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NACB Playoffs

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

It was a most successful weekend for the city of Boston both on and off the field. Seven national titles were captured by host clubs. A major achievement was the winning of three of the four senior NACB championships by Boston teams. History was created with the Wexford hurlers and St. Christophers footballers capturing their first national championships. Eire Og regained the senior camogie championship they last held in 2005. In addition, Boston teams collected trophies in junior “A” hurling, junior “A” football and junior “C” football.

Played in perfect weather conditions, the 67 games tournament was a tremendous success thanks to an excellently coordinated program jointly organized by the Boston Northeast Divisional Board and the NACB. Clubs from 25 cities across the country participated in the playoffs that consisted of nineteen championships up for contention.

In addition to Boston, six other cities shared the winning circle. San Francisco teams had a very successful weekend, taking titles in junior “C” hurling, Intermediate men’s and ladies football, and ladies senior football. Washington DC from the Mid-Atlantic division won championships in junior “B” hurling, junior “C” football and junior camogie. The following cities captured one title: San Diego, junior “B” football, Charlotte, ladies junior “B” football; Philadelphia, ladies junior “A” football. Mason Dixon, a Mid-Atlantic division team comprising of players from the states of Maryland and Virginia made history by winning the junior “D” football championship for the first time.

The second year of the all-American men’s football championship was another success. Three cities, Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco participated in the All American men’s football championship with all games attracting good attendances

HURLING
As in previous years, the playoffs produced some great games and close encounters but also some poor and one-sided affairs. It was a great weekend for the Boston Wexford hurlers who won their first ever NACB championship and in the process got amends for their Northeast divisional final defeat by Tipperary by turning the tides on Tipp in the national final. Wexford, who qualified for the playoffs as defeated divisional finalists beat the Chicago Harry Boland’s by 6 points in the semi-final. In a thrilling second senior hurling semi-final, Tipperary defeated San Francisco’s Na Fianna by a single point.

Boston’s Fr. Tom Burkes won their fourth junior hurling NACB championship with a 3 point win over San Francisco’s Naomh Padraig in a thrilling junior “A” final.

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Five teams, Indianapolis, Twin Cities, Washington DC, Seattle and Denver competed in the junior “B” hurling championship with Washington regaining the title they last won in 2006 by defeating Seattle by 5 points in a most competitive final. The enormous growth of hurling around the country was no more evident than in the junior “C” championship with a record 11 teams competing. Indianapolis, last years and runners-up, Chicago Cusack, were considered the main contenders for this years title. However, it was Philadelphia’s Allentown and San Francisco Celtic who emerged as the two top teams, with the Rovers taking the championship in their first appearance in the playoffs.

MEN’S FOOTBALL
In senior football, Boston St, Christophers emerged as the surprise package of this years championships. They defied all the odds in defeating current NACB champions, McAnespies in the Boston final. They continued their winning ways in the playoffs with a 6 point defeat of Philadelphia Kevin Barry’s in the semi-final. They concluded a wonderful year with a marvelous display in the final, easily defeating Chicago Parnells to capture the club’s first national championship. Most competitive game in this senior football championship was that between the Parnells and 2005 winners, San Francisco Ulster, with the Chicago rallying in the late stages to win by 2 points

San Francisco Son’s of Boru experienced little trouble in taking their first Intermediate football championship having easy victories over Boston Armagh/Notre Dame and Philadelphia Young Irelanders..

Boston McAnespies junior “A” football team made amends for their failed senior squad with impressive displays to take the club’s first NACB junior championship. They received their greatest challenge from 2008 junior “B” winners, Charlotte. They had just 5 points to spare over the Southwest side in a great semi-final and easily defeated a weak Chicago Wolfe Tones team in a one-sided final.

While the junior “B” championship wasn’t as competitive as last year when two games went into overtime there were several close contests. After fine displays, narrow defeats were suffered by 2 Midwest teams, Cleveland St. Charlath’s and Detroit Wolfe Tones. San Diego Setanta proved to be the best team in the competition defeating Chicago Patriots in the final to win their third junior “B” title. Their previous wins were in 2004 and 2007.

