February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Connie Kelly
In Junior Football, Kerry beat a very sporting Notre Dame by a score of 2-9 to 1-9 in the opening game at Dilboy Stadium on Sunday. With both teams out of contention it made for a very entertaining open game of football with a tie score at halftime, Kerry 1-2, Notre Dame 0-5. Paudi Fitz showed some of his former style in the second half, adding 1-2 to Kerry’s tally, and Mosey Murphy in the backline let nothing past him. For Notre Dame, Andy Faulkner stood out along with Marty Rice and John Kelly.
In the last game of the day, Kerry Seniors took on the Gaels and came away with a 3-15 to 2-9 win. This win keeps Kerry’s record intact with five wins from five games. Rodger Kiley had the Gaels on the board after four minutes but Kerry’s Ger Kane was on the end of a beautiful pass from Sean Pete Sullivan and he sent a bullet to the net. Darren Lee had two punched points for Kerry and Mark O’Brien had three points from frees to account for Kerry’s halftime score of 1-5.
Meanwhile, the Clare man for the Gaels, Martin Daly, had four points and Brian Moran and Alan O’Connor one each to make it 1-5 to 0-7 at halftime.
After the break, Tom Morrissey was moved to center forward and Pat Fenton to the corner, and with Sean Geaney on as a sub for injured Mark O’Brien, there was no holding Kerry. Fenton and Morrissey accounted for two Kerry goals. Darren Lee had points in the second and third minute and in the 29th Sean Geaney added two points from play.
The Gaels then made a run at Kerry, whose Martin Daly looked sharp, opening the scoring in the 15th minute with a point from a free. But Brian Moran rocked Kerry with two lightning-fast goals, in the 18th and 20th minutes. Still, Kerry came back. For the Gaels it was probably one of their best efforts.
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McAnespies 1-11, Donegal 1-8
The toughest game of the day had to be between McAnespies and Donegal. With McAnespies’ backs to the wall, with only five points from five games, a couple of early bookings set the tone for this game. Peter Canavan had McAnespies first point, in the fourth minute, but Sean Boyce would answer for Donegal in the fifth minute. Liam O’Neil added another in the 7th, John Cadden evened it up in the 8th, Sean McGee had Donegal ahead in the 9th, but Christy Roche had it 3-all after 10 minutes. Boyce was back again a minute later with another for Donegal. Cyril Hughes set up Canavan for his second point in the 15th minute, followed with another from a free two minutes later. Rory Gallagher made an over-his-head pass to Mark Green, who scorde Donegal’s fifth and last point of the half. Halftime score McAnespies 0-6, Donegal 0-5.
Nobby Walsh pulled off a great save five minutes into the second half for McAnespies. Sean Boyce then converted a free to open Donegal’s scoring in the fifth, and Mark McShane put the ball in the net a minute later for Donegal to make it 1-6 to 0-6.
Rory Gallagher then missed one from a free at the other end. Canavan added three points in the next 7 minutes — two frees and one from play — to make it 1-6 to 0-10 McAnespies after 14 minutes.
Liam O’Neill, who was playing his heart out, had his side level after 22 minutes. But Christy Roche scored a goal for McAnespies 2 minutes later. Supporters on both sides were standing at this stage. Donegal now under pressure made some mistakes by not taking their points when they had several chances. Sean Boyce added two from frees, but it was Christy Roche who sent over the last point of the game. A win for McAnespies, a heartbreak for Donegal.
Cork top Fr. Toms
In Senior Hurling, Cork had a good win over rivals Fr. Toms. With very little between these two teams at half time Fr. Toms had a lead of 1-5 to 2-1 and a very low scoring second half Cork came out on top. Final score: Cork 2-6, Fr. Toms 1-8.
St. Pat’s bop Springfield
In Intermediate Football, St. Pats finished much stronger than Springfield, with a score of 3-13 to 1-7. Springfield came out with guns blazing and had 1-3 to 0-1 on the board after 17 minutes, but in the space of five minutes St. Pats were level and they never looked back after that, winning easily.
Mayo footballers roll
Shock result of the afternoon had to be Mayo over Kills in senior football. The first half ended with the Kills up 2-7 to 2-5. But Mayo only got better in the second half, with Sean Donnellan winning midfield and sending Mayo attacking again and again and the Mayo backs holding the Kills to just 3 points. The writing was on the wall. Playing well for Mayo also was Jetro Towner, Pat Walsh, Sean Clarke, Paddy Clarke, Pat Comer, Gerry Rowley, Steven Tunney, Dara Maxwell and Des O’Malley. Guinness Player of the Day: Sean Donnellan.
Boston Results
Senior Football: Kerry 3-15, Gaels 2-9; McAnespies 1-11, Donegal 1-8; Mayo 3-12, Kills 2-10
Intermediate Football: St. Pats 3-13, Springfield 1-7
Junior Football: McAnespies 3-9, Wolfe Tones 0-6; Shannon Blues 0-12, Mayo 0-3; Donegal 2-5, Cork 0-9; Kerry 2-9, Notre Dame 1-9
Senior Hurling: Cork 2-6, Fr. Toms 1-8
Junior Hurling: Fr. Toms 4-9, Galway 3-8
Ladies Football: Shamrocks 7-14, Inisfail 0-4