Boston Northeast GAA

Aidan MacAnespies were in action against Cork in the Junior A league this weekend and began brightly, leading by eleven points before conceding any to the rebels.
The first came soon after the throw in as the Macs worked the ball up field well and McGettigan was dragged down to leave an easy free for Regan to tap over. The forward was in good form and hit the teams next two scores, the first coming after a clever quick free from McCusker found the run of Nugent who turned expertly to shoot over. The third was scored in similar fashion and already the MacAnespies were looking strong in the lead.
Cork were clearly struggling to compete and the Macs showed no mercy, relentlessly attacking the opposite net and building on their lead without reply.  Nugent had added the fourth when he was presented with the teams first goal scoring opportunity, but the forward was illegally blocked and won another free for his side, Regan obliging to tap over. McCrudden was again involved in his side’s sixth when playing a wonderful one-two with Leonard to set the latter up for a point. The entire forward line were eager to get in on the act and soon it was McCrudden’s turn to show his qualities, first scoring a free he had won for himself, setting up Regan for the next and then kicking over his second after coming short for a 45. The score of the half came from Lynn however as he reached high to catch a kick out, burst through with the ball and fired over for a lovely point to make it eleven points to no score. Again the Tyrone side threatened to grab a goal but Nugent’s close range shot was dealt with well by the Cork number 1.
Cork finally managed their first when Gaffney, who had been causing some trouble in the Macs defence broke away to curl a well deserved point over and the same player did it again after beating his marker out to the ball, twisting and shooting for another fine score, but the Macs saw out the half with a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-2.
The restart opened with a near shock for the Macs however as Cork manufactured a goal opportunity of their own. The Macs defence found themselves outnumbered as Cork broke away with possession, and Slevin took a long ball before playing a neat one-two with O’Hanlon but could only find the side netting from a narrow angle.
The first goal did arrive ten minutes later as McGettigan won the kick out uncontested to set up a quick attack for his team. A shot on the Cork goal was again well saved by O’Toole, but McCrudden was at hand to apply an easy finish, albeit by a back heel into the net. The Tyrone men had already added four more points in the second half, with McGovern emerging to dominate the second period. Another player who was largely impressing was the busy Cork goalkeeper, who bounced back from losing his clean sheet by making a brilliant save from McGettigan via the penalty spot after McCrudden was fouled in the area.
The keeper did well to keep the goal count down and deserves credit but man of the match goes to the winning MacAnespies team and their industrious Mark McGovern who won much of the possession for his side and used it effectively, while also rounding off the score line with the game’s final point.

 

After a player of the match performance against the Shamrocks in their last game, Roscommon goalkeeper Barbara Kelly must have been hoping her side would have more luck against a dangerous Tír na nóg team in Sunday’s meeting.
Roscommon’s hope were shattered after barely two minutes of play as a high ball in caused major confusion and although a Roscommon player caught the ball, she appeared to be standing behind the goal line as she did. This confusion spread from the Rossie’s defence to the match officials and play was allowed to continue before a green flag was raised late and the referee brought the ball back for a kickout, frustrating a Roscommon team on the attack.
This event deflated the girls in Yellow and Blue and they had trouble creating any meaningful chances with the rest of the half being pretty much one way traffic. The score at half time said it all, with Tír na nóg 4-7 to 0-0 in front. Their first was a sloppy goal, but Tír na nóg added a fine second with a super strike from Maguire gave the keeper no chance. Some good defending by Roscommon full back McLaughlin prevented the third straight after but this only delayed the inevitable, as Brosnan chipped in with a lob over keeper Kelly to make it 3-5 to no score. Tír na nóg full forward Hehir then grabbed the first of her two goals before Roscommon found their way towards the opposite net, unfortunately for them also finding Tír na nóg net minder Gohery in the way and a comeback goal was averted.
Hehir continued her goal scoring run with her side’s fifth after half time to heap more misery on her opponents, but they did come back with three good points and driven on by O’Connell at centre back. Ryan opened Roscommon’s account with a good run and finish before Rothard added another with a great left footed strike. The same player found her range from a free soon after but this signalled the end of Roscommon’s revival as Tír na nóg returned to their dominant ways and completely outperformed their counterparts.  Aisling Gorman was the player of the match, having a solid game at centre half back.  Gorman made numerous vital interceptions helping her team immensely. 