The junior “C” championship, which made its debut in 2003 was divided into two divisions this year, one allowing sanction players and the other with no sanction players. The change resulted in close and extremely competitive contests. Austin, who took their first national title last year in wining the junior “D” championship put up a great challenge to Washington DC, going down by just 7 points in the “C” division (with sanctions) final. In a marvelous non-sanction final Boston defeated Philadelphia by the score 2-12 to 3-7.

This years junior “D” championship was the most competitive since the competition started in 2004. In the five game contest no more than four points separated the teams in four of those games. In an excellent final between two local rivals Mason Dixon defeated Baltimore, 2-11 to 1-10 to win their first NACB championship.

LADIES FOOTBALL:

In ladies senior football former champions San Francisco Fog city Harps are back on the winning track. With two impressive performances the Gaels regained the trophy they last won in 2006. Their biggest challenge this year came from new club, Mairead Farrell of Philadelphia, who came within a goal of the Gaels in a marvelous semifinal. In a one-sided final the San Francisco team had an easy win over Boston Tir na Nog.

The intermediate championship which made its debut last year has fallen below expectations. Similar to 2008, just two teams competed for the cup this year in a one sided final with San Francisco Saoirse easily defeating Boston Tir na Nog.

Teams from Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle and San Francisco competed for the junior “A” trophy. Philadelphia Notre Dame made amends for last years heartbreaking one point loss to Washington by beating defeating Fog City Harps from San Francisco in his years final to win the club’s first junior “A” title. The Philadelphia club did have previous success at the national level when they won the junior “B” championship in 2006. In a thrilling junior “A” shield final Seattle defeated San Diego by three points.

As in previous years the ladies junior “B” football championship with teams from seven cities competing, produced a mix of poor and highly entertaining games. Charlotte emerged the deserving winner with impressive displays. They defeated Denver by 9 points in the final to capture their first NACB ladies football title. In the junior “B” shield competition Detroit St. Anne’s defeated a Orange County/Seattle combined squad.

CAMOGIE
In a very entertaining senior camogie final Boston Eire Og regained the trophy they last held in 2005 with a 7 point victory over the Shamrock team from San Francisco. Washing DC took the junior “A” championship with a victory over Milwaukee.

The weekend activities came to an end with a reception on Sunday night at the Irish Cultural Center. Guest speaker from Ireland was Jimmy O’Gorman, Chairman of the Munster Council. Besides praising the Irish Cultural Center facilities, he congratulated the Boston Northeast divisional board and its playoff committee along with the North American Board officers for their contribution to the success of a wonderful weekend. New Overseas Committee chairman and former GAA President, Joe McDonagh, also spoke at the function. Also in attendance from Ireland were Pat Quill, Ladies Football President; Peter Quill Ladies Football Treasurer; Morgan Conroy, Camogie Vice President and the following referees: Ger Hoey, Syl Doyle, Tony Lennon, Keith Tigue and Cathal Egan.

2009 NACB PLAYOFF SCORES

Senior Hurling:
Semi-finals
Boston Wexford 1-18 Chicago Harry Bolands 2-9
San Francisco Na Fianna 3-9 Boston Tipperary 1-16
Final: Boston Wexford 3-13 Boston Tipperary 2-8

Junior A Hurling:
Semi-final: San Francisco Naomh Padraig 5-20 Milwaukee 1-6
Final: Boston Fr. Tom’s 0-11 San Fran Naomh Padraig 1-5

Junior B Hurling:
Quarter-final
Indianapolis 2-18 Minnesota Twin Cities 2-7
Semi-finals
Washington DC 3-18 Denver 5-11
Seattle 1-13 Indianoplis 1-11
Final Washington DC 2-13 Seattle 2-8

