Senior Football: Kerry v McAnespies - Aug 16

McAnespies 4-9 Kerry 1-8

A second half bombardment from the South Boston side ensured that McAnespies avoid a playoff and make it into the senior championship playoffs next weekend. Kerry had their opponents on the ropes by the time the first half had ended. Trailing by two points and with Kerry looking like they were well able for the challenge, McAnespies looked like they were in trouble. The northerners came roaring back in the second half, and four goals put the Kerry challenge to rest.

Brian Kelly saved a Colm McCrory penalty late in the first half.

Kerry led by two points at the end of the first period thanks to a good display of football. The sides traded wides to open the game, and McAnespies almost had the ball in the net but Jamie Kelly, who only had the keeper to beat, snatched at his shot and the ball trundled wide. McAnespies enjoyed most of the possession and Kerry did not mount anything resembling an attack for the first 10 minutes of the game. It was Kerry though, who opened a two point lead with their first two attacks. Robbie Croft pointed a free and Conor O’Sullivan stole forward from wing back to score a well earned point. Kerry maintained the distance for the remainder of the half as they raised the tempo. Frankie Sullivan worked hard in the half back line, while Thomas Dennehy and Phillip Corrigan were on top in the midfield battle. Mike Godly, Croft, and Dennehy pointed for the green and gold. McAnespies pointed through Jamie Kelly, Colm Donnelly, and Dermot McCrudden. McAnespies had a chance towards the end of the half to move into the lead. Colm McCrory was fouled in the penalty area, however, Brian Kelly dived to his left and put the ball around the post for a ’45. Dermot McCrudden mopped up to point just before the half time whistle to make it 0-6 to 0-4 in Kerry’s favour at the break.

Frankie Sullivan battled hard for Kerry in the first half.

The second half was not so close. McAnespies made their intentions clear with an early goal to take the lead. After Colm McCrory reduced the deficit to a point, Neil McAdam broke forward from midfield, and after a give and go with McCrudden, tipped the return pass over the advancing keeper’s head and into the net Kerry replied with a point from a Robbie Croft free, but that was it from the Kingdom from a scoring perspective until the almost the end of the game. McAnespies were now winning the kickouts, and the back line stepped up to force Kerry into coughing up the ball on several occasions.

Neil McAdam led the charge for McAnespies in the second half.

Alan Nestor was introduced to the fray, and McAnespies lifted their game. McAdam added another point, and McAnespies second goal followed. This time Kelly made no mistake as his low, hard shot ended up in the back of the net. Colm Donnelly and McAdam extended the lead to seven points with a couple of well taken scores. Hopes of a Kerry comeback were put to rest after McCrory stole behind his marker and side stepped the keeper to fire home McAnespies’ third goal. Kelly made it four with 10 minutes to go. After Donaghy pointed substitute Donal Bowe scored a consolation goal for Kerry.

Macs: D. Wright, S. Magill, C. Moore, M. McGovern, K. Hudson, F. McPhillips, N. Donaghy, N. McAdam (1-2), C. Donnelly (0-2), C. McCrory (1-1), G. Clark, D. McCrudden (0-2), J. Kelly (2-1). Kerry: B. Kelly,R. Dwyer, A. Fenton, M. Godley (0-1), F. O’Sullivan, C. O’Sullivan (0-1), T. Dennehy (0-1), P. Corrigan G. O’Keefe, S. Kiley, R. Croft (0-3), R. O’Neill, G. Molloy. Sub: D. Bowe (0-1).

By Rory O'Donnell

Junior A Football: Cork v Donegal - Aug 16

Cork 1-3 Donegal 3-11

Cork and Donegal are both playoff bound in the Junior A championship, but on the basis of this display Donegal look far the more likely contenders for the title. Donegal outplayed Cork for most of the game. Once David Bell netted in the first quarter the outcome of the game looked inevitable as Cork struggled to string together more than two or three passes. Eddie O’Driscoll did well in the forward line for Cork, but the back line struggled to weather almost constant pressure from Donegal.

















Jonathan Byrne and Mike Moynihan challenge for the ball.

