NY GAA: Fortified St. Ray’s take Armagh

McPartland and Sheridan, as you may recall, were suspended for 96 weeks for their role in the disgraceful events surrounding last October’s unplayed New York Senior Football A final involving Kerry and Cavan.
At the time there was much to talk about how this sort of behavior would not be tolerated. But time and apparently not much of it, heals all wounds and so the two players’ appeals for reinstatement were recently granted.
Having only missed out on matches in April, May, June, and the first week in July, the 96 weeks was effectively reduced to a handful of matches missed for each player.
No one wants to see players deprived of the opportunity to play Gaelic football or hurling in New York, but last autumn’s tough talk suddenly sounds very hollow.
In the match itself, Armagh were on the board within a matter of seconds via Aidan Dolan’s opening point. Midfielder Shane Lyons followed with a point and Armagh could have added a goal, but St. Ray’s keeper Ryan Sullivan robbed Garreth Campbell. Campbell answered with a point and Armagh led 0-3 to 0-0 before St. Raymonds erased their goose egg with Colm Kilroy’s free.
The sides has swapped two points each when Garreth Kelly finished a good Armagh move involving Noel McPartland, Kieran Traynor, and Shane Lyons, to the net. Rays battled back with points from CJ Doherty, a free, and Jim Donoghue, but when Lyon’s shot from 40 yards eluded Sullivan to find the top corner of the St. Raymond’s net, Armagh looked like a team headed for victory.
Mike Creegan’s late point set the half time score at 2-5 to 0-6 in Armagh’s favor. Seconds after referee Damien Devlin threw in the ball to restart the match, Lyons shook the twines and presumably St. Raymonds.
But last season’s JFB Champions are made of sterner stuff and wingback Fergal Doyle’s massive point started Pat Ryan’s men on the long road back.
Rays scored 1-7 without reply as they turned this match on its head, equalizing after 17 minutes from an outstanding John Donoghue point. Geriod O’Driscoll and CJ Doherty, from a free, edged the Saints into a two point lead, 1-13 to 3-5, with just five minutes remaining.
Strong play from CJ Doherty, Fergal Doyle, and Colm Kilroy had paced the Raymond’s comeback and keeper Sullivan robbed Traynor to frustrate Armagh. Rays also withstood the loss through injury of key contributors Gary Dowd and Geriod O’Driscoll.
Armagh finally got back on the board with Aiden Dolan’s 28th minute free. Dolan followed that with another point, this one from a sideline and a draw looked the likely result.
St. Raymonds moved the ball up field in one last attack and Kilroy capped a big day by winning possession in heavy traffic and drawing the foul. CJ Doherty stepped up to take the free, 40 yards from goal with the ball in his hands and the game on the line. Doherty never flinched and his shot sailed high and true between the uprights and St. Raymonds had come all the way back.
Man of the Match: CJ Doherty.
St. Raymonds: Ryan Sullivan, Kieran McKenna, Martin Meehan, Thomas Huwane, Brendan Wiley, Cyrill Donnellan, Fergal Doyle (0-1), Gary Dowd (0-2), CJ Doherty (0-4), Georiod O’Driscoll (0-1), Colm Kilroy (1-1, 1 fr), Mike Creegan (0-1), John Driscoll (0-2), Joe Egan, John O’Donoghue (0-2) Subs: Shay Furlong, Tom Hoyle.
Armagh: Donal Hearty, Louis Breslin, Collie Fearon, Paul McGuiness, Eoghan McPartland, Francie Sheridan, Paul O’Connor, Shane Lyons (2-1), Noel Mcpartland (0-1), Garreth Campbell (0-2), Kieran Traynor, Ronan Rogers, Damien McAnn, Garreth Kelly (1-0), Aidan Dolan (0-3, 2 fr, 1 sl), Subs: Paddy Maguire, Tony McCall, Niall McGuiness.
Referee: Damien Devlin.

