February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Connie Kelly
The Boston community was both shocked and saddened by the deaths of two young men at a construction site in Quincy, Mass., on Tuesday, Aug. 12. The two who died were 23-year-old Ronan Stewart, an ex-Irish Army soldier, and 21-year-old Shane McGettigan, an intercounty player for Leitrim and a key player for St. Patrick’s Football Club in Boston.
Games on Wednesday and Thursday night were canceled as a mark of respect and flags were at half staff at the weekend at Dilboy Stadium. A minute’s silence was observed at Saturday and Sunday games.
A fund has been set up for the survivors of both men at the Peoples Federal Savings Bank on Market Street in Brighton.
Kerry 1-16, Blues 1-12
Five games were decided here on Sunday and the pick of these was Kerry vs. Shannon Blues. The Blues, with their backs to the wall, had Kerry on the edge of a second defeat in as many weeks.
Never miss an issue of The Irish Echo
Subscribe to one of our great value packages.
Kerry were on the attack early and Mark O’Brien had a point after four minutes. Dave Burke answered with one for The Blues and two minutes later David Nester put the Blues ahead with a free.
Mark O’Brien had Kerry level after 10 minutes, Sean Geaney added two for Kerry.
The Blues were unsettled for periods and with the loss of a key player, Paddy McGinley, in the forward line, they sent several wides, but David Nester stepped up and add two points, one free, to make it 0-4 to 0-4 after 22 minutes of play. Pat Fenton, who was having another stormer, was fouled and O’Brien sent over the resulting free.
Stephen McGuire leveled things again a minute later. Tom Morrissey plucked one out of the sky and sent Pat Fenton through for one of the best points of the game. Liam Og Higgins had Kerry ahead by two points on the 29th minute but David Nester pulled one back from a free just on half time to make it 0-7 to 0-6 for Kerry.
Kerry came out fired up in the second half and had 2-1 inside of five minutes, Morrissey sent Ger Kane attacking and he found Sean Geaney unmarked and he made no mistake.
Kane had a point from play. McGuire had one from a free for The Blues to make it 1-8 to 0-7.
Just as things started to look good for Kerry Rory Lyne took a heavy tackle. Then Brian Farrell had to come off with a leg injury. Brendan Driscoll for The Blues had to be replaced by Fergal Kelly due to injury. The Blues seemed to get their second wind, Kieran Maher had the ball in the Kerry net right away and, only for four brilliant saves by Steven Francis at the expense of points, the game could have gone the Blues’ way.
Kerry suffered more injuries. Tom Morrissey had to be replaced by Andy O’Connor and Kieran Doyle with a rib injury had to be replaced by a limping Brian Farrell. Kerry, now with their back line in shambles, had to depend on veteran Mike Moriarty and he delivered, breaking up several Blues attacks. Ger Kane settled Kerry’s nerves by sending over three points from play. Sean Sullivan made one of his several good runs and added to Kerry’s lead. While Nester and McGinley pulled back two each for the blues, Mark O’Brien added one in injury time for Kerry.
Kerry will face the winners of Cork vs. Donegal in the semifinal.
The Guinness Man of the Match was Kerry’s Steven Francis.
McAnespies win
In the second game of the day, McAnespies had an easy win over Wolfe Tones by 3-11 to 1-4. The Tones had four of their top players on the line and it might be a case of what could have been, but the Tones were through to the semifinal anyway and both of these teams meet again next Sunday.
Donegal survive
Donegal kept their hopes alive in the third senior game by beating Mayo 4-14 to 1-10. The scoreline does not reflect the closeness of this game, Mayo having missed three goals, one of these a penalty which hit the post.
Fr. Toms edge Galway
In senior hurling, Fr. Toms shaded Galway by the slimmest of margins, 0-11 to 2-4. This was an exciting game of hurling to watch with nothing between these two teams. James Kinsella had 1-1 while playing his heart out for Galway. Pat Byrne had two points, and for the Toms, Donie O’Mahoney 2, Seamie Moore 1, Declan McGeeney 1, and Mick O’Hara 2, to make it 1-3 to 0-6.
The second half was much of the same with the Toms’ ace Donal O’Mahoney sending over three from play and two from frees. Joe Morrissey had a goal for Galway and Pat Byrne a point. Brendan Morrissey also had a good game for Galway. Mick O’Hara gave every last ounce of himself for the Toms.
Toms now play Cork for a spot with Tipp in the final.
Dilboy results
Results from Dilboy Stadium:
Senior Football: Kerry 1-16, Shannon Blues 1-12; McAnespies 3-11, Wolfe Tones 1-4; Donegal 4-14, Mayo 1-10
Junior Football: Cork 2-4, McAnespies 1-8; Senior Hurling: Fr. Toms 0-11, Galway 2-4. Junior Hurling: Galway 2-10, Tipperary 3-5.