Semi-Finals Schedule

Semi-Finals Schedule

Saturday August 16

Field A

5:30 Ladies Senior Playoff:  Connacht Ladies v Boston Shamrocks

Field B

4:00 Junior B Semi-Final:  Cork v Donegal

5:15 Junior B Semi Final:  Hartford v Shannon Blues

Sunday August 17

12:00 Junior A Semi-Final:  Donegal v Aidan McAnespies

1:15: Junior A Semi-Final: Cork v Connemara Gaels

2:30 Senior Football Semi-final:  Shannon Blues v Donegal

3:45 Senior Hurling Semi-final:  Galway v Tipperary

5:00 Senior Football Semi-final:  Aidan McAnespies v Wolfe Tones

Sun Aug 10 - Senior Football: Donegal v Kerry

Donegal 3-14 Kerry 3-13

It was classic championship football as Kerry pushed Donegal all the way in a battle of third and sixth placed teams.  After the first 20 minutes Donegal looked as though they would come through the game at a canter, but three second half goals from Kerry had them in a one point lead late in the game and an incredible upset looked likely.  To their credit, Donegal maintained their composure to level the scores and then take advantage of a last minute free to emerge one point winners.

Sean Boyle accounted for 2 Donegal goals.

Donegal’s forward line looked rampant at times in the first half, and on occasion the northerners returned Kerry kick outs back to score.  Steven Griffin tallied a goal after rounding the keeper, and a good handful of points, while his cohorts, Sean Boyle, Ryan Murray, and Daniel McLaughlin turned the Kerry back line inside out on occasion.  Boyle accounted for a goal to start the game after turning his man and finishing to the far corner.

Kerry had to be resourceful and tried to deploy their players as best they could.  There were a few well taken scores for the kingdom.  Joe Fitzpatrick, Robbie Croft, and Owen McGreevey tallied excellent points.  Having spent much of the first half on the back foot and with the game looking like it could slip past them, Kerry ended the half brightly and were hanging on.  The game could have been out of sight, but the Kingdom trailed by just the two goals at the break.

Steven Griffin rounds Lee Stacey to goal for Donegal.

Kerry kept it interesting in the second half.  An Owen McGreavey goal with about five minutes gone brought Kerry within four points.  The teams proceeded to swap points.  Kerry were able to find openings in the Donegal rearguard, and on two occasions could have netted a second.  Joe O’Shea’s shot was saved by Eamon McCarney and a second ended up over the bar from Graham Glenn.  Kerry eventually leveled the game with 10 minutes to go.  McGreavey created the overlap with a pacy run and Glenn was tripped in the box as he tried to round McCarney.  Croft took the penalty and put it in the corner.

The game came to a rousing climax as it could have gone either way in the final 10 minutes.  There was notable anticipation around Canton after a second Croft goal.  The Dubliner may have been a little selfish as the obvious choice was a handpass to Glenn, but Croft took matters into his own hands and finished into the corner to put Kerry a goal to the good.  Donegal, however, swept upfield from the kickout and moving the ball at speed and in clinical fashion, leveled after Boyle palmed into the net to level the scores again.  The teams remained tied after trading points with the 60 minutes played.  The end came after a Kerry free was put wide from about 40 yards by Croft, and Griffin pointed from about 25 for Donegal with virtually the last kick of the game.  Cruel disappointment for Kerry, and relief for Donegal to hold off a gallant Kerry challenge. 

Donegal:  E. McCarney, M. Canney, J. O’Connor, S. Doherty, G. Gallagher, C. Healy, M. Smyth, C. Thompson, G. Clancy, S. Griffin, D. McLaughlin, R. Murray, S. Boyle.  Kerry:  L. Stacey, M. Godley, A. Fitzgerald, J. O’Shea, S. Briggs, C. Moriarty, D. Foley, M. Condron, O. McGreavey, I. Whelan, J. Fitzpatrick, G. Glenn, R. Croft.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sun Aug 10 - Senior Football: Wolfe Tones v Connemara Gaels

Connemara Gaels 1-10 Wolfe Tones 1-15

Wolfe Tones pulled off a feat that they had never accomplished before, a senior championship playoff victory.  The Tones led at the break, but mid way through the half the Gaels took a brief lead after Ruairi Corrigan goaled.  While a Tones collapse may have been anticipated, this time the Tones found a way to win.  The points sailed over the bar down the stretch to see the Tones into a semi-final next week against Aidan McAnespies.

