing football.  Ian Burke, Kevin McGrath, Cathal Mulryan, and Noel Graham all contributed to the scoreline.  McGrath scored an opportunist goal just after Christopher's had netted through Chris Brady.  With a finish that Luis Suarez, or any premier league striker for that matter, would have been proud of, McGrath turned on a rebound with his left foot and hit the roof of the net. The Gaels then turned it on and popped 5 points in a row over the bar as Christopher's searched for a spark to get them going.  Late in the half Christopher's were awarded a penalty and Brady netted only their second score of the half.  Christopher's were still very much in it however, and at the break the Gaels led 1-9 to 2 goals.

High Ball for Ian Burke and David Culhane 

Christopher's closed the gap with a much improved second half performance.  After 20 minutes the Gaels lead had shrunk to 2 points.  Dan Kenneally and Jason Lonergan had entered the fray and the Gaels enjoyed far less possession in the middle of the field.  Lonergan, Brady, and Michael Quinlivan put four unanswered over the bar, and eventually Graham pointed a close range free for the Gaels to make it a one goal game with 10 minutes to go.  The kickouts continued to be gobbled up by Kenneally, and soon the game was level.  Substitute, Kevin McAllister, fired home a goal from close range.  Mulryan put the Gaels ahead once more with a fine point, but Christopher's struck with a fourth goal, and Brady's hat trick.  A high ball into the box broke for Brady who wrong footed the keeper to slide the ball home.  Having had the game under control in the first half, defeat stared the Gaels in the face.  However, points from Mulryan and Burke leveled the scores to set up a tense final 5 minutes.  Each side had chances to covert the winning score, but neither side could get themselves over the finish line.  The draw keeps both teams in it, but the Gaels will look at it as a point lost rather than won, Christopher's will see it the other way around.

Gaels:  E. Conneeley, L. Cullen, C. Cullen, S. Conneeley (0-1), C. O'Donnell, E. Gorman, R. Hyde, D. Comer (0-1), D. Hogan (0-2), N. Graham (0-3), C. Mulryan (0-3), K. McGrath (1-1), I. Burke (0-3).  Christopher's:  P. Kenneally, C. Lordan, C. Davies, D. Culhane, M. Delaney, E. O'Neill, P. Lucey, D. O'Sullivan, G. O'Leary, P. Quirke, J. Kenneally, M. Quinlivan (0-1), C. Brady (3-3).  Sub:  J. Lonergan (0-1), K. McAllister (1-0).

By Rory O'Donnell

July 21 - Senior Football: Aidan McAnespies v Kerry

Kerry 0-9 Aidan McAnespies 1-16

It was a much anticipated encounter between Kerry who put in some excellent performances so far this year, and Aidan McAnespies, a perennial challenger.  McAnespies added Cathal Shine to the middle of the field, and the Roscommon man added some serious beef to the middle of the field.  After a close first half, McAnespies pulled away in the second to win with ease in the end.

Jamie Doolan tries to avoid being the meat in the sandwich.

McAnespies led by a point at the end of the first half.  After Kerry had waited for their opponents to take the field, the game started right away as the Kingdom had already lined out.  Kerry had some early chances at goal, one that hit the post from Darragh O'Brien, but McAnespies weathered the early storm and eventually took control of the game.  Kerry's cause was not helped by a hamstring injury to David Clifford, and the capable wing back had to leave the field of play.  There followed 4 unanswered points as McAnespies dominated the middle of the field with Shine and Stephen Sherry.  Jamie Doolan was on form in the corner and accounted for 3 of the 7 first half points for his side.  Luke Kelly, Cian Tobin, and Conor Daly accounted for the balance between them.  Kerry drew close towards the end of the half with a handful of Darragh O'Brien points, and one fine score from substitute  Colin Campion .  At the break McAnespies led by a score of 0-7 to 0-6.

Niall Sheehy and Stephen Sherry
 jump for the kickout.

