Minor Board Roundup: Extreme heat tests player fitness in debut East Coast tournament
February 16, 2011
With teams from Boston, Philadelphia and New York, the first-ever East Coast Gaelic football tournament was an outstanding success.
Considering that Boston and Philly’s underage program is just three years old, the standard of the games was excellent and tremendous credit goes to Boston’s Jimmy Grealish, Rena Bligh, Liz and Michael O’Connor, North American Board President Paddy Rooney, Pat Burke and Peter Corry who heads up the Philadelphia program.
Sixteen games at U-10, U-12 and U-14 played at Van Cortlandt Park on two playing fields on Saturday in over 100-degree temperatures was a credit to the players and their fitness level. In many of the games, especially at U-14, one to three points decided the issue.
On Saturday evening at the Lansdowne, a gala reception for all the teams and mentors was most enjoyable, with the match-ups for the Cup and Shield finals announced.
Sunday morning at Paddy’s Field, Boston edged Philly 1-5 to 0-6 for the right to meet St. Raymonds in the final.
Excelling for Boston, John Hanley, James Grealish, Paudie Kenneally, Chris Walsh, Danny Kenneally, Jim Lucas and Bobby Faherty, also Mark Molloy, Brendan, Brian and Kevin Healy, Kevin and Paul Bligh, Kevin Griffin, Patrick McGuinness, Gerry Kenneally, Chris Costello, David Walsh and Cory McAllister. Manager Michael O’Connor.
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Philadelphia panel: John O’Neill, Maura O’Neill, Fiaghra Malone, Timmy and Teddie Tracey, Omar Ashed, Kevin and Colleen Corry, Sean McNicholl, Connell McNicholl, Dan Smith, Liam Flynn, Pat Rooney, Chris Egan. Manager Peter Corry. Referee Pete Jones.
U-10s
In an enthralling and intense U-10 Cup final, Rangers edged Celtics 1-9 to 0-10.
Rangers panel: Colin Murray, Martin Lowery, Ronan McGoldrick, Brian Durkin, Pierce Cassel, Denis McGoldrick, Padraig Phelan, Sean Twomey, Anton Remos, Jason Brophy, Matt Anderson, Brendan Cullinan, Damien Cassells, Brian Twomey, Colin Flynn, Killian Brady Denis Collins, Brian Flynn, Sean Reynolds. Manager, Denis Twomey. Referee, Jimmy Grealish, Boston.
Boston, using the long ball effectively, got by Philly 2-4 to 2-2 in the U-10 Shield final.
Inspirational for Boston, Seamus O’Shaughnessy, Daragh O’Flaherty, Elizabeth Walsh, Patrick Bligh, Thomas Flaherty, Chris O’Connor and Shane Reilly, also Joe O’Neill, Sean O’Shaughnessy, James Ward, Sean Lynch, Matt Bligh, Liam Byowave, Sean Costello, John Walsh, Paul and Patrick Bannon. Manager, Donie Kenneally.
Philly panel: Danielle Slater, Frances Curran, Aine McNicholl, Clara Kelly, Sinead Bourke, Sean McClafferty, Gerard Bourke, Patrick Rooney, Chris Egan, Gavin Lawn, Seamus Corry, Dave Holleran, Melissa Egan. Manager, Patrick Burke.
U-14 Cup final
The U-14 Cup final between St. Raymonds and Boston was an excellent game of skilful football.
St. Ray’s experience and team work topped the visitors 2-11 to 0-10.
Catching the eye for St. Raymonds, team captains Michael Greaney and James Huvane; Justin Murray, Marie Cassels, Peter Cassels, Brendan Creegan, Steven Greaney and Brian Denneny, also Matt Featherstone, Shane McDonnell, Michael Delano, David Noble, Christian O’Neill, Steven Hughes, Brendan Murphy, John Greaney, Sean Brady, Peter Smith, Terence Cleary. Manager, Pat Ryan.
Referee, Eugene Kyne.