The sides matched each other in the points column in the early going, but after 15 minutes Donegal’s superiority in possession was translated to the scoreboard. David Bell netted and established some daylight between the teams. Donegal continued to enjoy the lions share of possession, however, did not make it count on the scoreboard. Had Donegal’s shooting been more accurate, there would have been far more between the teams. Cork did themselves no favours and were far too careless when coming out of defence and lost possession frequently as a result. John Deery and Bell added points before half time to make it a 1-5 to 0-2 Donegal lead at the break.





















David Sheehan shoots as Cork try to make their way back into the game.

Donegal made sure of the victory before the second half was 15 minutes old. Bell and Eddie O’Driscoll traded points before the Buncrana man netted his second goal, and Deery put a second away to put Donegal in a commanding 14 point lead. Eddie O’Driscoll pulled back a consolation goal for Cork with 10 minutes to go, but the rebels never looked like having a chance of getting anything out of the game. Donegal brought on several subs for the last few minutes and Brian Boyce capped of a good overall Donegal display with the last point of the game.

Cork: J. O’Toole, J. Regan, J. Whyte, J. Crowley, J. Corry, M. McCarthy, J. Curtin, J. Gaffney, D. Sheehan, M. Moynihan, M. Cahilane, B. O’Loughlin, E. O’Driscoll. Donegal: C. Murphy, S. Doherty, P. McNulty, P. O’Connor, E. Doonan, K. McGee, J. Burns, T. Caldwell, F. Grenaghan, E. McCarney, J. Deery, D. Bell, C. Rush.

By Rory O'Donnell

Tables Aug 9

Christopher's beat the Wolfe Tones last Saturday, and came from behind to do it. Now the Tones must sit a wait to see what happens Sunday as the outcome of the Kerry v McAnespies game will determine their fate. The Tones will be hoping that Kerry can overturn McAnespies, which would mean a playoff between the teams for the fourth and final Playoff spot. Kerry really have nothing to play for as they are locked in to the intermediate semi-finals, but the prospect of beating the Boston and North American champions could be enough for them to raise their game heading into the playoffs. Either way, a toss of a coin will have to determine who plays who in the senior semis as it is likely that Donegal and Christopher's will be joint top with 14 points. Donegal just need to beat Cork who are out of it altogether. Most likely McAnespies will join the Shannon Blues to share third and fourth.

On the intermediate front we will probably have the Wolfe Tones, Kerry, the Gaels and Armagh-Notre Dame. Armagh-ND need to beat Mayo to ensure their place in the intermediate playoffs. Galway will be hoping for Mayo to make a face saving effort and then beat the Gaels themselves.

I'd be betting on a Wolfe Tones v Armagh-ND and Gaels v Kerry semi-finals pairing.

Sunday next features Galway and Tom's. A Galway win puts them into a playoff spot. Tom's need to win to force a playoff game with Galway for a semi-final place. Both teams have blown hot and cold, but if Tom's can find the resolve that they showed last Sunday Galway will be in for a difficult hour. Tom's have already beaten Galway, and Galway will need to tighten up their game in all areas in order for them to continue in the championship. Could be a good one next Sunday!

The Roscommon ladies pulled off a win last weekend and will again play the Shamrocks to see who advances to the ladies final where Tir na nOg await the winners.

Senior Hurling: Fr. Tom Burke's v Tipperary - Aug 9

Fr. Tom Burke’s 3-11 Tipperary 2-13

Tom’s had to win this game to keep their interest in the senior hurling championship, and win it they did with a fine performance full of heart and determination. In spite of having plenty of opportunities late in the game to decide that they had given it their best and it was not to be, Tom’s refused to die. Having led early, Tom’s led the lead slip and late in the second half looked dead and buried after Conor Kavanagh put the Tipp into a one goal lead with minutes left. Tom’s wanted the win badly and the bloodied Fran Keenan and substitute Ger Henley combined with a goal and a point respectively to win the game and keep Tom’s in the championship.
















Darryl Dooley tries to win the ball for Tom's as things turning Tipp's way.

