Cuchulainn surge to Chicago final

Played in ideal weather conditions, this game, while entertaining, never rose to any great heights. The closeness of the scoring for most of the first half made it interesting with Erin’s Own giving early indications that they were going to offer a strong challenge to the champions. After 10 minutes, each team had exchanged points, with Erin’s Own breaking the tie just at the end of the first quarter when their top marksman, Pat Shortt, shot to the net from a free. After Cuchulainn’s free specialist, Colm Mullen, pointed to narrow the gap, the teams exchanged more points to put just two between them at the interval, 1-6 to 0-7.
Cuchulainn came out in the second half meaning business. After Short opened the scoring for Erin’s Own with a long-range point, Cuchulainn piled on the pressure, scoring 2-4 without reply during a 16-minute period. Their two goals were scored three minutes apart by the Sheehan brothers, J.P. and Pat. Great work by an impressive halfback line of Ollie Fitzgerald, David Niblock and Michael Cahill broke down several promising attacks attempted by Erin’s Own in the final quarter. In addition to his goal, Pat Sheehan scored four points, while Mullen was Cuchulainn’s their top scorer with 0-9. Pat Short was Erin’s Own major scorer with a personal tally of 1-6.

PARNELLS 2-8, JOHN McBRIDES 1-9
Parnells qualified to meet North American champions St. Brendan’s in the Chicago junior football final. From the beginning both sides gave their best in a bid to reach the divisional decider. There were long period of free-flowing football, delightful fielding and several spectacular scores.
In a fast and closely contested opening half, both teams stayed on level terms or were separated by no more than a point until the 22nd minute, when a wonderful offensive move by Parnells resulted in a picture-perfect goal by Dan McDermott. Both teams shared points before the halftime whistle to leave the interval score 1-4 to 0-4 in favor of Parnells. They were the dominant team in the early stages of the second half and increased their lead to five points following minor scores from James O’Sullivan and Sean Kenny. While Brian Naughton pointed to narrow the gap, a fine goal by O’Sullivan in the 16th minute gave Parnells a seven-point lead.
At this stage it seemed McBrides needed a miracle to retrieve the situation. They regrouped, turned the tide at center field and mounted numerous attacks on the Parnells goal. After blasting two great shots off the woodwork, consecutive points by Richie Byrne, Gerry Geraghty and Aidrean Flynn and a great goal by Tony Doyle put just two points between the team. In the final dramatic moments of the game, McBrides strived to pull the game out of the fire but careless shooting and good defending by Parnells denied them.

SAN FRANCISCO
CLAN NA GAEL 1-11, SAOIRSE 2-6
The Clan na Gael women advanced to the championship final after beating their Peninsula rivals Sunday at Kesar Stadium. Clan na Gael just about deserved the win despite the fact that they allowed Saoirse to score 1-3 in the final quarter. If Saoirse had been on target with their final few shots, they might have forced a draw and indeed could have stolen the game, such was their inefficiency in front of goals.
The teams opened strongly and with defenses on top in the early stages. The Gaels’ Connie MacNamara broke the ice with the first point of the game. Clan Na Gael continued to add the scores and stretched their lead, thanks in part to fine footwork from midfielders Olive Ennis and Michelle O’Leary, and half forward Anne Marie Glennon. At halftime, the score was Clan Na Gael 1-9, Saoirse 0-1.
On the changeover, Saoirse pressed hard to get back into the match and with the aid of the wind they pegged back the halftime deficit. Thanks to some fine football from work from Saoirse’s Michelle Marino and Jenny Guiney, Saoirse controlled the ball for much of the second half. Saoirse’s Catherine Scanlon planted a great shot to the roof of the net for a fine goal to reduce the lead to just two points between the teams and this set up a titanic last 10 minutes.
In the end, Magaret Bermingham and O’Leary kept the Saoirse at bay and so advance to next Sunday’s final, where they will meet Fog City Harps.

SONS OF BORU 2-12, SARSFIELDS 1-11
Sons of Boru GFC ensure that both their club teams are in their respective finals following this four-point win over Sarsfields. Boru meet Ulster in this Sunday’s mouth watering final of the Men’s Senior Football championship. The winner will represent San Francisco in Denver next month at the North American Finals.
In the opening half, there were some fine passages of play and great points kicked from Boru’s Kevin Murray, T.J. O’Sullivan and Eugene McGrath, while John McVeigh, Seamus McCorry, Colm Brazil and Paul Murngahan kept Sarsfields in touch. Kevin Murray got the Boru goal midway through the opening half and they needed this major score to keep Sarsfields in their sights.
With the halftime score Boru 1-5, Sarsfields 0-8, McGrath signaled the Boru intent with his side’s first point of the second half. O’Sullivan added another minor before the Boru had a goal from the boot of Murray to put five points between the sides. Sarsfields needed a goal at this stage and they got one after Paul Murnaghan goaled from the penalty spot. Brazil shot over a point from distance and Kevin Murnaghan had the sides level again with a well-taken point. Boru shifted up a gear and were soon back in the lead with points from Murray. Boru took control for the rest of the game and points from Murray (0-2), O’Sullivan and McGrath ensured the Boru are in this Sunday’s final.

ULSTER 0-19, MICHAEL CUSACKS 1-9
Ulster are through to this year’s Intermediate Football Final following a well-deserved win over the Michael Cusacks. Although Ulster ran out seven-point winners in this encounter, the game was closely contested.
The game started at a ferocious pace and both sides exchanged points early on with Cusacks star player Seamus O’Gara, brother Mick O’Gara and Daire O’Connor all on target for the saffron and blue. Ulster relied on Paul Harmon and Paul Bayly to keep them in contention in the opening 20 minutes. However, it was in the 21st minute that it all went wrong for the Cusacks as they were reduced to 12 men after a red card was issued by visiting referee Seamus Slevin from Buffalo. From then on they were chasing the game and went in at halftime trailing Ulster 0-8 to 0-6.
On the changeover, Seamus O’Gara, Colm Cafferty, and Padraig Geoghegan did everything in their power to get the Cusacks back in the match, but they met a resilient Ulster defensive back line spearheaded by Declan Rafftery and Colm McCafferty. Bayly continued to pile on the misery as he converted points from play and from placed balls. Ulster took no chances heading into the final quarter and played free roaming Bayly as an extra man in defense behind the halfback line. This move help keep the dangerous duo of Cafferty and Geoghegan at bay until Cusacks sub Owen Sweeney did manage to score a late goal to put a bit of respectability on the scoreline.

PHILADELPHIA
IF: Kevin Barrys 3-9, Young Irelanders 2-12
Ladies Jr. NAC: Notre Dames 4-15, D.C. Gaels 1-4

BOSTON
SF: McAnespies 0-14, Kerry 0-10
SF: Cork 1-12, Galway 2-4
IF: St. Christophers 1-9, St. Col 1-7
JBF: Galway 3-10, Celtics 2-9
Camogie: Eire Og 3-5, Emerald Isle 0-4