February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Mike Fitzpatrick
12:45 p.m.
Junior Football ‘B’
Cavan vs. Stamford
Two of the stronger "B" division sides see action at Gaelic Park on Sunday. Cavan, having been demoted last year, still possess a pretty impressive squad. Stamford are perhaps the slight favorites here, having done well in the competition last year until they were undone by a mighty Monaghan selection. Having been involved in the transfers market during the off season, Stamford will enter the game as slight favorites, though Cavan will prove their anxiety to get back to the top flight, and attempt to win at all costs. I’ll go for a Cavan win.
2:30 p.m.
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Senior Hurling
Waterford vs. Westmeath
This is a difficult one to call. Rumor has it that both sides have been involved in various dealings with new players, but it’s yet to be confirmed which hurlers will line out for these two sides. Both sides are well known for their exciting brand of hurling so we should see a fine game rich in competition on Sunday.
4:30 p.m.
Senior Football Challenge
New York vs. Irish Army
This is the big one. Possibly the most eagerly anticipated clash in Gaelic Park history. Frank Brady’s men will play a two-game series versus the Irish Army and in doing so will give themselves, and the rest of the Gaelic world, an idea of how exactly they are doing, in terms of gelling as a team. For the first time in history, a New York side will compete in the All-Ireland series, and having already defeated the Big Apple’s opponents in the first round (Mayo), the Irish Army will be out to score with another scalp.
The Irish side includes a number of players who have reached all-star level, like Cork’s Mark O’Connor, and Kildare’s Dermot Earley, so the game should be a fantastic game of exhibition football. Having well beaten Mayo recently, the Irish Army series of games this weekend could be well indicative of what kind of result the New Yorkers face in Castlebar.
Having been training under the watchful eyes of Frank Brady, Leslie McGettigan and Pat Scanlon since the beginning of the New Year, the New York panel have begun to gel, and the camaraderie really has to be seen to be believed. Let’s hope that the crowd the game deserves is on hand at Gaelic Park on Friday and Sunday.
New York lineout: Patrick Mahoney, Richie Maher, Kevin Lilly, Willie O’Donnell, Justin O’Halloran, Danny O’Sullivan, Ciaran Traynor, Sean Teague, Ian Smith, Richie Purcell, Donal Breslin, Edmund Cleary, Joe Cassidy, Stephen Cassidy, Jim Donaghue, Eunan Doherty, Bonnie Duffy, Neville Dunne, Emmet Haughian, Keith Hennessy, Enda Henry, Kieran Keaveney, Frank Kavanagh, Danny Leavy, Gerry Kelly, John Markey, Mike Martin, Collie Mathers, David Newman, Tommy Moriarty, John Meehan, Padraig Mullally, Mike Murphy, Eddie Murphy, Owen Cummins.