Determined Kerry holds on for victory

By Connie Kelly

In one of the best games seen in the Boston area this year, Kerry pulled one out of the fire with a late rally over Connemara Gaels for a final score of 0-13 to 0-10.

In less than ideal conditions due to some light rain which fell all afternoon, the outcome, which was in the balance right up to the final whistle, saw both teams give it everything they had. Coming into the game both teams had four wins and one loss each, so a tight game was expected.

It took Kerry four minutes to register their first score, a point by Mark O’Brien from a free. O’Brien quickly added a second from play.

Steve Conway collected a pass from a line ball and he had the Gaels on the board after seven minutes.

Kerry were right back on the attack with Colin Doyle finding Kevin Madden who got inside his man for a well-taken point. The Gaels came right back at Kerry, scoring two rapid points, one by Alan O’Connor and one by Mike Sullivan. Kerry saw their next attack wide of the post and once again the Gaels were pressing hard and Mark Lewis had the sides level after 15 minutes of play at 0-5 each.

Kerry piled on the pressure during the next few minutes. Alan O’Connor was called for over-carrying the ball.

Colin Doyle sent Marvin Ford through for a lovely point and the lead for Kerry. Just then disaster struck for Kerry as Sneem man Sean Pete Sullivan had to be taken off with a bad shoulder injury. Kieran O’Shea replaced him at midfield.

The Gaels found it difficult to penetrate the Kerry back line and were forced to shoot three wide in a row, while at the other end Kerry’s Kevin Madden was right on target with two in a row to close out the half, Kerry 0-8 Gaels 0-5.

In the second half, the Gaels made a run at Kerry and seemed to sweep them off their feet. Mike Sullivan opened the scoring for the Gaels after three minutes.

Mark Lewis had a second point from a free with no response from Kerry. Lewis had the side level with just 10 minutes gone. The writing was on the wall for Kerry. Timmy O’Neill was brought on to try and stem the tide. But the Gaels, playing their best football of the season, simply piled on the pressure with points by Matt Beattie and Mark Lewis, and had the Gaels up by two.

More changes were made by Kerry. Darren Davis came on for Pat Ahearn and Denis Sayers was moved up to the forwards. These changes paid off nicely for Kerry and with just 12 minutes remaining, Kerry started to get a grip on the game. Mervin Ford passed off to Kevin Madden and the Antrim man made no mistake for Kerry’s first point of the second half.

Two bad wides by Alan O’Connor and Mark Lewis saw Kerry come right back upfield where Mark O’Brien’s shot went over off the post and the sides were level at 0-10 each.

Madden regained the lead for Kerry. Mark Lewis sent two scoreable frees wide, which would have seen the Gaels ahead but Kerry pressed on. Mark O’Brien had Kerry two up in injury time. Again the Gaels were wide of the mark two minutes into injury time and Denis Sayers passed off to Mervin Ford for a three-point Kerry lead.

But this game was far from over as the Gaels charged upfield and one last attack on the Kerry net. But their effort was barely wide and as the referee blew the full time whistle, Gaels players protested that there was more time on the clock.

With the standings now, it is possible that these two teams could meet again in the semi-final and what a game that would be.

Cork overcome Tones

Cork were just two points better than Wolfe Tones in the first senior football game of the afternoon with a score of 0-14 to 1-9.

Cork can consider themselves lucky to come away with a win here. The Tones set the pace in this lively hard-hitting game but they missed two wide open goals in the first 10 minutes of play and had a penalty saved just before half time.

The Cork backs were under constant pressure but once again Frank Delaney proved that he is one of the best midfielders in Boston and can also take his score when needed, knocking over two points, one in each half.

Brendan Ger Sullivan had six of Cork’s points, four from frees. Tadgh Deasy had three from play, Eddie Driscoll and Pat Dunlea rounded out Cork’s scoring.

Fergal Callaghan had a solid performance for the Tones setting his forward up with several scoring chances and also having three points of his own.

Garry Woods buried the Tones’ second penalty and with less than 10 minutes remaining the sides were level at 1-7 to 0-10. Brendan Jer Sullivan edged Cork ahead and Pat Dunlea added a point late in the game for a two-point win for Cork.

Donegal hammer Mayo

Donegal and Mayo faced off in the third senior game and this was a blow-out not often seen at Gaelic Park. The final score was Donegal 6-8 Mayo 1-2, Stevie Fitzgerald being the only bright light for Mayo, scoring 1-2.

Fergal McCrane, Michael McGinty and Dominic McGlinchey put on somewhat of an exhibition for Donegal fans, McCrane making several runs from the back line and ending up with two well taken goals. Considering he had just played a senior hurling game with Fr. Toms, the Armagh man had to be pleased with himself

Senior Hurling

In senior hurling, Fr. Tom Burkes defeated Galway 0-20 to 1-9.

It was Galway’s first defeat of the season, but it was expected as some of their players were in Ireland attending the funeral of young David Kinsella, brother of Galway’s James Kinsella, who died in an unfortunate accident in County Wexford.

Now, Fr. Toms are back in the hunt with five points and will have to play the winners of Tipperary vs Cork for a place in the semi-finals.

Fr. Toms looked very impressive and with 20 points on the scoreboard, this has to be a great confidence boost for them, with all of their forward line picking off points from all angles. James Young had nine points, four from frees. Dermot Maher had five, Ollie Dolling three, Ruari Mallon two, Ronan Hanley one.

Also playing well in the backs were Michael Boylan, Seamus Moore and Stephen Fahy.

Galway has plenty of time to regroup as they are already in the final.

Ladies football

In ladies football, the Boston Shamrocks are well on their way to reclaiming the Orla Benson Memorial Trophy with a very convincing win over Roscommon on a score of 5-11 to 1-3.

The Shamrocks made it a double when their junior team beat Inisfail 3-9 to 1-4.

Tir na nOg had four points to spare over new club, Waterford on a score of 0-9 to 0-5.

Senior football standings with just one round remaining: McAnespies 6-0; Kerry 5-1; Cork 4-2; Connemara Gaels 4-2.