Pick of Boston 2010

With the Boston GAA season well over by now, I wondered what a Pick of Boston football team would look like. When I started writing reports on the games in Canton almost 10 years ago, Boston All-Star football and hurling teams were a fairly easy pick as there were so many home based players. In fact, until two years ago, there was an All-Star banquet where home-based players were recognized with All Star and player of the year awards. Things have changed drastically in the time since. Clubs are working harder than ever to field top quality teams, trying coax the veterans into giving one more year, and filling out the home base with early arrivals. There have been some positive developments on the home-based front however. There are American Born players now coming through the youth systems that have been in place for more than 10 years. Brendan Kelly and Dan Kenneally, who play with Christopher’s, and Pat Murray with the Shannon Blues, make my Boston team, however, there are also American Born players coming through with other clubs who will make their mark at the highest level in the years to come. In addition, many of the junior football teams are seeing increasing numbers of kids who have learned the game here in Boston filling their ranks, and many will progress to senior level. The New England Celtics, a team composed entirely of local boys, with nary a sanction player to be found, made the semi-finals in their first foray at Junior A level. Also, right at the root, there is a growing youth league. There are now more than 6 underage football clubs in the New England area compared to one youth program 3 years ago. All that, combined with the hurling clubs in New Hampshire and Maine, means that the GAA is becoming more deeply rooted in the New England area then it ever has been.


Pat Murray 
 is one of the talented local born players
making an impact with the Boston GAA.



Thar an Trasnán

Boston Team of 2010

Goalkeeper: Willie O’Dowd (Wolfe Tones)

Right Corner Back: Pat McNicholas (Connemara Gaels)

Left Corner Back: Frank Meehan (Armagh-Notre Dame)

Right Half Back: Brendan Kelly (Christopher’s)

Center Half Back: Neil Donaghy (McAnespies)

Left Half Back: Sean Gallagher (Galway)

Midfielders: Michael McGinty (Donegal), Dan Kenneally (Christopher’s)

Right Half Forward: Colm McCrory (Aidan McAnespies)

Center Forward: Pat Murray (Shannon Blues)

Left Half Forward: Joey Farrell (Wolfe Tones)

Right Corner Forward: Robbie Croft (Kerry)

Left Corner Forward: Marty Farrell (Wolfe Tones)

Connemara Gaels bring back Junior B Shield

The Connemara Gaels junior B team went to Chicago for the North American County board finals, and came back with the junior B shield to add to their Boston Junior B championship.  Many players got the first plane from Logan Friday morning to be in Chicago for the first game Friday afternoon, and the Boston representatives were defeated by a score of 3-13 to 0-8 by the Chicago Patriots.  Fatigue worked against the Boston side, and the local team's superior fitness eventually wore down the Gaels.  The Chicago side went on to win the championship.


However, the Gaels still had a chance to take some silverware home in the shield competition.  The following day the Gaels beat the Pittsburgh Celtics by a score of 3-19 to 1-4 in the quarter final.  Sunday morning was the semi versus the LA Wild Geese and it was the Boston boys that came out on top of this opposite coast battle by 1-20 to 2-3.  Martin Kerr's intrepid heroes faced Charlotte in the shield Final and came out on top by a score of 1-22 to 1-4.  With silver coming in at this rate an extra shelf will have to be installed behind the bar at JJ's on Dorchester Ave.


The team that traveled to Chicago was: Brian Joyce, Coleman Conroy, Kieran Lowe (Capt.), Vinny O’Malley, Pat Mac, Mikey McDonagh, Gary O’Malley, Tommy Sally, S. Conneeley, M. Conroy, Kevin Owens, Chris Lafferty, Conor Lohan, Steve King, Martin Kerr, Pat McTavish.

The Boston Shamrocks junior ladies did not fare as well and were beaten by San Fran in the semi-final.  Like wise the junior C hurlers from Partland Maine who beat Denver in the quarter final, but were soundly defeated by eventual winners Chicago Cusacks in the semi-final.

Listen to a run down of the Boston GAA Finals with Denis O'Brien at GaelicSportsCast.com

#136 Donegal and Tipp win Boston titles

Siansa 8 Question of the Month Winner!

There were several correct answers to the August question.  The question was: Under the current format, what county was the first to win the All-Ireland football championship without having appeared in their provincial final and what year?

Answer: Galway in 2001.  (Roscommon beat Mayo in that year's Connaught Final.) 