 

Donegal went into the Galway tie looking to maintain their unbeaten record and facing a side fighting to save their season as the Tribesmen are still to record even a single point in the league this year.
Donegal have been performing well recently and after last week’s narrow victory over Kerry, a place in the senior championship was all but secured. With Galway more in need of the points, Donegal conceded the first score with 9 fighting off some strong challenges to open the scoring for his side. But Donegal replied in champion fashion as Ross Wherrity received a ball out on the right and raced down the line before floating a wonderful pass into the hands of Mullans at corner forward. The marksman dispatched a good shot past the keeper who could not stop the shot despite getting a hand to it, and Donegal were ahead.
The next goal chance went a begging as Galway’s 9 found himself inside his marker but the player just dragged his shot across goal and wide. The Tribesmen reduced the deficit when 11 took a good ball from 10, turned Healy and knocked over his team’s second. The score was level a few moments later after great play by the Galway side. The ball was turned over in midfield and found its way to 13 who immediately arrowed a precision pass into the arms of the tenacious 9. The forward crashed a powerful strike off the crossbar and 11 just managed to squeeze the rebound over the crossbar to return the equilibrium.
If Galway had any intention of taking the lead then Donegal were having none of it and the league leaders began to stamp their authority on the pitch and the score board, first through Kevin Curran who somehow found space to shoot his side back in the lead. This was followed by a few minutes of brilliance from ever-reliable full forward Eddie Mannion as the tricky Kerryman hit 1-1 to put Donegal in the driver’s seat. The point came as Mannion chased a long ball out wide before turning and shooting over from a narrow angle. This was followed by a goal with the next attack as the forward found himself on the end of a great team move and fired the ball into the corner to make the score 2-2 to 0-3.
Mannion then passed the mantle on to flying wing back Mark McGowan as the latter turned the screw on his opponents with some great runs forward and this produced a further goal and point for his side, the goal coming after McGowan was dragged down in the box by Galways 8 with Mullans finishing from the spot, and then the defender finished off his own run to add another point afterwards. The next point also went to the Tír Chonaill men and again it was Mannion with the score.
Galway managed another point before half time with 9 hitting over from a free, but Donegal exposed the gaps in a poor full back line as Paddy Kelly exchange passes with Mullans in front of the Galway net before finishing easily to the net.
The second half failed to live up to the high tempo or standards of the first and scores as well as quality seemed to be drying up on both sides. Each added a point from a free within ten minutes of the restart but it took at least that for any real action from play, before an opportunity presented itself for Galway to pull a back a goal. 11 who had been threatening to infiltrate Donegal’s back line a few times, finally made his way through to shoot for goal after collecting a good pass in. Although his shot was a good one it was no match for the Donegal keeper as the Fermanagh man pounced quick and low to his left, knocking the ball wide with his palms.
Despite this disappointment, Galway continued to come at Donegal who emerged for the second half subdued and lacking certain urgency. Although their opponents failed to capitalise on the previous chance, Galway did notch up a further four points through a combination of frees and scores from play, when 9 found himself up next up against Murphy but somewhat unbelievably, the forward shot wide with a poor miss from close range. Again, Donegal were lucky to retain their clean sheet but were not improving at the other end as Galway hit three more points, with frees coming from 15 (2) and 12. This made it a six point game, leaving one wondering if Galway would end up regretting their missed goal, chances.
Mannion scored Donegal’s first point from play of the second half but this failed to stem the flow of scores from a rejuvenated Galway side. The men in maroon looked determined to avoid another defeat and surged forward with the ball like their opponents did in the first half, with four more frees reducing the deficit to three points, three of which coming from the boot of 15.
Unforunately for Galway, they gave themselves too much of a mountain to climb and in the end time ran out on their attempt at an unthinkable comeback. Donegal were certainly not impressive in the second half and had their goalkeeper to thank for this victory, as they were on the back foot and resorted to fouling their opponents tirades up the field as they searched for an equaliser. Fergal Murphy stood tall and performed well throughout the game and deserves the man of the match award.

