February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Connie Kelly
Phones were ringing early on Sunday morning in Boston and the big question was were the games being played.
After two inches of rain on Saturday night and a sky that was ready to open at any time the games went ahead. Without a drop of rainfall all day, in spite of slippery going, some excellent games were played.
In the first senior game, both teams were already through to the final, McAnespies with 13 points from 7 games and Donegal with 12 points from 7 games. Donegal got right down to business from the throw-in with a point from Michael Ward and two minutes later Ward had Donegal ahead by two. Darren Farmer pulled one back for McAnespies.
Ward added another point from a free after six minutes to make it 0-3 to 0-1.
Farmer would tied it up with two frees by the 11th minute. Raymond Gallagher’s free put Donegal up by one, but Martin Harvey slipped his man in the backs and raced right through the field for the equalizer at 0-4 all.
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The only other score of the half came from a free by Farmer to leave it 0-5 to 0-4 after 30 minutes.
In the second half both teams traded two points apiece within five minutes. Mattie McGlennon put McAnespies ahead by 2 on a pass from Paddy Stones but Donegal came right back. With Ward heading for goal he was pulled down for a penalty.
Raymond Gallagher stepped up and sent it wide. Donegal never recovered after that.
McAnespies added points by McNally and Farmer and a well taken goal by Nigel Regan just before the final whistle made 1-10 to 0-7.
Kerry take Mayo
In the second senior game, Kerry had a pretty convincing win over Mayo on a score of 1-14 to 1-3 with man of the match going to Genie Farrell who scored 1-2 and was involved in several other scores.
His lightening speed tormented marker Kevin Walsh during the hour. Mark O’Brien was back in top form for Kerry with 9 points, 6 from frees.
Darren Lee also had a fine game for Kerry, along with Neil Sheehy, Brian Geraghty, Noel Garven and Sean Pete Sullivan.
Kevin Comer, who scored Mayo’s goal in the second half had a solid performance along with Seamus Mullin, Paddy Clarke, Christy Roche and Gary Woods. Kerry now go on to meet Donegal while McAnespies take on Shannon Blues in the senior semi-finals on Sunday, next Aug. 22.
Fr Toms to final
In senior hurling, the score was Fr Toms 1-17, Cork 1-9.
Fr. Toms looked very sharp in this game, taking it right to Cork for most of the 60 minutes but it took six tries to register their first point by Donie O’Mahoney.
Alan Cronin tied it up for Cork. Seamie Fitzgerald and Robert Jones had the Toms ahead by two but Keith Murphy leveled it at three apiece after 12 minutes. With the Toms getting into their stride, thanks to a star performance by Ronan Hanley, they were able to pick off points from all angles and when Robert Jones crashed the ball to the Cork net the writing was on the wall for Cork.
Keith Murphy did his best to keep Cork in the game with three more points but right back came Jones and O’Mahoney with five points between them to leave the half time score 1-8 to 0-6
The second half saw the Toms with most of the play picking up an additional nine points. Alan Kinneally would have a goal for Cork but there was no catching the Toms on this day and they are through to the final.
Galway hang on
In Intermediate football, the score was Galway 1-12, St. Christophers 1-11.
This was a very close game as the score shows. Galway took a 1-7 to 0-4 half-time lead but the Christophers came right back into the game in the second half. Led by Alan Cronin and the sides level with three minutes to go, Keegan put Galway ahead a minute later.
The Christophers had one last chance to tie it up but Galway held on for a well deserved win.
Junior football
In junior football, St. Columbkilles defeated Mayo 2-10 to 1-7.
The first half was close, 1-5 to 1-3 for the Killes, but a goal by Davie Keville six minutes into the second half proved to be too much for Mayo.
Also playing well for the Killes, Donal Keane, Johnny Walsh, Pat Curran, and Hughie Ward and Aiden Coyne.
Best for Mayo were Stephen Fitzgerald, Eugene Comer, Killian Purcell, Paul Barrett and goalie Sean Neeson.
Donegal over Kerry
Also in junior football, Donegal defeated Kerry by a score of 2-6 to 1-7.
This game could have gone either way. Kerry, playing without some of their starting team will have plenty of time to think what might have been. Best for Donegal, Martin McArdle, Laurance Gallagher, Tony Walsh and for Kerry, John Beacon, Andy O’Connor, Jason Courtney, Ken Murphy and Ciaran Kelly.
Shamrock ladies
In ladies football, big wins for the Boston Shamrocks over Tir na nOg on a score of 2-21 to 0-11 and Roscommon over Innisfail by 3-9 to 0-12.
Both of these games saw some excellent performances by several players on both the winning and losing teams with the Shamrocks through to the final and a playoff between Tir na nOg and Roscommon next weekend.
Cork hurlers
In Junior hurling, Cork scored 2-8 over a short-handed Tipperary side that registered 0-6.
Veteran Gary Hanley had one of Cork’s two goals and also made several excellent passes setting up Dave McGrath for three of his points.
Also playing well for Cork, Tommy McElroy, Bernie Alcock, Martin O’Rourke and Shane Hogan. And for Tipp, Evan McNamara, Gary Cole, Jim O’Leary, Johnny O’Connor, Packy O’Brien and Jeff Gargan.
Armagh visitors
A big crowd was on hand to see St. Patricks School from Armagh take on McAnespies senior team in a challenge game on Thursday evening and they held the North American champions to a 2-4 to 0-10 draw at the half.
While McAnespies pulled away in the second half this was a high spirited performance by a team so young.
Players for St. Pats to stand out were Kieran O’Hare, Paul Toner, Rafferty, Kirk and Mellon.
A reception and presentation for Brother Innis and all his players was another highlight of their visit.