Marty Farrell goes down under Sean Conneeley's challenge.

At the break the Tones held a four point lead in large part thanks to a Marty Farrell goal.  Early in the half it was the Tones putting the scares into the Gaels defence.  The South Boston lads were on top of the Gaels goal on a handful of occasions, and Farrell’s goal was the sum of the reward. 

For their part, the Gaels enjoyed plenty of the play as the half wore on, but the westerners missed several chances to pull closer to their opponents.  At the half it was a 1-6 to 0-5 Tones lead.  Points from Farrell and Michael Argue put the Tones into an early lead.  The Gaels’ Ger Leech, Calum McCormack and Ruairi Corrigan pointed five times between them for the Gaels. 

Up for the high ball.

The second half saw the Gaels look for Calum McCormack in the corner early and often.  The Westmeath man won plenty of ball, however, the Gaels missed a couple of goal chances before Corrigan netted to level the scores.  McCormack pointed to put the Gaels one to the good, cur the Tones collapse.  Not so as the Tones started to gain a foothold in the middle of the field.  Charles McCarthy switched with Michael Argue and possession fell increasingly favour of the South Boston men.

The following period saw the Tones outscore the Gaels eight points to two to open a five point lead over the critical final quarter.  Farrell, McVeety, Sean Higgins, and Lee Carr each put a dagger in Gaels hearts as the Tones dominated.  Each Tones possession seemed to end in a score.  The Gaels went in search of goals as the clock was against them, and the Tones held firm at the back not allowing even a half chance to their opponents.  A huge win for Tones against the defending champions to see them into next week against arch rivals, Aidan McAnespies.

Gaels:  E. Connolly, J. Donoghue, S. Connelly, C. Mulkerrins, C. Daly, J. Egan, C. Jones, C. Harkin, G. Leech, N. Graham, R. Corrigan, D. McCormack, C. McCormack.  Tones:  C. Hynes, K. Clarke, D. McConon, S. Higgins, C. Cleere, M. O’Brien, L. Flynn, M. Argue, D. McVeety, G. O’Connell, G. Brilly, M. Farrell, C. McCarthy.

By Rory O'Donnell

Aidan McAnespies 1-15 Wolfe Tones 1-12

Aidan McAnespies took advantage of an injury time reprieve to force extra time and advance to the junior A football semi-final.  Wolfe Tones will regret a plethora of missed chances when they held an edge on the balance of play in normal time, while McAnespies took full advantage.  An early goal and three points at start of the added period put the game away for McAnespies.

Jonathan Carroll and Neil Donaghy battle in midfield.

McAnespies got off to the better start.  Aaron McKenna and Paul Daly put a point over each.  The Tones had their early opportunities, but on two or three occasions the finishing effort was wayward.  McKenna and McAlinden added to the lead as the Tones frustration with their inability to tally a score grew. 

In terms of possession it was quite even.  Both sets of backs absorbed pressure well, the McAnespies defenders probably had a little bit more to do, and they did it effectively.  Eventually Sean Kelly and Lee Clarke converted for the Tones, but the shooting continued to let them down.  McKenna and Shane Lynn cancelled out the inroads that the Tones had made on the scoreboard.  At the break it was a six points to three lead for McAnespies.

Enda Hamill chased by Darren McGuire.