The winner of a $50 gift certificate is Val McGlynn, of Ardsley, New York.  Congratulations Val!

Senior Football Final: Donegal Blow by McAnespies in Powerful Display.

Aiden McAnespies 0-8 Donegal 2-10



Donegal saved their best till last. Having sputtered through much of the season, and then having to play three games in the last week of the season, one being the semi-final Thursday night, Donegal swept to the senior football title with a display of hunger and power. There were several stars for the northerners, Brian Kelly at center forward worked extremely hard for the 60 minutes –and set up Donegal’s first goal for Paddy Kelly, for whom the victory must have been particularly satisfying. Ger Reddin at center back, like Brian Kelly, also put in a worthy 60 minutes of effort and covered well for his corner backs. Once Donegal had put together a four-point salvo in the middle of the second half, there was no question over who would be walking away with the cup.

Thomas Corrigan and the McAnespies forward line
had a frustrating day against a tight Donegal defence.

The game started with the tactics fairly clear. McAnespies were out to give room to the corner forwards and hit them at every opportunity. The problem was that when the chances came neither Thomas Corrigan nor CJ McGourty had their shooting boots on. It proved to be a very frustrating afternoon for the normally deadly McAnespies corner forwards. With the McAnespies wing forwards also largely out of the game a long afternoon loomed for red and white. Ger Reddin dropped back in support of the full back line, and picked up plenty of ball breaking from the challenges between corner back and forward. After 15 minutes McAnespies held a two points to one advantage. Collie Carr opened Donegal’s account, while McGourty pointed twice for McAnespies – once from a free and then from play. Donegal took the lead for good shortly after the McGourty score with a goal that resulted from Brian Kelly not giving up on the play and winning the ball on the McAnespies 21. Kelly passed to his namesake Paddy unmarked in front of goal, and the Ballylongford man made sure. Donegal followed with a Brian Kelly pointed free and a hard won John O’Loughlin point. McAnespies hit back with a McGourty point following some good interchanges between Corrigan and Tiernan Diamond in the lead up to the score. Just before half time a second goal from Donegal had Macs reeling. Sean Burke found Brian Kelly, and big Malin man buried the ball from 14 yards. At the half the two goals was the difference between the teams.

John O'Loughlin puts Donegal eight points up
in the second half.

With virtually nothing going their way McAnespies urgently needed to make some sort of change and Luke Sweetman was introduced for Tiernan Diamond. Sweetman added some strength to McAnespies forward line, but in the end the change proved to be largely cosmetic. Dan Graham and Paddy Kelly traded points with Neil Donaghy and Sweetman to open the half. Sweetman could have had a goal but his punched effort came off the top of the crossbar and over. Then Donegal put the game away with four points on the trot to open a 10 point lead. With Neil Collins and Reddin at the back, O’Loughlin in midfield, and both Kelly’s all performing at a level that McAnespies could not cope with, points went over from a Collie Carr free, O’ Loughlin, Burke, and Brian Kelly. McGourty, who had been brought deeper pointed twice late, and Burke traded a score with Colm McCrory at the end. Donegal were jubilant at the sound of the final whistle, and having lost out to McAnespies two years ago in the final, the feeling must have been particularly sweet.


Macs: S. Connolly, B. O’Reilly, T. McClelland, M. Bogue, D. Wylie, C. O’Sullivan, N. Donaghy (0-1), B. McGarr, C. McCrory (0-1), T. Diamond, D. Tobin, T. Corrigan, CJ McGourty (0-5). Sub: L. Sweetman (0-1). Donegal: M. Boyle, T. McGuire, N. Collins, D. Graham (0-1), G. Reddin, K. Lillis, M. McGinty, J. O’Loughlin (0-2), B. Lafferty, B. Kelly (1-2), C. Carr (0-2), P. Kelly (1-1), S. Burke (0-2).


By Rory O'Donnell

Senior Hurling Final: Tipp Outclass Galway

Galway 2-8 Tipperary 3-15



For the neutral observers it was a disappointing final. Outclassed was the word on everybody’s lips after the game as Tipperary were in total control and never looked in danger of letting Galway back into the game once they had put some distance between themselves and the tribesmen. The anticipated battle between Kilkenny men Willie O’Dwyer and Kieran Joyce never really materialized as O’Dwyer had a frustrating outing and never really was a factor in the game. At the half the Tipp lead was 8 points and would have been more than the final margin of 10 but for two late Galway goals that dressed up the scoreboard somewhat.

