February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Eamonn Kelly
Parnells 2-8, Wolfe Tones 0-10
Parnells, considered early in the season as underdogs to capture the Central Division senior football title, has now emerged as the team to beat following their victory over current North American Championship Wolfe Tones Sunday at Gaelic Park in Chicago. This follows two weeks after their surprise win over St. Brendan’s.
While the tight marking and the closeness of the scoring kept the crowd on edge for most of the hour, the game was far from being a classic due to some woeful shooting and the physical nature of the exchanges.
With the exception of two occasions in the first half when the game was tied, Parnells led throughout. They were in control in the early stages and had their forwards availed of all their chances they could have enjoyed a much greater lead that three points at the interval.
Parnells opened the scoring with points from Paul McAlinden and Gordon Weldon. The game was level by the end of the first quarter after Wolfe Tones responded with points from Barry Sheehan and Gary Mason. After an exchange of points Parnells went in front with the first goal of the contest scored by the top forward on view, Davy Shields, to make the half-time score Parnells 1-4, Wolfe Tones 0-4.
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
In a more evenly contest second half, both teams exchanged points, mostly from frees which were converted by the games two marksmen, Mason and Shields. As Wolfe Tones tried desperately to pull the game out of the fire in the final moments Shields broke through their defense for his second goal and secure a deserved victory.
Harry Bolands 0-20, Limerick 0-3
North American senior hurling champions Harry Bolands powered past a tame Limerick challenge in determined fashion last Sunday, winning by 17 points and giving every indication they will be a force again this year. Limerick stayed close in the opening quarter but after that it was all one-way traffic. After registering three points in the first half, scored by James Ryan and Padraig Cronin (2), they were held scoreless in the second half hour.
Bolands, who led 0-9 to 0-3 at the interval, had points from Alan Geogahan (4), Martin Comerford (2), Kevin Horan, Kieran Killine and Stephen Kurley. Bolands dominated the second half with all of the pervious scorers repeating with additional points along with Alan Markham who notched two points. Both goalkeepers, Jonsey Murphy (Bolands) and Christy Phillips (Limerick), gave excellent displays.
Padraig Pearse 2-11, St. Brendan’s 0-14
Padraig Pearse and St. Brendan’s junior footballers served up a most enjoyable game at Gaelic Park last Sunday with the Pearse earning a well-deserved three-point victory. While there was little between the sides throughout the contest, it was the Pearse’s ability to score goals at crucial times that contributed to their victory. Through most of the first half only two points separated the teams until Ricardo McGreevey shot to the net in the 26th minute to give Padraig Pearse a four-point lead at the interval. On the resumption, six points were exchanged between the teams with Paddy Tanny, Pat Morrisey and David McMonagle scoring for Padraig Pearse while Brendan Coen, James Tracey and Noel McDermott were St. Brendan’s s scorers. The turning point in the game came in the 43rd minute when Liam McGrath scored an excellent goal to give the Pearse’s a two-goal lead.