Junior C Hurling:
Indianapolis 4-2 Washington DC 5-12
Milwaukee 2-2 San Francisco Rovers 3-14
Chicago Cusacks 7-8 Akron 2-6
Denver 1-10 Seattle 0-4
N.H. Barlyhounds 1-3 Philadelphia Allentown 4-10
Portland 1-9 Denver 3-12
Semi-finals
San Fran Rovers 1-19 Chicago Cusacks 2-6
Philadelphia Allentown 2-8 Denver 1-4
Final: San Fran Rovers 5-12 Philadelphia Allentown 1-8

Men’s Senior Football:
Semi-finals
St. Christophers 2-16 Philadelphia Kevin Barry’s 1-13
Chicago Parnells 0-11 San Francisco Ulster 0-9
Final: Boston St. Christophers 4-15 Chicago Parnells 0-7

Men’s Intermediate Football
Semi-final
Boston Armagh ND 3-7 San Francisco Sons of Boru 3-8
Boston Connemara Gaels 1-6 Philadelphia Young Irelanders 2-12
Final: San Francisco Boru’s 5-11 Philadelphia Young Irelander’s 1-6

Men’s Junior A Football
Semi-finals
Chicago Wolfe Tones 3-13 San Francisco Cusacks 1-8
Boston McAnespies 2-15 Charlotte 0-9
Final: Boston McAnespies 4-16 Chicago Wolfe Tones 0-8

Men’s Junior B Football
Chicago Patriots 3-12 Cleveland St. Jarlath’s 2-6
Boston Shannon Blues 0-14 Detroit Wolfe Tones 2-11
Philadelphia St. Pat’s 3-12 LA Wild Geese 2-6
Semi-finals
Detroit Wolfe Tones 3-8 Philadelphia St. Pat’s 1-8
San Diego Setanta 1-9 Chicago Patroits 0-5
Final: San Diego Setanta 1-16 Detroit Wolfe Tones 1-5

Men’s Junior C Football (sanctions)
Semi-finals
Wasington DC 2-11 Vs Denver 1-4
San Diego Setanta 2-8 Vs Austin 4-9
Final: Washington DC 3-13 Austin 1-12

Men’s Junior C Football (no sanctions)
Final: Boston 2-12 Philadelphia 3-7

Men’s Junior D Football
Charlotte 0-6 Phoenix 0-6
Mid-Atlantic Mason Dixon 0-13 Buffalo 0-11
Baltimore 3-17 Twin Cities 1-5
Mason Dixon 2-9 Phoenix 1-10
Final: Mason Dixon 2-11 Baltimore 1-10

Ladies Senior Football
Semi-final: Philadelphia Mairead Farrell’s 3-6 San Francisco Fog City Haps 2-12
Final: San Fran Fog City Harps 2-14 Boston Tir na Nog 0-7

Ladies Intermediate Football
Final
San Francisco Saoirse 2-17 Boston Tir na Nog 1-4

Ladies Junior A Football
Chicago Aisling Gaels 3-2 Philadelphia Notre Dame 2-11
San Francisco Fog City Harps 3-12 Atlanta 1-4
Seattle 1-4 Philadelphia Notre Dame 2-11
Final: Philadelphia Notre Dame 3-13 San Francisco Fog City Harps 3-5

Ladies Junior A Shield
San Diego 3-4 Seattle 3-1

Ladies Junior B Football:
Atlanta 3-2 Vs Washington DC 1-4
Charlotte 5-10 Detroit St. Ann’s 2-5
San Diego 1-10 Denver 1-11
Charlotte 8-6 Atlanta 0-2
Final: Charlotte 2-11 Denver 2-5

Ladies Junior B Shield
Detroit St. Anne’s 5-12 Orange County/Seattle 0-2

Senior Camogie
Semi-final
Boston Tir na Nog 4-3 Chicago St. Mary’s 1-6
Final: Boston Tr na Nog 4-9 San Francisco Shamrocks 4-2

Junior Camogie
Washington DC 3-2 Milwaukee 0-2

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