February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Connie Kelly
Kerry 2-14, Mayo 0-1
Kerry keeps their perfect record alive in Boston with six wins from six games. They brushed aside a sporting Mayo team, 2-14 to 0-11, but only with a strong run in the second half. Mayo played some great football in the first half and may have exposed some weaknesses in the Kerry lineout.
Pat Walsh (2), Barry Rudden (1), Jetro Towner (1), and Kevin Walsh (1) would all have well-taken scores for Mayo in the half, while Kerry’s scores came from Pat Fenton (goal), Liam O’Higgins (3), Ger Kane (1), and Sean Geaney (1) to make it 1-6 to 0-5 at halftime.
Kerry went 10 minutes into the second half before Liam Higgins registered the team’s first point, while Mayo had points from Pat Walsh, Towner and Declan O’Malley. Kerry had to bring on the injured Sean Pete Sullivan to centerfield and that was the big difference in the game. Scores came at will for Kerry from that point. Higgins added two more, Sean Geaney two from frees and Pat Fenton a free. John Quane sent Darren Lee through in the dying moments for Kerry’s second goal.
Wolfe Tones 2-10, Donegal 0-14
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
Wolfe Tones sent Donegal reeling in the first senior game of the afternoon, winning by 2-10 to 0-14. Donegal had too many wides in the first half, with frees from scorable positions, while the Tones made use of all their chances with points in the 7th, 10th 15th and 25th minute by Martin McNally, Brian McMahon and Mick Salmon (2). But it was Edmund Carr’s goal in the 12th minute that gave the Tones the confidence they would need leaving the halftime score 1-5 to 0-5.
Ricky Rush had a point for Donegal in the opening minute of the second half, but Donegal then went 13 minutes before their next point, a free by Sean Boyce. Mick Salmon, meanwhile, was running wild for the Tones with 4 more points, three from frees. The breaking point came for Donegal in the 20th minute, when, with the Tones’ goalie out from his goals and a ball destined for the back of the net, Paul Mead came seemingly out of nowhere to make the save. But Donegal came right back with points by Rory Gallagher and Sean Boyce and with 10 minutes remaining the sides were level. But the Tones finished much stronger, with McNally’s point and a well-taken goal by Noel McPhillips making them winners.
Blues 3-14, Gaels 1-5
The third senior game was unusual in many ways with several minutes of injury time played at the end. The first half belonged to the Gaels and the second to the Blues.
The Gaels who are fighting to stay out of the cellar took it right to the Blues in impressive style for 30 minutes, racking up a 1-5 to 0-3 lead. Clinton Hennessey, the Blues’ goalie, was not available and his spot was taken by Kieran Maher. Maher was switched back to his normal midfield position in the second half and the Gaels failed to register one score, while the Blues added 3-11.
Kerry now have the Blues and McAnespies to play, while The Blues face Cork and Kerry.
Other Games
In Senior hurling Galway had a five point win over Cork in a game that was contested to the final whistle, score 2-14 to 2-9 and in Junior hurling Galway made it a double over Cork by a score of 4-7 to 0-4.
In Ladies football, the Shamrocks won easy over an injury-ridden Roscommon team by a score of 5-17 to 0-4. Just about everyone played well for the winners but Theresa Molohan stood out scoring at will. For Roscommon, Mary Ruane played her heart out at left half back and with Orla Hession injured, Bridget Goode not available, and Eileen Sayers and Maria Naughton sick, they will be looking forward to better days ahead in the championship.
Results
S.F., Kerry 2-14, Mayo 0-11; Wolfe Tones 2-10, Donegal 0-14; Shannon Blues 3-14, Connemara Gaels 1-5
I.F., Notre Dame 5-10, Christophers 1-5
J.F., Donegal 5-11, Mayo 0-5; Columbkilles 0-13, McAnespies 0-9; Donegal 1-6, Shannon Blues 0-6
S.H., Galway 2-14, Cork 2-9
J.H., Galway 4-7, Cork 0-4
L.F., Shamrocks 5-17, Roscommon 0-4