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Cuchulainn hurlers get back on track

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

This game started slowly with teams playing with caution but raced into top gear by the end of the first quarter.
Just as in their previous meeting, in which Erin’s Own won by the narrowest of margins, little separated the sides throughout the hour. Such was the closeness of the contest that the teams were tied 11 times, including the halftime break, when it was 0-8 all. The spectators were treated to a feast of point scoring, many from long range, and marvelous goalkeeping from David Woods of Erin’s Own and Cuchulainn’s Tony Doran. Woods in particular was superb in the final moments of the game as Cuchulainn’s strove to find the net.
In this high scoring game the only goal came in the opening minutes of the final quarter when Short shot to the net from a 30 yard free to tie the contest. However, a late rally by Cuchulainn resulted in three consecutive points for a deserved narrow victory. Top marksmen for Cuchulainn were Pat Sheehan (0-6), Paddy Connelly (0-3), Colm Mullen (0-3), T.P. Sheehan (0-3), (1-7), William Donlon (0-2) and Donie Doyle (0-1). Eoin O’Donovan (0-1), Cathal Lafferty (0-1) and Walter Cody (0-1) scored for Erin’s Own.

HARRY BOLAND’S 3-23, LIMERICK 2-4
Harry Boland’s repeated their first-round victory over Limerick, but this time with a more devasting blow as an all-around strong performance gave them a one-sided win. Strengthened by the inclusion of the Dublin county duo Kevin Flynn and Liam Ryan, and the excellent shooting ability of Martin O’Hanlon, this Harry Boland team will make an awfully strong bid to represent Chicago in this year’s NACB finals in Denver. Flynn in particular had a fine game. In addition to scoring six points from play, his accurate distribution of the ball to less closely marked colleagues was most effective.
Limerick, unable to repeat the promise shown in earlier games, put in a gallant effort. They kept pace with their more experienced opponents in the opening quarter and a goal by Tony Doyle in the 10th minute followed by a David Delahunty point put them in front for the first and only time in the game. However, they were shut out for the remainder of the half, and a goal by Boland’s Martin Murphy just before the half time whistle put an end to the game as a contest. In addition to Flynn and Murphy, Harry Boland’s top scorers were, Martin O’Hanlon (0-5), Kevin Horan (1-1) and Jamie Devin (1-0).

ST. BRENDAN’S 0-13, PADRAIG PEARSE 0-6
With St. Brendan’s showing improvement from very poor earlier performances and Padraig Pearse failing to maintain the great potential displayed in their opening games, the challenge for the Chicago Central divisional junior football championship is up in the air. St. Brendan’s set the stage for this deserved seven-point victory over Padraig Pearse in the opening 20 minutes when they outscored their opponents 0-5 to 0-0, their scores coming from Sean Moran (0-3), Joe Keane (0-1) and David Galvin (0-1). The Pearse didn’t record their first score until 23rd minute, when Owen Gorman pointed to make the halftime score St. Brendan’s 0-5, Padraig Pearse 0-1.
The Brendan’s added three more points by Alan Coyle (2) and Anthony Byrne in the opening moment of the second half to gain a comfortable seven-point lead. Padraig Pearse played their best football near the end of the third quarter when they reduced the gap back to four points following scores from Hugh Curran (2) and Eoin O’Donovan (1). They were unable to sustain the effort as St. Brendan’s regained control, scoring three unanswered points by Brendan Coen (2) and Pat Horan to secure victory.

PARNELLS 3-12, JOHN McBRIDES 0-9
A much improved Parnells team encountered little difficulty in defeating a weak John McBrides squad in this poor junior football game. Parnells had the game all rapped up before the end of the first quarter when the led by 1-4 to no score. It wasn’t until near the end of the quarter that McBrides showed any promise and during a short period of dominance they scored three points without reply, but it was all Parnells for the remainder of the half as they outscored McBrides 1-5 to 0-1.
Substitute Aidrean Dolan generated a much needed spark for McBrides when he was called upon after the interval. He accounted for three of his side’s second-half five points but a fine goal by Parnell’s best player, Carl Courtney, in the 48th minute ended McBrides’ second half challenge. Courtney ended the game with a personal scoring tally of 1-6.

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