Tom’s came out of the blocks strong to keep their chances alive. Eanna Murphy latched on to a long clearance out of defence and in firing the ball past Jim Howard, kept his goal a game streak going. Shane Menton opened Tipp’s account with a pointed free, and the sides matched each other for scores over the following 10 minutes. Fran Keenan’s two points for Tom’s were answered with one a piece from Menton and James McCarthy. Tom’s were fired up and gave no quarter in their own territory. Donal Moore rediscovered some of his old form in the half back line, and Shane Staunton at corner back also stood out for Tom’s. With Tom’s on top, Trevor Kelly, Donal Moore, and Shane Howley each pointed and Tom’s led by five points mid way through the half. Tipp, however, began to get their act together. David Young and Eoin Ryan cut out a lot of ball played into the Tom’s forwards, and four points on the trot reduced the Tom’s lead to a point. Two came from placed balls taken by David Young, Menton and Conor Kavanagh accounted for the others. Tom’s needed a score to stem the Tipp flow, and it came from a Fran Keenan free. McCarthy answered for Tipp, but Keenan ensured that the half ended on a positive note for Tom’s with a massive free from his own 45. At the half it was Tom’s by two points, 1-7 to 0-8.






















James McCarthy rises highest to win this puckout.

Tom’s opened the second half in the same manner as the first, hitting Tipp with a goal from the get go. This time it was wing forward Shane Howley who rattled the Tipp net, Howley took a well waited pass from Trevor Kelly and fired home. Fran Keenan followed with a free to put Tom’s two goals clear. Tipp are no pushovers however and the lead fizzled quickly. Tipp tallied a goal and three points in the space of ten minutes, with no answer from Tom’s. Tipp sent practically every puckout back with interest. Shane Menton pointed and Paul McGrath netted a 21 yard free. James McCarthy put two frees over, and with the sides now level all that Tom’s had worked hard for had disappeared. Fran Keenan put Tom’s back in front only to be cancelled out by a Pat Howard point. Aaron Bendon made a great stop to deny Tipp a goal and the game hung in the balance, but Tipp looked the likely winners. After McCarthy and Donal Moore traded scores, a goal came for Tipp. A dropping ball on the edge of the small square was sent into the net by Conor Kavanagh who chose to use the hurley while Paul Callinan was looking to catch – hurley beats hand every time. With a few minutes on the clock Tom’s still had a chance to come back, and they took it. Fran Keenan, who had left the field for treatment to a head injury earlier in the second half, ran 15 yards before burying the ball and the sides were level again. A draw would not do for Tom’s though. The chance to win the game opened up for substitute Ger Henley, and Henley took the point without hesitation. Tom’s ahead by a point now. Tipp still could have equalized, but some do or die defending saw Tom’s holdout until the final whistle.

Tom’s and Galway play next week, and Tom’s have to win to force a playoff, effectively a quarter final, against who else, but old rivals Galway. Hurling fans, hold on to your seats.
Tom’s: A. Bendon, S. Staunton, P. Callinan, J. Dowling, D. Dooley, D. Moore (0-2), F. Keenan (1-6), C. Healy, S. Howley (1-1), T. Kelly (0-1), M. Callnan, J. Cuddy, E. Murphy (1-0). Sub: G. Henley (0-1). Tipp: J. Howard, M. Heffernan, N. Ryan, E. Ryan, D. Young (0-2), B. Howley, M. Jordan, C. Dempsey, C. Kavanagh (1-1), P. Howard (0-1), J. McCarthy (0-5), S. Menton (0-4), P. McGrath (1-0).

By Rory O'Donnell

Senior Football: Shannon Blues v Connemara Gaels - Aug 9

Shannon Blues 1-17 Connemara Gaels 2-5

The Blues made sure that there would be no comeback for the Connemara Gaels this week with a convincing win. The Blues secured a senior championship playoff place and there is no reason to believe that they cannot go on to even better things this year given their recent performances. The Gaels fell behind early, and unlike a week ago, were unable to launch a miracle comeback as the Blues kept a tight grip on the game and did not let up until the last five or ten minutes when the game was safe and several veterans were then introduced to the fray.