Donegal wipe Clare

Senior Football Div. A
Donegal 0-14 Clare 2-7

It was a banner day for Donegal as they wiped out an early seven-point Clare lead, coming all the way back to win on Thomas Deehan’s injury time point.
Clare started well with three consecutive frees from the dependable left foot of Ronan Garvey, each from virtually the same spot. Garreth Kelly, pointed for Donegal’s first point of the match.
Then Clare struck for back-to-back goals to put Donegal in the hole. First, Ronan Garvey fielded a high bouncing ball behind his marker Mike Murphy, who was playing despite only recently undergoing hernia surgery. Garvey took his chance perfectly, burying his shot in the upper corner. Seconds later, Garvey was again a thorn in Donegal’s side, this time placing Eric Bradley for Clare’s second goal.
It didn’t look good for Donegal, but soon they began their comeback, taking the long road, one point at a time. With two of the Mitchell brothers missing due to injury, center back Matt was joined by fellow Clara, Offaly man Thomas Deehan in the Donegal team. Deehan, a 60-day sanction, was first on the board after the Bradley goal, pointing his own free after Mitchell found him with a long pass.
Deehan would point three more times in the half and when the speedy corner forward fed attacking number four Martin Donaghy for the last point of the half, Donegal had whittled their deficit down to 0-4, 2-4 to 0-6.
Donegal maintained their momentum at the restart, and once again it was Deehan who provided the spark. Deehan opened with a point and then placed Anton Diver, who continues to thrive in his new wingback role, for Donegal’s eighth point.
Deehan converted his own free and then high-fielding Eoghan Carew drove over a long point and Clare’s lead was gone.
Clare had been outscored 0-9 to 0-1 since Bradley’s goal and the banner hadn’t scored since Michael Keaveney’s free 18 minutes into the first half. Keaveney ended the Clare drought with a 10th-minute free after Martin Slowey had been fouled. Slowey hadn’t started but came into the match after only seven minutes and this tough and skillful player was Clare’s best and most consistent performer on the day.
Sunday’s intense heat had to be a drain on both teams but their effort never waned and two points from Deehan and one from Bradley kept the match knotted at Clare 2-6 to Donegal 0-12 with just five minutes to play.
Martin Slowey earned a free, and Garvey calmly and skillfully drove it through the uprights from 40 yards to nudge Clare back in front but Deehan responded with a 45-yard free from the hand. Then the young Offaly county player raced through the Clare defense and guided a fine left footer between the posts putting Donegal one point to the good.
Referee Tommy Fahey, taking no chances this week with the buzzer, was handling the time keeping chores and his long whistle signaled that Donegal secured the points.
Man of the Match: Thomas Deehan.
Donegal: Eunan Doherty, Mike Murphy, Gary Duggan, Martin Donaghy (0-1), Shaun Campbell, Matt Mitchell, Anton Diver (0-1), John Wycherley, Eoghan Carew (0-1), Joe Sweeney, Paddy O’Kane, Conor Hunter, Thomas Deehan (0-10, 6 fr), Garreth Kelly (0-1), Kevin O’Connor Sub: Donal Breslin.
Clare: Eoghan Loughnane, Phil Wickham, Martin Meehan, Shay Furlong, Richie Keane, Kevin Newell, Mike Hogan, Jason Killeen, Paul O’Connor, Ronan Garvey (1-4, 4 fr), Michael Slowey, Eric Bradley (1-1), Joe Egan, Michael Keaveney (0-2, 2 fr), Paddy McNamee, sub Martin Slowey.
Referee: Tommy Fahey.

Tipp topple uneven Offaly

Senior Hurling
Tipperary 5-16 Offaly 0-15

All signs pointed to an exciting match between Tipperary and Offaly in Sunday’s Senior hurling contest at Gaelic Park. Offaly were coming in playing well at 2-0 and Tipp were coming off a loss to Connecticut State, so these bordering counties figured to serve up a good one.
Unfortunately for the paying customers, Tipperary diehards excluded, Offaly couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Three first half goals, two from 60-day sanction Martin Finn and an overwhelming display from weekender Paul McGrath were simply too much for Offaly.
Trevor Fletcher got Tipp’s first three pointer after Offaly’s emergency net minder Shane Cunningham appeared to have made the save. Offaly’s regular custodian Alan Gleason may not have stopped any of Tipperary’s five goals, but his absence along with that of corner back Matt Mitchell, who appeared to have been held out in deference to the Donegal match immediately following, left Offaly vulnerable.
Tipperary led 3-9 to 0-7 at the break and Offaly started the second half in determined style. Colin White got Offaly started with an opening point off midfielder Fergal Phelan set up. Kieran Bergin pointed after he was fouled and points from Kevin McKay, Geroid Keogh, and an Adrian Guinan free had Offaly within two pucks of the ball, 3-9 to 0-12.
Tipperary didn’t stand idly by. In a shrewd move, they switched McGrath to defend Offaly number 11 Kieran Bergin, who was sparking the Faithful revival.
Offaly’s renaissance was soon snuffed out when Alan Slattery’s long, accurate pass found dangerman Finn, who quickly found the twines. New York hurling fans will remember Finn, the Cork man who starred here for Westmeath and New York just a few years ago. Finn certainly seemed comfortable at Gaelic Park tallying an impressive 3-2 on his homecoming.
Finn’s 13th-minute goal stopped Offaly’s comeback in its tracks and the rest of the match was just a matter of waiting for the final buzzer, especially when Tipp ran off 1-6 before Offaly managed a Bergin point.
Tipperary were sparked by imports McGrath, Tony Delaney, and 60-day man Finn, but in a six team league these teams may well meet again before the silverware is handed out.
Man of the Match: Paul McGrath.
Tipperary: Tomas O’Mara, Tomas Keane, Sean Burke, Shane Tierney, Tony Delaney (0-1, fr), Alan Slattery, Tom Moylan (0-1), John Madden (0-3), Paul McGrath (0-5), Mike Maher (1-1), Trevor Fletcher (1-3, 2 fr), Martin Finn (3-2, 1 sl), Kevin Kennedy Sub: Terry Delaney.
Offaly: Shane Cunningham, Paul Murphy, Barry Smith, Adrian Guinan (0-1, fr), Enda Condren, Brian Delaney, Fergal Phelan (0-2), Kevin McKay (0-1), Leon Donegan, Kieran Bergin (0-7, 3 fr), Geroid Keough (0-2), Cathal Curtin, Colin White (0-2) Subs: Niall Marshall, Ed Flynn.
Referee: John Hennessey.