NY GAA roundup: Clare give vent to their ambitions

Michael Keaveney opened the scoring for Clare, while Kieran Lally did likewise for Mayo. Then Alan McGuire, a speedy, skillful, sharpshooter opened his account.
This nifty forward quickly added another and he was causing plenty of problems for the Clare defense as Mayo led three points to one point. McGuire notched his third point before Mickey Slowey and Richie Keane leveled up with five minutes left in the period.
Now Clare began to show their class and craft as Garry Staunton was forced to bring off a good save from Keaveney after being well set up by Eric Bradley. Gary Dowd curled over a lefty special to push Clare ahead, a lead they never lost. Just before the break, Eric Bradley crashed home a goal to put them ahead by 1-5 to 0-4.
Liam McDonald lifted Mayo’s hopes with a quick point after the interval but a long range effort from Bradley and a Keaveney free kept the Clare momentum going. Minutes later Bradley could have added another goal but opted for a point. Mickey Slowey added two more while Keaveney was on target again. At the halfway mark, McGuire scored for Mayo but at this stage Clare were running rampant throughout the field.
Only for a combination of good goal keeping, the crossbar, the side netting, and the sporting option of taking points when goals were also on kept the score line closer than the play suggested. As the game wore on, the busy Keaveney kept tacking on points to leave them easy winners by 1-15 to 1-8. Mayo’s late goal from Paddy Reddington kept the score line respectable. After the opening period, Clare pretty much dictated matters. This talent laden squad are certainly championship material, they are strong in every department. Mayo’s Alan McGuire certainly showed his class as a corner forward as did Vincent Nally at fullback and later when deployed out the field. Nally is a son of a former Mayo star. Others to battle for Mayo were Colleran, Boyd, veteran James Prenty, O’Hara, and Reilly.
CLARE: Conan O’ Loughlin, Shay Furlong, Kevin Newell, Phil Wickham, Martin Slowey, Paul O’Connor, Alan Crehan, Gary Dowd (0-1), Jason Killeen, Ronan Garvey, Eric Bradley (1-2), Pat Hogan, Michael Keaneney (0-6), Michael Slowey (0-5), Richie Keane (0-1). Subs: Cathal Loughnane.
MAYO: Gary Staunton, Donal McIntyre, Vincent Nally, Emmet Cooney, Brain Montgomerary, Dave Colleran, Niall McMahon, Robert Boyd, James Prenty, Liam McDonald (0-1), Alan O’Hara, Thomas Reilly, Kieran Lally (0-1), Paddy Redding ton (1-0), Alan McGuire (0-5 ) Subs: Kieran McAndrew (0-1), John Burke, Michael Kilroy.