The Blues set the tone early. Stephen Gilmartin was in fine form in midfield and the early traffic was all in one direction. The Blues clocked up six points in the first ten minutes, the Gaels opened their account after 12 had passed. The Blues forwards caused numerous problems for the Gaels. Lee McQuade and Colm McGee on the wings, and corner forwards David O’Callaghan and Alan O’Donoghue worked hard. All four of the aforementioned front men pointed, while Simon Sinnott sallied from the half back line to add the sixth. Colin Harkin and Aiden Flanagan put back to back scores together for the Gaels, but the westerners could not get settle into any kind of sustained form. The Blues had a virtual monopoly on possession and quickly took a hold of affiars again. O’Callaghan, McGee,and Brian Maloney put four over between them, and Cormac Arkinson came from corner back to point the third for the Gaels. At the break the Blues led by seven points.




















Cormac Arkinson shoots for the Gaels.

The Gaels efforts at replicating last weeks comeback were hampered on two fronts. Some poor shooting resulted in several wasted chances. Also, the sending off of Kevin Owens for an off the ball incident did not help the Gaels cause. Ten minutes into the second period, after the Blues had added two more points, the Gaels won a penalty when Mark Dougan was pulled down in the box. Dougan’s initial shot was saved, but Colin Harkin was first to the rebound to make it a six-point game. The Gaels hopes of pulling off another comeback were quickly extinguished as within five minutes the goal was erased courtesy of three points, two from Gilmartin and one from McQuade. Michael Magill interrupted the Blues onslaught with a point, but once David O’Callaghan netted for the Blues with less than 10 minutes left that was it. John O’Brien scored a consolation goal, and the Gaels are now looking at the intermediate playoffs, while the Blues are looking to knock McAnespies off their perch.

Blues: D. Hawes, S. Kelly, T. Wallace, B. Maloney (0-1), P. O’Brien, S. Sinnott (0-1), S. Gilmartin (0-3), P. Lydon, L. McQuade (0-2), S. O’Mahoney, C. McGee (0-3), A. O’Donoghue (0-1), D. O’Callaghan (1-6). Gaels: P. O’Malley, C. Arkinson (0-2), C. Conroy, C. Flanagan, A. Flanagan (0-1), K. Owens, C. Harkin (1-1), J. Flaherty, T. McDonagh, M. Magill (0-1), J. Moore, M. Dougan, J. O’Brien (1-0).



By Rory O'Donnell

Senior Football: Galway v Armagh-Notre Dame - Aug 9

Armagh-Notre Dame 1-8 Galway 1-7

Brighton rival clubs, Armagh-Notre Dame and Galway met in a game with intermediate playoff implications and there was but a hair between the sides as the game could have gone to either side. In spite of playing second fiddle on the balance of play for the first half, the northerners went in at the break with a one point lead and went on to win the game in spite of being a man down for most of the second half and having to defend against a Galway team that threw everything at them in the final ten minutes.

Alan Glynn breaks out of defence.

The first 10 minutes were evenly contested, each side converted twice. Galway suffered a blow, however, as Brian Hanlon’s participation was cut short due to an injury, and the westerners surely missed his scoring prowess in the latter stages of the game as they launched several attacks that fell short at the final hurdle. Neil Jordan opened the scoring for the northerners with free. Hanlon brought the sides level before having to depart the fray. After Greg Rogan and Jordan traded points to make it two each, Ryan O’Dwyer scored a cheeky goal. Running through and with the keeper advancing to meet him, O’Dwyer chipped the ball over the keeper and Galway led by a goal. Rogan made it a four-point Galway lead and the tribe were humming along, while their opponents stuttered. The men in orange picked things up a tad and were soon back on level terms. Darren Gilsenan got fouled running through and Jordan popped the 14 yard free over. Then largely against the run of play the scores were leveled thanks to a Brian Boylan goal. Boylan finished a sweeping move, the best of the game to that point from the northern side, and blasted the ball into the back of the net. Boylan then put a long range free over the bar to put Armagh-Notre Dame a point ahead at the half. Galway must have regretted several missed chances as they outplayed their opponents for most of the half, and led their guard down in the few minutes before the break.