The first four scores of the second half came from the Tones.  One was a beautiful curling effort from Joyce-Power.  Things appeared to be shifting in favour of the Tones with Jonathan Carroll and Pa Collins getting a foothold in midfield while Darren and Sean McGuire attacked from the half back line.  Each time the Tones edged ahead, however, McAnespies managed to pull level.  There were goal chances at either end.  Lee Clarke skidded a shot wide of the far post at one end and at the other, substitute Jimmy Flynn hit the outside of the post. 

Gavin Walsh edged the Tones ahead with a well taken score, but the Southie boys missed a several good chances to open a gap.  A free for McAnespies leveled the scores with a minute left, but Walsh provided the Tones with that one point edge following the kickout.  Four minutes into injury time Ryan McCrystal took advantage of a last chance ‘45 and sent the game into extra time.

Extra time belonged to McAnespies.  McKenna fisted a deflected shot into the net and set the tone for the remaining 20 minutes.  After a Paul Daly run McAlinden pointed, and the score was followed by McKenna and Hamill points.  The work was done in the first 5 minutes.  McAnespies controlled the game from then on as the Tones had no choice but to go for goal.  A late goal by Ger Molloy proved too late and McAnespies advance to meet Donegal in next week’s semi-final.

Macs:  N. Duffy, B. Smith, A. Kellet, R. McCrystal, M. Bogue, P. Daly, S. Lynn, N. Donaghy, O. McNulty, O. McCusker, E. Hamill, G. McAlinden, A. McKenna.  Tones:  P. Miskell, K. Gill, M. McNamara, K. Goram, D. McGuire, S. McGuire, J. Carroll, P. Collins, E. Carr, W. Milner, L. Clarke, C. Joyce-Power, S. Kelly.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sun Aug 10 - Senior Hurling: Galway v Tipperary

Galway 1-18 Tipperary 1-11

Galway and Tipperary met in a preview of next Sunday’s quarter final.  There was little at stake in the game except to perhaps get a feel for the opposition ahead of next Sunday’s big game.  There were some spectacular moments and well taken scores, but it was fairly tame stuff in advance of the more intense action to come a week from now.

Tom Devine gets his shot off.

At the break it was Tipp a point to the good, seven points to six.  Greg Lally at center back put some impressive scores over the bar for Galway.  Paul Holden, Rory Hickey, and James Regan followed suit.  For Tipperary Rory Sludds, Mark Kavanagh and Jack Kelleher pointed as the game trotted along at three quarter pace.

The punters were treated to some spectacular moments however.  One was in the form of a fabulous Clinton Hennessy save from Ger Malone who shot inside the 21.  Odhran Floyd accounted for a couple of well taken points to put Galway into a one point lead, and Lally’s display of shooting was something to behold.  A Tom Devine goal for Tipperary, with a cheeky finish, was cancelled out by a James Skehill 21 yard free that skipped off the turf and into the net.  Paul Holden frees put Galway into the lead late in the half as the tribesmen took the points and officially second place in the standings.

Galway finished second in the standings and will meet Tipp
next week in the semi-final.

The teams meet at 3:45 next Sunday to decide who will advance to meet Fr. Tom’s in the final.

Galway:  J. Skehill, P. Dowling, C. Murphy, D. Sweetland, G. Lally, JJ Doyle, O. Floyd, J. Regan, P. Wolden, R. Hickey, G. Malone, B. McNamara, M. Lennon.  Tipp:  C. Hennessy, L. Varley, S. mcGarr, J. Kindregan, P. Flaherty, S. Nally, C. Dempsey, R. Sludds, K. O’Brien, P. Moriarty, M. Kavanagh, J. Kelleher, T. Devine.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sun Aug 10 - Ladies Senior Football: Connacht Ladies v Boston Shamrocks

Boston Shamrocks 2-11 Connacht Ladies 3-12

Connacht Ladies produced a victory to keep themselves alive in the Ladies Senior Football championship.  Some fast paced attacking, a hallmark of the last two championship teams, and a devastating performance from full forward, Catriona Foley, were the hallmarks of a well earned win.

Sinead McCrystal on the attack for Boston Shamrocks.

