February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Connie Kelly
It was billed as the game of the day and it certainly lived up to its billing.
Kerry and Donegal played some great football over the hour with Donegal coming out on top by a score of 2-9 to 2-7.
Donegal had a much better first half than Kerry, racing out to an early lead with points by Michael Ward, John Doherty and two points from frees by Brian Arrigan.
Kerry’s first score of the game came from some lovely passing movements that started with Pat Buttimer to Denis Sayers and ended up with Dereck Byrne crashing the ball to the back of the net.
Darren Lee sent Byrne through two minutes later for a lovely point. Mark O’Brien’s shot went off the upright but Donegal bounced back and take over this half.
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Michael Ward added 1-1 and John Doherty 1-1. Gary Gormley also had a point to make it 2-7 to 1-3 at the half.
Kerry made three changes on the restart and held Donegal to just two points, one on a line ball from Doherty and Michael Ward’s came in the dying moments of the game.
Dereck Byrne had Kerry on the board one minute into the half but they went another 12 minutes before Mick O’Brien sent Byrne thorough for his second of the half.
Sub Eoin Brosnan lifted Kerry’s hopes with a well taken goal at the 15 minute mark to leave just a goal between the sides but Donegal piled on the pressure on the Kerry forwards, forcing them to kick several wides.
Kerry started to panic with plenty of time on the clock and they paid the price.
Donegal now top the table with eight.
Shannon Blues win
St. Pats were ahead of Shannon Blues by a score of 1-6 to 1-4 at the half but they failed to hold on, losing 3-10 to 1-12.
St. Pats were well on top in the first half and looked like they could win this game but a goal by Conor Kane and a point from Pat Driscoll with only seconds left on the clock reduced a six point lead to two at the half.
An early goal by Dave Burke gave the Blues their first lead of the game and it was all downhill for the Pats after that.
Kieran Maher added two points, Pat Driscoll one and Kane two while the Pats had three apiece from Mickey Joe Hynes and Gareth Golden but Flaherty’s goal ensured a win for the Blues.
Columbkilles lose
In the third senior game of the day, the score was Wolfe Tones 2-11, St. Columbkilles 2-8.
The Killes led 2-4 to 1-4 at the half and may have won but for the brilliant saves by man of the match, goalie Morgan Flannagan.
It was a hard fought game played in extreme heat with temperatures near 100 degrees.
Double for Tipp
Tipperary pulled off the double over Cork in senior and junior hurling. The seniors scored 1-14 to 0-11; the juniors 1-9 to 0-7.
Only two points separated the seniors in Tipp’s favor at the half but Cork’s young players were no match for Tipp’s men in the second half, powered with sharpshooters like Chris Dunn, Kenny Laurance, Kevin O’Donnell, Dave Power and man of the match Richard Gentleman.
Good for Cork were Brendan Harrington, Finan Sheehan, Mick Lynch, John Casey, Keith Murphy.
Best of the juniors were Johnny O’Connor, Gerry McGrath, Pat O’Brien and John Young.
For Cork, Brian Crowley, Denis Keohane, Conor Cusack.
Man of the match, Liam Tuohy in goals for Tipp.
Kerry juniors
In junior football, Kerry beat Connemara Gaels by 2-10 to 1-7.
In a very sporting game, Kerry took their chances and came away with an important win, also in junior football, St. Columbkilles beat Cork 2-12 to 0-11.
Ladies
In ladies football, Boston Shamrocks beat Roscommon 7-17 to 5-5.
This was fast and furious, and as the scoreline indicates some of Ireland’s best are now swelling the ranks here in Boston.
Eithne Morrissey from Clare for the Roscommon team could not believe the heat and had to step out to catch her breath. She will be one to watch and some of these ladies played camogie right after, where Eire Og beat Emerald Isle by a score of 4-9 to 1-9.