After a scrappy loss to Wexford last week, Cork faced another tough encounter against Tipperary this time round. Tipp’s last game was also a loss to reigning champions Wexford and therefore both sides had the intention of regaining winning ways while increasing the pressure on their opponents in the race for league points.
The opening stages were indeed very tight with neither side allowing the other much in the way of easy chances or possession. The scoreboard also revealed a well balanced game, with Cork twice gaining a one point advantage and with Tipperary equalising quickly after. Cork made the first real impression on the game after ten minutes when Allen galloped forward and knocked a dangerous ball between teammate and Tipp goalkeeper Howard, with the net minder coming off second best.
The pace being set on the pitch was phenomenal and in no time the premier county had pulled back another deficit to equalise for a third time in the half with Howley scoring from 65 yards out, then McGrath added another after a great catch and the same player equalised when taking on a defender, the forward worked a scoring opportunity and took his chance with both hands.
This time Tipperary were boosted by a three point lead when a long free dropped short and Minton swung his hurl to help the sliotar into the net from the edge of the small square. Cork were obviously weak in this department as the same player stole in for another soon after and Tipp were beginning to escape the grasp of Cork. The rebels brought two points back through frees before half time to leave Tipperary 3-5 to 1-7 ahead.
This lead was increased as soon as the game resumed when Tipp forward Minton tapped over after his side won the throw in. Cork threatened to make a contest of it but Tipperary’s two goal advantage seemed impassable. The reds found points from the hurls of man of the match Minton, Howard and McGrath but their opponents always had a five or six point cushion until the game was put beyond doubt with another Tipperary goal and with nine points between the sides, Tipperary had the quality and a comfortable lead, enough to take another vital victory. Some fine scores from Howard and Dempsey rounded off a great performance for the Tipperary team.

The Wolfe Tones took on the challenge of Cork in the senior football league in Canton on Sunday after a good run of victories including last week’s emphatic win over Armagh Notre Dame. Cork on the other hand came into the match having been beaten by the same team in their last fixture and with games running out; the rebels are stuck at the foot of the table without a point.
As one would have expected, the Tones began strongly and their trusty forward Farrell set up the opening point after curling a shot with the outside of his boot to hit the upright and McVeigh followed up with the finish. Cork notched back an equaliser after Lyons was fouled and Monahan scored the first of his frees to make it level. The Tones then showed their true strengths in attack by going 0-6 to 0-1 in the lead. Donaghy bundled over the first while under pressure from a defender and then set up Farrell for the next with a nice switch into the forward. Maguire was the next name on the score sheet after dispossessing a Cork player on the attack and further scores from McVeigh and Sayers gave the Wolfe Tones a five point advantage.
Cork had missed a few chances for scores in the meantime thanks to some wayward shooting but began to make a comeback through Connolly when trying for a goal, the Cork forwards found their path blocked and had to settle for the point. Again, the reds aimed to find a way through to the Tones net and O’Kane grabbed another point after the Sky Blue’s goalkeeper stopped a previous effort going into the net with Cork getting ever closer. Then Cork scores a free and it was beginning to look like a more evenly matched tie between the teams. Farrell was at hand to give his team a vital score to keep the distance between his side and the opposition but again it was Cork who scored next, this time Monahan shooting past the goalkeeper and narrowly over the crossbar. After being so unlucky in missing their goal chances, it would have been the ultimate irony for Cork to suddenly concede one but so it almost was with McCabe bringing the ball down in the box and the full forward attempted a drive into the top left corner, but the keeper was relieved to see his effort sail over the crossbar.
Cork continued to press and found two more points before half time through Coakley and Lyons to make it 0-9 to 0-7 at half time. With the game delicately poised and Cork remaining in with a shout, half time put a dampener on Cork’s push for victory and the rebels returned to their wasteful ways with poor kicks from Lyons and Monahan from placed balls allowing the Tone’s some breathing space. The Dublin side took advantage of this by doubling their lead with Farrell tapping over a free and the same player was involved again to set up Donaghy for another. The game had lost some of it’s edge when the Tones worked their best goal chance of the game as Moriarty was slipped through for an opportunity but with the keeper on the floor, the forward could not find a way past the post and another goal chance was squandered.
If anyone could, the Tones could and finally a goal was registered a little later and in some fashion. It came about when Scullane played along, direct ball to Marty Farrell who turned his man and offloaded to 10 who took the ball at pace and nearly burst the net with the finish. By then the unlucky Cork had lost all enthusiasm for the battle and their opponents sealed another crucial win with final score line of 1-15 to 0-8, with Marty Farrell standing out with a good performance and rounding off the evening’s events with a simple fisted point.