Tipp's Michael Gleeson gets around
Stephen Dineen's challenge.

After fifteen minutes the sides were level with four points each, but several wides for Tipp and a close call in front of the Galway goal gave notice of what was to come for the rest of the game. Eric Ward was called on to come off his line to save from Shane Bourke who was clean through with the goal in sight. Martin Boran earned a yellow card for a challenge on Paddy Nolan as Nolan was coming out with the ball. The Galway corner back was one of the bright spots of the day for Galway. Michael Gleeson, who was on form for Tipp, put the defending champions into a one point lead and Boran converted a free before Tipp’s first goal came. Colin Fennelly made the most of his chance and Tipp led by five. It was lead of six a minute later as Bourke pointed and in the space of 5 minutes a tied game had swayed decidedly in Tipp’s favour. With Joyce dominating the Tipp half back line Galway struggled to make any impression on the deficit and constantly returned the ball to Tipp when in possession. In the five minutes leading up to half time, Boran, Joyce, and Derek McNicholas all pointed to a lone Galway point from a Willie Hyland free. With Tipp eight points to the good and Galway looking to be struggling the outcome looked inevitable.

Enda Concannon tries to get something going for Galway.

A goal and two points to start the second half put an end to any hopes that Galway had of realistically making a stab at a comeback. Derek McNicholas pointed and like in the first half, some wayward shots early in the half from Tipp were easily afforded. Goal number two came from McNicholas as he caught cleanly on the edge of the small square and batted the ball into the floor of the net. Galway were denied a goal after Thomas Lowry saved well from a Shane Murphy first time pull at the other end. An off the ball incident ended in Stephen Curley getting a yellow card for intervening on behalf of Greg Lally who was jabbed by the butt of a Tipp hurley, and was doubled over on the ground. Galway did find the net twice before the end, however, it was way too late for Galway when two goals went in. After SHane Burke had goaled for Tipp to extend an already enormous lead to fourteen points, Stephen Dineen got on the end of a ball dropped in by Hyland and netted for Galway. Shane Maher put a 21 yard free high into the roof of the Tipp net a minute later, but by that stage Tipp already had their name on the cup. An impressive repeat for Tipperary having gone unbeaten for the season. A bridge too far for Galway who in making the final have put their name back on the map of hurling in Boston.



Galway: E. Ward, P. Nolan, S. Curley, A. Callinan, B. Regan, E. Whooley, G. Lally, S. Dineen (1-0), S. Maher (1-0), W. O’Dwyer, W. Hyland (0-7), S. Murphy, E. Concannon (0-1). Tipp: T. Lowry, J. Kindregan, J. O’Keefe, E. Gleeson, K. Joyce (0-1), S. Hickey, C. Dempsey, M. Gleeson (0-2), D. McNicholas (1-3), M. Boran (0-8), P. McGrath, S. Bourke (1-1), C. Fennelly (1-0).


By Rory O'Donnell

Orla Benson Cup Final: Tir na nOg no Match for Shamrocks

Boston Shamrocks 5-13 Tir na nOg 1-4



The Boston ladies teams play each year for the Orla Benson Cup. The cup is named in memory of a young girl from county Kerry who, like so many thousands of students before and since, had spent the summer in Boston.  Orla was murdered in a playground in Allston having spent the night out with friends just before she was due to return to Ireland. This year is the 15th anniversary of her death.

The Boston Shamrocks did not give Tir na nOg
much space on Sunday.

The game itself did not come close to living up to the excitement generated by ladies finals of years past. After a one sided first 20 minutes the Shamrocks had established a 7 point lead. Tir na nOg got on the scoreboard with a Sinead Bannon free followed by a point from Emer Power. Tir na nOg could not cope with Shamrocks center forward Catriona Treanor who registered some beautifully taken points. The Shamrocks combined well on several occasions, Cathy McEleaney finished one good move, Shannon Guarge another, and Nicola Hust popped a free over the bar. Tir na nOg had a couple of wides and struck the post high on one occasion, and had these chances been taken the half-time deficit would have been much closer than the 0-7 to 0-2 in the Shamrocks favour.