Connecticut State 4-12, Waterford 0-7
It may have been Memorial Day but the most memorable feature of this one-sided game was Bonnie Kennedy’s scoring spree.
The sharpshooter ended up with a personal tally of 3-8, a good score for any forward division. This is not to suggest that Connecticut is a one man show, Bonnie was very ably assisted by the supporting cast. Oddly enough it was Waterford who had scored first as Roy Henley had a quick point. Then Bonnie opened his account with a beautiful long range effort.
Ken Moore was dragged down as he rushed goal ward. Bonnie Kennedy maximally punished the indiscretion by sending the sliotar like a scud missile to the corner of the net. Connecticut tacked on points per Kelly and Kennedy to leave them ahead by 1-5 to a point midway through the period. During this time Waterford pressed hard, however several long range efforts fell short into the capable hands of keeper Aidan Kiely.
With his lengthy well placed clearances, Connecticut went straight from defense to offense. Waterford’s David Ryan, Paul Murray, and Roy Henley were working hard but had little to show for it. Connecticut led comfortably at the break by 1-8 to 4 points, with Waterford’s scores coming from Henley, Madigan, and Murray.
With Ken Moore starting the second period with a goal the game effectively ended as a contest. Kennedy continued to get good supply from O’Neill, Kelly, and Comerford and he struck for his second goal after five minutes.
Fergal Mulvaney got Waterford’s first score of the period after being well set up by Jamie Duggan, but with a score line reading 3-10 to 0-5, it had little effect. Midway through the period Bonnie Kennedy completed his hat trick , while Dave Ryan and Fergal Mulvaney tapped over minors.
At this stage it was just one way traffic as Keith Hennessy and Seamus Kelly added points to leave Connecticut coasting by 4-12 to 0-7 with still over ten minutes left. Thankfully the referee showed some common sense and a sense of clemency ended the proceedings. The shortened game helped get the schedule back on time. Connecticut excelled throughout the field. Kiely was superb under the dropping ball; Wickham, Killeen, and Rohan were rock solid defenders. Kennedy and company up front did the rest. Maher, Ryan, the Duggans, Murray, and Henley never gave up despite the score line for Waterford.
CONNECTICUT: Aidan Kiely, Billy O’ Dwyer, Phil Wickham, Jason Killeen, Niall Rohan, Cyril Donnellan, Aidan Power, Keith Hennessy (0-1), Bonnie Kennedy (3-8), Ollie O’Neill, Seamus Kelly (0-2), Ken Moore (1-1), Mark Comerford.
WATERFORD: Pat Walsh, Ray Duggan, Noel Lonergan, Thomas Maher, David Ryan (0-1), Ken Geary, Chris Morrison, Jamie Duggan, Fergal Mulvaney (0-2), Paul Murray (0-1), Cormac Murray, Steve Madigan (0-1), Roy Henley (0-2).

Meath 0-19 Monaghan 0-5
Meath had little difficultly in defeating Monaghan at the GAA center in Rockland. They led from the start with Sean Killane and Mark Dobbins firing over quick points. Meath were much sharper and fitter and Monaghan had difficulty coming to terms with the speed and guile of the Meath attack.
Paul McGlynn opened the scoring for Monaghan after ten minutes. However a flurry of points from Newman, Hart, Kelly, and Dobbins left them six points ahead midway through the period. With Cathal Loughnane and Sam Yore dominant in the midfield, the Monaghan attack was starved of possession.
On a rare attack, Nestor Allen linked up well with Andrew Callan for the latter to score for Monaghan. Meath closed out the period with two more Dobbins’ points plus a Loughnane minor. Paul McGlynn finished Monaghan’s account to leave them trailing by ten points to three points at the break.
Little changed in the second half as Meath continued their dominance. Dobbins and Dooley exchanged early points. McGlynn, Allen, and Callan were trying hard but getting little from a resolute Meath defense. Loughnane had gone into overdrive as he landed a spectacular point from 60 yards.
He quickly added another long range effort while Darren Meaney got on the score sheet for Monaghan. That was Monaghan’s last score while the Meath men continued to increase their tally. Brian Newman and Seamus Hart had points while Loughnane pointed a free from the sideline.
Sam Yore continuously race through the middle only to shoot wide of the mark. Eventually he landed a fine effort of the left boot. Sean Killane closed out the scoring for Meath. Overall it was a very satisfying performance for Meath since they moved up a division. Their fullback line was rarely tested while the halfback line of Conroy, Greenan, and De Brun delivered plenty of ball forward. Seven names appear on the scoring tally which speaks for the effectiveness of this unit. For Monaghan, Willie Dempsey, Peter Dooley, Paul McGlynn, and Allen Callan battled all through in a losing cause.
MEATH: Chris Clarke, Paddy Melligan, Niall Sugrue, Eddie Travers, Michael Conroy, Eddie Greenan, Seamus De Brun, Sam Yore (0-1), Cathal Loughnane (0-4), Seamus Kelly (0-2), Seamus Hart (0-3), Sean Killane (0-2), Bernard Smith, Mark Dobbins (0-5), Brain Newman (0-2) Subs. Jamie Shaw, Sean Maher, Eugene Kyne.
MONAGHAN: Dermot O’Sullivan, Niall McKiernan, Mikey Art Trainor, Willie Dempsey, Paddy Skeath, Peter Dooley (0-1), Damien Ward, Dan Scott, Paul McGlynn (0-2), Nestor Allen, Sean Carbin, Paul Flynn, Declan McAteer, Darren Meaney (0-1), Andrew Callan (0-1). Subs. Joe McGuire, Mark Hamill, Marty Scott.