Dominic Magill is closely guarded by Shane Melia.

The second half was keenly contested as Armagh-Notre Dame sensed that the day could be theirs. Both corner backs did well and many’s a Galway attack faltered at the last line of defence. Niall Lennon and Damien Burke also led the charge out of defence on several occasions as if to send a message to their cohorts to keep up the pressure. Dominic McGill extended Armagh’s lead to two points with the opening point of the second half, and Greg Rogan answered in kind for Galway. Neil Jordan restored the lead to two, and the northern side lost Fergal McClelland, who had been introduced as a substitute, to a sending off for an off the ball incident. Leading by two points and a man down, the northerners had it all to do with 20 long minutes remaining to play.

Galway surged forward in search of a decisive goal, and Padraig Howard almost got it, but his shot from an acute angle hit the outside of the post. Jordan then extended the lead to three points with a 21-yard free, and Howard pulled it back to two with a point for Galway. Then Donal Redmond almost put Galway into the lead, but his chip towards the far corner came back off the inside of the post, much to the relief of the orange jerseys and their supporters. Exciting stuff, but that was not all. Adrian Kelly got Galway to within a point, and Darren Gilsenan restored it to two with a fine score. Kieran Lillis came through the middle to bring it back to a single point as Galway came forward in numbers with time running out. Galway had a chance to level matters with almost the final kick of the game, but Greg Rogan’s long range free drifted to the left and wide. Great celebrations for Armagh-Notre Dame as a season that seemed destined for the dumpster is now salvageable. A win against Mayo next week means an intermediate playoff spot.

Armagh-ND: C. Molloy, D. Burke, N. Lennon, F. Meehan, M. Graham, G. Gilsenan, D. Gilsenan (0-2), B. Boylan (1-1), A. Blake, S. McCorry, M. Tiffany, N. Jordan (0-4), D. Magill (0-1). Galway: B. Calvey, A. Glynn, S. Melia, JJ O’Neill, K. Lillis (0-1), R. O’Dwyer (1-0), G. Rogan (0-2), S. Gallagher, P. Howard (0-1), A. Kelly (0-1), P. Nolan, D. Redmond, B. Hanlon (0-1). Sub: J. Keogh.

By Rory O'Donnell

Boston GAA update

Sunday August 9.

Shannon Blues book semi final spot with a 1-17 to 2-5 win over the Connemara Gaels. Christopher's beat Wolfe Tones by a score of 1-8 to 0-9 Saturday, and the Tones have to now wait and see if Kerry can beat McAnespies to force a playoff against their Southie nemisis for a senior semi-final place.

Armagh-Notre Dame beat Galway 1-8 to 1-7 in somewhat of a surprise, and look like making the intermediate playoffs. Fr. Tom's pulled off the surprise result of the weekend with a one point win over Tipperary to keep their interest alive in senior Hurling.

Also, Roscommon pulled off a win over the Shamrocks in the Ladies Senior Championship - a playoff between the two awaits to see who will meet Tir na nOg in the final at the end of this month.

Match Reports to follow....

Tables August 2

Kerry 0-13 Galway 0-13

There was some controversy at the end of the Kerry v Galway game as Kerry had nudged themselves into a 0-13 to 0-12 lead late in the game. With Galway leading by two points, Robbie Croft put three frees from off the ground over the bar. Trailing by a point, Galway were attacking with the last possession of the game and the referee awarded a free in for what seemed to be a fair shoulder by a Kerry defender, and Greg Rogan chipped the ball over for the leveling score with the final kick of the game.

Needless to say, that ended Kerry's outside shot at a playoff since the Kingdom can only finish with 9 points and a minimun of 10 is needed to have any chance. In fact, there could be playoffs with 4 teams on 12 points if the Blues, McAnespies, and Wolfe Tones all win their final games. Donegal are the only side that would avoid a playoff for sure if they beat Cork in their final game.

In senior hurling it looks like Tipp and Wexford are the most likely finalists, but Galway and Tom's could produce a surprise. Cork are out of it with their loss to Galway.