By the end of the first half Connacht Ladies held a 2 goal lead.  The champions got off to a dream start with a Catriona Foley goal.  Foley was a major threat for the westerners throughout the half.  The full forward added two points before the Shamrocks opened their account through Shannon Kelly.  Two quick points got the Shamrocks back into the game.  One from Kelly, the other a fine effort from midfielder, Sinead Woods. 

Each side battled for the advantage, however, Connacht Ladies looked very dangerous when attacking.  Natalie Donovan made two great saves from close range, however, just before the break Catriona Smith netted a second goal for Connacht Ladies.  The Shamrocks would have work to do to pull themselves back into the game in the second half. 

Aisling Kerr comes out of defence.

The Shamrocks pushed hard in the second half.  After trading points the gap between the teams was reduced with a Leanne McCrystal goal.  A golden opportunity to restore parity went amiss.  After McCrystal was pulled down in the penalty area, Sheila McLaughlin’s kick was saved by Caroline Heraty.  The Shamrocks still enjoyed the edge in play however.  Mango McGovern, Linda Cronin, and McCrystal had started to do their thing.  Carol Ann Byrne netted following a rebound off the crossbar, the score put the Shamrocks two points to the good.

As only they can, however, Connacht Ladies rallied.  A sweeping attack resulted in a penalty after Foley was pulled down.  The full forward took the kick herself, and made no mistake.  A point followed from the same boot, and Connacht had hope of staying alive in the competition.  Clodagh McGovern and Caoimhe Moran swapped points, and entering the final few minutes Connacht held a two point advantage.  Sinead Greene and Jane Ward put the game out of reach with a late point each, and the teams will have to meet once more to decide who plays Tir na nOg in the final.

Shamrocks:  N. Donovan, B. McGuire, D. Kearney, L. Larkin, E. King, N. Fennell, D. Hallahan, S. McLaughlin, S. Woods, S. Kelly, L. Cronin, B. Devlin, C. Byrne, L. McCrystal, C. McGovern.  Connacht Ladies:  C. Heraty, K. Cunningham, A. Egan, H. Poff, E. Mulgrew, M. Mullen, J. Conroy, C. Moran, A. Kerr, S. Greene, C. Smith, J. Ward, C. Foley, N. Morgan.

By Rory O'Donnell

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

Fr. Tom Burkes 4-16 Wexford 2-10

Saturday afternoon decided things at both ends of the senior hurling championship.  Fr. Tom’s finished top of the table and have a week off before the final, while Wexford were eliminated with four points from their six games.  Tom’s were on top in all areas of the field for most of the game and built on an eight point first half lead to ensure a place in the final for the first time since 2005.

Michael O'Regan and Wexford made a big effort

A Peter Ryan goal mid way through the first half kept the game close.  Ryan got on the end of a high ball to the edge of the small square and sneaked it past an unsighted Alan Keating.  The goal reduced a four point gap to one.  Zane Keenan was split the uprights with impeccable free taking on four occasions, while David O’Mahoney and Ian McDonald accounted for two other scores.  Wexford’s Jamie Kehoe converted two chances for his side.

Tom’s pressed on from that point of the game.  O’Mahoney in midfield had a knack for being in the right place at the right time and set up Shane Howley for the leveling score.  Tom’s then hit with two goals.  Oisin Burke finished a fine individual effort, and Joey Fitzpatrick finished off the job after Ed Spruhan had saved his initial effort.  Tom’s could afford a handful of wides before the beak to lead by double scores, 2-10 to 1-5.

Zane Keenan and Tom's were on the mark Saturday.

A Tom’s goal to start the second half from the smooth as silk Keenan dismissed notions of a Wexford comeback.  It was followed by four unanswered points, two of which were fantastic sideline cuts from under the press box, and the writing was on the wall for Wexford.  Wexford put back to back scores together from Keogh and Mark Mansfield, but center back Michael O’Regan was sent off for a challenge that left Howley in some evident discomfort.

