February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Connie Kelly
Gaels 1-13, Mayo 1-11
In a game that went down to the wire, Connemara Gaels defeated Mayo for their fourth straight victory Sunday at Canton.
The Gaels went ahead with a goal by substitute Bryan Kyne on the 27th minute. Poor shooting cost Mayo dearly. With more than 50 percent of the play they failed to capitalize when scores were there for the taking.
The loss through injury of Kevin Comer and Kevin Walsh last week in their game with McAnespies proved to be too much for Mayo.
Mike Bryant had the Gaels’ first score, and the first of his four points, from a free after four minutes. Mayo’s Denis Coen had two points, one a free. Liam Moffet and Joe Gorman each had one before Jarvis Toner hit the only goal of the half for Mayo.
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Alan O’Connor in one of his many long runs at the Mayo backs added one for the Gaels. Mike Geoghan and Steve Conway were also right on target to leave the sides level after 30 minutes, 1-4 to 0-7.
Mayo came alive early in the second half and were quickly up by four with points by Jarvis Toner, Joe Gorman and two from frees by Brian McStay. But the Gaels pulled two back from frees by Mike Bryant. Both sides traded points: Joe Gorman of Mayo and Geoghan of the Gaels. Jarvis Toner had Mayo up by three after 17 minutes of play and it looked like Mayo were surging ahead.
Kyne came on to replace Mike Sullivan and this was the turning point in the game for the Gaels. Alan O’Connor added another of his lofty points and Kyne quickly added another to leave just a point between the sides. Mayo seemed to be under pressure at this stage and Geoghan had the sides level with just five minutes on the clock. The killer blow came when Kyne rounded his marker and buried the ball in the back of the Mayo net. McStay got a consolation point from a free on the stroke of time.
Blues 1-9, Wolfe Tones 0-9
The Blues got off to a dream start when John Burke beat goalie Morgan Flanagan for the only goal of the game with just two minutes into the action and from there on it was an uphill battle for the Tones. Freetaker Mick Salmon had a hard time finding his range, which did not help matters for the Tones. While the man of the match for the Blues, Gareth Kelleher, had no trouble finding his mark with five points in the half, three from frees.
Garry Woods opened the Tones account with points in the 10th and 16th minute. Joe Mooney added one in the 12th. Salmon added two from frees late to close out the half, making it Blues 1-5, Tones 0-5.
In the second half, the Blues were quick off the mark with a point by Cathal Goulding in the first minute of play. But it would be all Tones for the next 25 minutes. But they simply kicked this game away with some poor shooting. Garry Woods had a point after eight minutes which could have been a goal, five wides in a row for the Tones before Salmon found his range, sending over three frees in a row and the sides were level. With just five minutes remaining Goulding regained the lead for the Blues with two rapid points, one a free. Kelleher added an insurance point for the Blues and they came away with their first win of the season from five games.
Blues 1-6, Cork 1-6
In the opening half of this junior football game, goalie Tadgh Lucey of Cork pulled off two point-blank saves. At the half, Cork were ahead 1-3 to 0-3. Rory Dwyer had 1-1 for Cork and John O’Brien two points, while veteran Joey Moriarty had two for the Blues and Ulick Leonard one.
In the second half, the Blues made a comeback and were ahead late in the game with a well-taken goal by Noel Gannon. Rory Dwyer had Cork down by one. It took a last-minute free by Connie Mahoney to save the day for Cork and a share of the points.
Other Results
St. Pats 3-7, St. Christophers 2-5 (intermediate football); Cork 1-6, Shannon Blues 1-6 and St. Columbkilles 2-4, Mayo 0-5 (junior football); Boston Shamrocks 3-18, Tir na nOg 2-4 (women’s football); Galway 4-11, Tipperary 1-6 (junior hurling).