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NACB Roundup Brendans repel Pearse rally

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Eamonn Kelly

St. Brendan’s 1-13, Padraig Pearse 1-10

The crossbar on the north end goal at Gaelic Park may have been a contributing turning point in last Sunday’s most exciting senior football game between St. Brendan’s and Padraig Pearse in Chicago.

With 6 minutes left and clinging to a 2-point lead St. Brendan’s defense collapsed under fierce pressure from another Padraig Pearse attack only to see a brilliant shot from Paddy Tanny crash off the bar and rebound into play. It happened at a vital stage of the game as Padraig Pearse, recovering from a 5-point interval deficit, had great momentum going in the final quarter. A goal and the lead during those moments of dominance so late in the game could have seen them through to victory. Nevertheless, full marks to St. Brendan’s in the manner in which they curtailed the Pearse rally in the final moments and turned the game in their favor with three late points to secure a deserving victory.

This was by far the best game of the five-game Guinness championship schedule at Gaelic Park last Sunday. Other than the 5- point difference at halftime, thanks to a Martin Delaney (Laois) goal just before the interval whistle, little separated the teams. There was a marvelous contest at centerfield, where the Pearse’s Kevin Higgins and Kevin Barrett battled it out with St. Brendan’s Dublin duo, Brian Stynes and Mick Curran. Barrett, with huge determination and spirit, had a tremendous game and was selected as the Guinness Player of the Day. If summer sanction players were to be considered for such an honor, St. Brendan’s Martin Delaney would have been in the running. This fine Laois teenager had an excellent outing, scoring a total of 1-2.

In a rather tame and tight-marking opening quarter, both teams were tied after 10 minutes with points from Delaney and Paul Higgins. After John McDonald put the Brendan’s in front with a minor score, Paddy Tanny blasted Padraig Pearse into the lead with a fine goal in the 19th minute. St. Brendan’s regained the lead with points from Stynes, Delaney and Brendan O’Connor before Higgins tied the game for the third time with a fine point. After Peader McGrane and Ger Walsh gave the Brendan’s a 2-point lead, the best move of the match resulted in a great goal by Delaney just before the interval to give them the 5-point halftime lead.

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St. Brendan’s had an opportunity to extend their lead on the turnover, but a well-taken penalty by Ger Walsh hit the base of the upright and rebounded back into play. After both teams exchanged scores, Padraig Pearse, benefiting from a slight edge at centerfield, went on the offensive and quickly had the game on level pegging following points from Barrett (2), Paul Conmy and Ken Claffey. After substitute Aidan Dargin, and Ger Walsh put the Brendans back in the lead, Padraig Pearse generated their late rally which saw Tanny hit the bar. Momentum then shifted in St. Brendan’s favor with Joe and Ger Walsh sending over points before the final whistle to secure victory.

Cu Chulainn slam Limerick

Harry Boland’s 7-12, Erin’s Own 1-4

In the Guinness senior hurling championship, everything points to a Harry Bolands vs. Cu Chulainn final in the Central Division following the results of the two hurling games played at Gaelic Park last Sunday. Current champions, Harry Bolands, strengthened with inclusion of intercounty players Tommy Dunne of Tipperary and Colm Keogh and Declan Ruth from Wexford, had little difficulty in defeating an under strength Erin’s Own.

While Cu Chulainn’s dominance over Limerick was never in question, the second senior hurling game offered a lot more entertainment than the Bolands/Erin’s Own contest. The weaker Limerick team, forced to play their injury recovering center back star, Fergus Flynn, at full forward put up a fine first half performance.

After being completely overpowered in the opening quarter which saw Cu Chulainn take an 8-point lead with points from Sean O’Neill, Philip Quinlan, and Stephen Perkins, Limerick came back with a great second quarter rally. Due to awful loose marking in the Cu Chulainn defense, Limerick marched in for three goals, two by Flynn and the other by Eddie Hanley. Also, Flynn had two 21-yard frees blocked by the opposing defense before Quinlan and O’Neill pointed to give Cu Chulainn a 2-point interval lead.

While the dominant Cu Chulainn team added two more points on the turnover, Limerick found another hole in the opposing defense when Peader Hurley got through for another goal to make the score 1-15 to 4-5. In the final quarter Cu Chulainn regained their dominance and had scores from Eddie Brady (2-1) and Ollie O’Connor (0-3) to ensure a 15-point victory.

Pearse win Junior Football

A solid display by their full back line of Hugh Gilgunn, Sean Mulcrone and Brian Heffernan, set the foundation for a deserved victory for Padraig Pearse over Wolfe Tones in this mediocre Guinness Junior football championship game. With their forwards getting ample supply of the ball the Pearse raced into an early 5-point lead, 0-6 to 0-1. The scores came from their two top forwards Mossey Lyons and John Moore, while Manus Gallagher registered Wolfe Tones lone first-quarter point. After Ronan Mugal and Lenny Higgins reduced the gap for the Tones, Moore Lyons and John Sheridan added more points to give Padraig Pearse an 8-point interval lead. Wolfe Tones came to life in the second half and within five minutes of the turnover reduced the deficit to six points following two fine scores from Mugal. After both teams exchanged points the Tones finally penetrated Padraig Pearse’s solid defense with Norman Fleming scoring the game’s only goal in the 25th minute. Trailing by just 3 points, Wolfe Tones applied tremendous pressure in the final moments but the Pearse’s held on for a deserved two-point victory.

St. Brendan’s 2-10, John McBrides 0-8

In opening game of the day, St. Brendan’s junior footballers rallied in the second half to fend off a great challenge by McBrides to maintain their unbeaten record. After trailing by a single point at the interval, Sligoman Eamonn Cawley saved the day for the Brendans with two fine goals early in the third quarter and sent them on the road for another win.

Philadelphia Division

Philadelphia played host to two juvenile teams from Boston last weekend. The U12 game ended in a tie while Philadelphia defeated Boston in the U14 tournament with a final score of 3-5 to 2-1.

In a very poor ladies football game, Emerald Eagles were much too strong against an understrength Washington Gaels team and ended up easy winners by 17 points, 4-10 to 1-2.

In junior football, Derry, behind by 11 points at the halfway stage, put on a most impressive second-half display to come within a point of Young Irelands before the final whistle sounded. Final score: Young Ireland’s 3-9, Derry 3-8.

In the final game of the 4-game schedule, Kevin Barry’s fought off a tough second-half challenge from Donegal to win this vital senior football contest with 2 points to spare at the end. After trailing by 5 points at the interval Donegal narrowed the gap to 2 points. However, losing the services of Declan McNichols for a second booking hurt their late rally. Final score Kevin Barry’s 1-12, Donegal 1-10.

Philadelphia schedule

1 p.m., Ladies Football, Emerald Eagles vs. Washington

2:30 p.m., Junior Football, Washington vs. Kevin Barry’s

4 p.m., Intermediate Football, Derry vs. Tyrone

Western Board Results

Senior Hurling: Na Fianna 5-11, Naomh Padraig 3-16

Intermediate Football: Shannon Rangers 1-12, St. Joseph’s 1-9

Ladies Junior Football: Golden Gate 2-5, Fog City 0-9

Junior Hurling: Na Fianna 1-7, Naomh Padraig 6-14

Junior Football: Young Irelanders 3-12, Ulster 2-6

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