That was it as a game.  Tom’s went on the finish the job in cruise mode and even had the good fortune of a fourth goal that seemed to be aimed as a point but landed in the top corner of the goal.  Delight for Tom’s who have a big weekend in store in a fortnight’s time with the junior and senior teams contesting finals.

Tom’s:  A. Keating, G. Joyce, P. Heneghan, D. Costello, C. Joyce-Power, S. Higgins, N. O’Brien, D. O’Mahoney, S. Howley, I. McDonnell, O. Burke, Z. Keenan, J. Fitzpatrick.  Wexford:  E. Spruhan, M. Ryan, H. Wallace, C. Burke, M. O’Regan, T. Moloney, J. Kehoe, D. Redmond, P. O’Farrell, P. Ryan, M. Mansfield, T. Ryan, M. Moloney.

By Rory O'Donnell

Sat Aug 9 - Junior A Football Q/F: Shannon Blues v Connemara Gaels

Connemara Gaels 3-10 Shannon Blues 2-12

Connemara Gaels juniors advanced to the semi-finals of the championship with a hard fought victory over a Shannon Blues side that battled hard throughout.  It was to and fro for the 60 minutes as neither side could gain a decisive edge.  The Gaels opened a 5 point lead late in the game and it proved to be just enough as the Blues got it back to a point in injury time.

Connemara Gaels made it to the junior A semi final next week.

A goal got the game off to a great start for the Gaels, Conor McNamara netted with a fine strike.  From then on the Gaels struggled to deal with the Blues tenacity, especially in the middle of the field.  The Blues held an advantage in this area with Vinny Cadden and John Walsh making life very difficult for their counterparts.  The sides traded points with scores coming from Kevin Owens, McNamara, and Emmet McConnell on the Gaels side, and Walsh, Maurice Young, and Shane Kavanagh for the Blues.

A goal for the Blues changed the tone of the contest.  Walsh made a run through the Gaels defence and his shot found the back of the net.  After the Gaels answered in kind from Ciaran Lee to restore the one goal advantage, the Blues restored parity.  Maurice Young was a very effective asset for the Blues and although he looked to playing in some discomfort caused no end of problems in the Gaels defence.  Four unanswered points drew the sides level before Kevin Owens gave the Gaels a slight edge going into the break with a point.

The decisive score came about mid way through the second half.  Having turned the half time deficit into a one point lead the Blues looked increasingly likely to earn the victory.  Brian Joyce, however, upped his game in the middle of the field and a goal came from a Joyce possession that was helped on with an expertly delivered Pat McNicholas pass to Emmett McConnell who had the path to goal open in front of him.  The center forward finished well.  The goal provided the Gaels with a lift.  Chris Devlin put back to back points over the bar, both superb scores, to put the Gaels 5 to the good.

The Blues were not about to concede defeat.  With Shane Kavanagh and Tommy Hernon doing sterling work for the cause, and Cadden having moved to a full forward position, a penalty was earned after a foul on Cadden in the box.  Kavanagh’s low effort skinned the outside of the post, inches between success and failure.  With the game entering the late stages both teams looked tired.  The toils on the large field taking its toll.  The Gaels tried to see out the win, but the Blues continued their assault on the Gaels goal and made it close right until the end.  A pointed Kavanagh free was followed by a goal from Francie O’Neill late in injury time.  The Blues had one last chance but once Coleman Conroy intercepted possession that was it.  The Gaels survive to make the semi-finals next week.

Gaels:  J.O’Donnell, S. Murray, E. Maher, P. McNicholas, C. Devlin, C. Conroy, C. McNamara, B. Joyce, C. Lee, E. McConnell, AJ Maguire, K. Owens, K. Lowe.  Blues:  A. Hernon, D. O’Brien, M. Keegan, C. Moriarty, F. O’Neill, V. Cadden, J. Walsh, B. Fannon, S. Kavanagh, J. Young, T. Hernon, M. Young.

By Rory O'Donnell