Boston Northeast GAA

Alan Nestor opened Mac’s tally with a point from play.
Mac’s made it look all too easy when a superb pass from the middle of the field was well caught by Jamie Kelly and netted by his colleague Peadar Nugent. Jamie Kelly took a well placed point from play ten minutes in to add to Mac’s account while Cork were still waiting for an opening score. Mike Lyons answered the Rebels call with a well taken point from a free after a foul on the approaching forward. Colm Donnelly caught the Cork defence asleep rounded his man and tapped in a ground ball to claim his goal for Macs. Cork’s response came from Mike Lyons but with a 6 point deficit the Rebels’ had a lot of work ahead of them, work Mac’s didn’t look like letting them do. The rain had picked up substantially before the half, making conditions close to impossible for both teams. Neither team will claim any individual heroes in the first thirty minutes. Not for the first time today, Cork’s backline were nowhere to be found for Macs’ third goal at the break.. Mac’s backline were tested by Kieran Connolly when they were caught napping for the first time today, however Connolly was unable to profit from what he will see as a good chance to goal. Mac’s wouldn’t have been too stressed at the half with their 11 point lead. Mac’s 3-05 Cork 0-03.
 
The second half welcomed back what could be easily called gale force conditions. Cork looked a far cry from the team who played Kerry two weeks previous, while Mac’s consistency was still intact. Mark Kehoe received a yellow card five minutes into the second half after an unruly challenge on Cork’s Kieran Connolly. Minutes later Cork stormed the Mac’s penalty area and a fitting goal from the Rebels’ no 10. restored some pride. The match was out of reach early on for Cork but Macs’ will know that their early goals eased their rite of passage substantially.
 

 

 

Kerry’s first attempt came from a free within minutes of the start. The strong winds didn’t assist Liam Shorten’s attempt in the least resulting in the first wide of the match. Kerry took the lead with a superb point from their center half back Brian Lombard. Blues’ responded with a score minutes later but Kerry’s control of affairs early on brought them back into contention with a score from Dubliner Robbie Croft. Indeed Croft’s work rate all over the field was commendable. Philip Corrigan and Matt Bligh teamed up very well in Bligh’s well commanded corner to silver plate a fine score from Eoin O’Neil. After fifteen minutes Kerry looked very composed and comfortable on the ball. Their corner forwards were used very well and with a strong wind blowing the entire team were fluent in making space for themselves all over the field. Croft pushed Kerry 2 points ahead twenty minutes in with a free from the 21 yard line. The wind did no team any favors today as reflected in a low scoring first half. Blues’ in fairness didn’t look like throwing in any towels just yet though. Compared to the last day though they did look a little less alive on the ball at times. The sense of urgency they displayed the last day seemed to have ebbed away . That was until Blue’s caught the Kingdom on the hop and Eoin Gilmartin profited from what he will agree was a slip up by his marker to goal for Blues’ with a tap to the keepers’ left. It gave Blues’ their first lead of the afternoon.
Kerry clawed on back courtesy of Crofts 14 yard tap over. Half time Kerry 0-05 Blues’ 1-02.Blues’ David Shallow latched onto a pass and smartly passed it on to put Blues briefly ahead. Sean Kiely brought Kerry back into it with a point seconds later. Robbie Croft crossed the Referee’s path and got himself the first yellow of the match for his retaliation after a brief fracas with Blues keeper. The first scare of sorts for Kerry came after fifteen minutes when Blues’ forwards squandered a possible moment of greatness. Kerry’s backs took more time dealing with the threat than they might have wanted with what some would see as over passing of the ball, but the threat was dispersed nonetheless.
The scoreboard still only displayed a one point lead for Blues’ halfway through the second half solely due to their opportunistic goal earlier on in a match that, so far, Kerry should have sewn up to reflect their work rate. Blues’ found their form and were rewarded for their efforts after right corner forward David Shallow with a well placed goal to put Blues’ four points clear. Shallow recorded a one goal and three points tally.
Kerry reacted well and continued to work hard, playing attractive football along the way.
Blues full back was well placed to squash any chance Kerry had of scoring from a sideline ball when they tried to play it short he advanced with confidence to spurn the Kingdom’s attack. Twenty minutes in Blues’ were doing just enough to keep Kerry from advancing , but only just enough. Both teams however should be commended if only for tolerating the harsh elements on offer, as mentioned it certainly did not help to make the game an attractive one.
Robbie Croft landed himself two more points in the closing stages for Kerry but it was a case of too little too late as Blues’ pointed at the whistle to bring an end to an unavoidably drab affair.

 

On Saturday’s fixtures Christopher’s (SF), Donegal (Jr. A Football) Cork (Jr. B Football) and Tipperary (Jr. Hurling) all won their matches on Saturday.
McAnespies beat Celtic's by a single point to claim victory in their Junior 'A' game on Sunday.