Macs took a firm grip of the game early in the second half.  Stephen Sherry came into his own in the middle of the field, and traffic was mostly in the direction of the Kerry goal.  A mixture of power and guile led to an opening 15 minutes where McAnespies tallied a goal and 7 points to Kerry's 2 points.  The goal came from a pass by Burke to substitute Darryl Brolly, and Brolly propelled his side into a 7 point lead.  Kerry made wholesale substitutions but pulling the game back was beyond their capabilities at that point.  Collie Donnelly made his comeback from an injury sustained early in the year and chipped in with a point.  McAnespies looking like they will have to be taken very seriously for the rest of this season.

Kerry:  P. Bailey, S. Driscoll, D. Larkin, E. Mullan, S. Cunningham, D. Clifford, I. Whelan, A. Hickey, D. Clabby, S. O'Callaghan, J. Fitzpatrick, N. Sheehy (0-1), D. O'Brien.  Sub: C. Campion (0-1).  Macs:  P. Coakley, E. Delmar, E. Rigney, C. Daly (0-1), C. McClean, N. Gallen, C. Shine, S. Sherry, L. Kelly (0-3), D. Lally (0-1), C. Tobin (0-1), J. Doolan (0-3), F. Burke (0-1).  Subs:  D. Brolly (1-1), C. O'Neill (0-1), C. Donnelly (0-1).

By Rory O'Donnell

July 21 - Senior Football: Galway v Wolfe Tones

Galway 0-12 Wolfe Tones 1-9

It was a tremendously exciting game that went down to the wire between Galway, who may have had an outside chance of making the playoffs should they win, and Wolfe Tones.  Conor McGreanor was the main man for Galway up front and it looked like he had won the game for Galway, but a late free taken by Donie Smith for the Tones leveled the game with time almost up.

Thomas Moolick gives chase to Eoghan Kavanagh

The Tones got off to a four points to no score start and with circumstances decidedly in their favour, one wondered if we would see a one sided game.  Galway got themselves into the game with 2 excellent points from Conor McGreanor who lined out at corner forward.  The game settled into an even contest with Tom Walsh proving to be a big presence in the middle of the field for Galway, and Danny Reddin and Anton McFadden playing very well in the half back line.  David Drake, Barry Coffey, and Kevin Cummins accounted for scores for Galway, while Danny Egan, Smith, and Sean Kelly hit the mark for the Tones.  At the break Galway had pulled themselves within a point.

Galway's Danny Reddin on the ball.

The pace of the game slowed down a little in the second half.  Galway turned the deficit into a lead with 3 points on the trot from Kildare man, Coffey.  Two were from frees and the third came from a chance at goal that was saved twice.  McGreanor made a great run at goal and tried to slip his shot low past Cathal Hynes, but Hynes got down well to parry the shot.  The big corner forward almost put the rebound away, but Sean Higgins was there to clear the ball.  Coffey tidied up with the point and the Tones had a let off.  The Tones were looking at an unanticipated defeat at this stage as Galway were in the ascendancy.  Smith at corner forward changed all that with a point that was followed by a goal.  Thomas Moolick played a cross field ball that Smith got on the end of and danced past several defenders before finishing with his left foot from inside 14 yards.  The Tones now ahead by 2 points with 10 minutes to go.  Galway had several chances to level the scores, and eventually they did with a booming 50 from McGreanor, and a free from Coffey following a foul on the big man in the corner.  At first it looked like it would be Galway's day after McGreanor pointed with time almost up, but a late late free was converted by Smith for the Tones to earn a point.  End of the road for Galway, while the Tones are well on track for the quarter finals.

Galway:  M. O'Connor, J. Flynn-O'Connor, N. Freeman, A. McFadden, M. McGinley, D. Reddin, E. Kavanagh, T. Walsh, K. Cummins (0-1), B. Coffey (0-6), M. Kenny, C. McGreanor (0-4), D. Drake (0-1).  Tones:  C. Hynes, K. Cleere, S. Higgins, J. Hickson, J. Comerford, J. Gonoud, T. Moolick (0-1), C. McCarthy, M. Farrell, D. Egan (0-2), M. Kelly, S. Kelly (0-2), D. Smith (1-4).

By Rory O'Donnell