Offaly 0-15 Cork 1-6
In the closing game of the day, Offaly had points on the score board from Colin White and Shane Cunningham before Eoin Coveney got the Corkmen going with a point. Offaly were getting the better of exchanges in the opening period as Shane Cunningham extended their lead with two pointed frees.
Brendan Moran punished a late tackle on himself with a point to open up a four point lead. Eoin Coveney got one back for Cork. Then the game sprang to life as Cork’s chief scorer Coveney capitalized on a series of defensive errors to put the ball in the net. Sean Healy, after some useful running landed a well taken score from the left wing to give Cork a temporary lead.
Tommy Quaid quickly restored parity and Brendan Moran edged Offaly ahead with a pointed free. Tommy Quaid finished the scoring to leave Offaly ahead by 0-8 to 1-3 at the break.
On the restart, Tadgh Collins forced a goal save from John McGinley, and Conor White followed with an Offaly point. Over the next twenty minutes both teams had very different fortunes. Offaly ran off six points through Moran, White, Leavy, and Cunningham.
The rugged Offaly defense blocked the attacking lines while Cavanagh and Condron at midfield worked hard. It was twenty minutes into the second half before the Cork scoring drought ended with a point from Coveney.
This score was quickly cancelled out as Danny Leavy picked out Tommy Quaid with an inch perfect pass for the latter to slot over the bar. Cork rallied for the last five minutes and despite points from the Tadghs, Collins, and Foley, they found Mason and company none too yielding.
Overall this was a very solid if not spectacular performance from the Offaly men. They made very good use of their scoring chances. Cork at times looked as if they could turn it on but unfortunately they had little penetration in the attacking zones. Aside from Coveney others to show at sporadic times were Wiley, the Tadghs, Healy, and Harrington.
OFFALY: John McGinley, Mark Dolan, Chris Willis, Brain Delaney, Noel Coughlin, John Mason, Anthony Grady, James Cavanagh, Enda Condron, Nigel Carney, Colin White (0-4), Tommy Quaid (0-3), Danny Leavy (0-1), Shane Cunningham (0-4), Brendan Moran (0-3) Sub: Gareth Duffy.
CORK: Brian McGonigle, Colon Murphy, C.J. Doherty, Con Breen, Liam Hanley, Enda Lally, Brendan Wiley, Tadgh Healy, Sean Healy, Stephen O’Shea, Tadgh Collins, Tadgh Foley (0-1), Conchubher Harrington (0-1), Ed Cleary, Eoin Coveney (1-3). Subs: Michael McCarthy, Brain Crowley, Tim O’Sullivan

PRVIEWS
1.00 pm Roscommon v Down (J F)
With both teams doing well, this game has the potential to be exciting. Roscommon are backboned by a cadre of senior players such as John Walsh, Danny O’Sullivan, Andy O’Connor, and Declan Coyne. Down will be fortified by the Long Beach seven-a-side victory and will be led by Mark Dobbins, Eugene O’Hagen, and Liam Farrell.
2.30 Tipperary v Clare (S H)
On the surface it looks like that Tipp. should come out on top if Moylan, Fletcher, Kennedy and company play to form.
4.00 Westmeath v Donegal
Donegal look like the favorites here as they have assembled a useful squad. Eunan will direct from the back and expect the Mitchell boys to do likewise out of the field. Westmeath are rebuilding and expect a few surprises. Big Frank and Ciaran Walsh should not be taken for granted.
5.30 Sligo v Tyrone
Sligo will look to veteran Enda Henry, Matt Gilroy James Walsh, and Robbie O’Neill to get their first win. Tyrone will be guided by P J Ward, Steve Meenan, Barry McElduff. Both sides will be hungry for a win to boost their spirits.