After Guare and Treasa Doherty extended the Shamrocks lead, Michelle Walsh goaled for Tir na nOg. Walsh won the break from a hop ball on the 21 and fired home to reduce the deficit to four points and there was hope for the Brighton side. Unfortunately for them, the remainder of the game featured 5 Shamrocks goals as the Shamrocks shelled their opponents into submission. Ciara Murphy, Guare, Hurst, and two from Doherty near the end of the game made sure Tir na nOg would not be harboring any comeback notions. Bannon and Michelle Walsh did manage late consolation scores for the Brighton side. Shamrocks captain, Stacy O’Dowd, graciously accepted the cup and put things in perspective by reminding everybody present of the purpose of playing for the trophy, and called for a moment of silence to be observed in memory of Orla Benson.



Shamrocks: N. Hayward, N. Nugent, J. O’Connell, S. O’Dowd, A. McDonnell, N. Hurst, T. Doherty, E. Burns, C. McEleaney, T. Doherty, C. Treanor, S. Guare, G. Bailey, B. Kelly, C. Murphy. Tir na nOg: C. Kelly, E. Kelly, L. Brick, L. Gilmore, J. Davoren, T. Moran, B. Matti, A. Creegan, N. Daly, N. O’Neill, C. Hanley, S. Moran, E. Power, M. Walsh, S. Bannon.


By Rory O'Donnell

Junior A Football Final: High Drama as McCrudden Rescues Macs

Aiden McAnespies 1-12 Donegal 1-11



There was more than a twist in the tail of this junior football final. McAnespies held sway for most of the game only for Donegal to make a late comeback and almost snatch victory with a Paul Boyce goal as time was running out. McAnespies remained focused for the last few minutes and Dermot McCrudden leveled the scores, and then put the winning point over the bar with virtually no time left on the clock to claim the first of the trophies on offer Sunday.

Niall Gallen challenges Donegal's Darren Green

Donegal got off the mark first with two early points but McAnespies eventually settled and proceeded to put their stamp on the game. Mark Brady’s running and Dermot McCrudden ‘s finishing, combined with some well taken frees from McAnespies veteran Nigel Regan had McAnespies very much on top. With Donegal chasing the game McCrudden and Regan combined for three points from frees before Mark Brady finished a sweeping move to give McAnespies a 1-3 to 0-3 advantage. The threat from the Donegal forward line was largely neutralized. Gary Clarke and Niall Gallen were doing well in the corner back positions and Tom O’Hagen at center back had things well in control. Donegal pointed twice late in the half through Darren Green and Pauric McLaughlin as McAnespies started breaking down in the final third of the field. At the half it was McAnespies by three points, 1-6 to 0-6.

Donegal's Rob Porter comes
away with the ball.

Donegal came to grips with the game in the second half, though the northerners still were playing from behind. After McAnespies had opened up a five point lead through Drumm and McCrudden scores, Donegal strung together four unanswered points. Three Paul Boyce frees and fine point from substitute Felix Grenaghan brought them within a point. There were bookings issued as the tension mounted towards the grand finale. Paddy McLaughlin and Nigel Regan each received yellows for an off the ball episode. However, McAnespies looked to be regaining control of the game in the latter stages. Paddy McCusker pointed after being singled out by Mark Brady and Regan finished a point that resulted from some good supporting play. More bookings came, this time for Benny McGettigan and Pauric McLaughlin. With McAnespies leading by two points Donegal hit with a great goal from Paul Boyce. Paddy McLaughlin hit Boyce with a pass and the Donegal center forward pumped the ball into the far corner from 14 yards. Would Donegal snatch victory from the jaws of defeat? The answer was a resounding no as there was enough time left for McCrudden to point to bring the sides level. Eugene McKenna dropped a free into the Donegal penalty area and McCrudden popped the breaking ball over. A minute later Mark Brady found McCrudden with a pass, the composed wing forward’s shot sailed over the bar and with that, McAnespies won their second junior championship in a row impressive fashion.


Macs: P. Stones, N. Gallen, G. Clarke, S. Magill, T. O’Hagen, F. McPhillips, M. Drumm (0-1), P. McCusker (0-1), S. McGettigan, M. Brady (1-0), D. McCrudden (0-5), R. Murphy, N. Regan (0-5). Donegal: C. Mcloughlin, K. Coyle, H. Devine, P. McNulty, R. Porter, Paddy. McLoughlin, P. O’Connor, E. Doonan, K. McGee, P. Boyce (1-7), Pauric. McLoughlin (0-1), E. McCarney, D. Green (0-2). Sub: F. Greneghan (0-1).


By Rory O'Donnell