Boston Northeast GAA

Match Reports 8-16-09

Match Reports August 16, 2009

by Matthew Deeney

Macs Power Into Semi-Final

Kerry  1-8 v Aidan Mc Anespies 4-09

A second half surge from McAnespies was enough to give them victory here after a more than nervous first half. This was a massive game for Macs with their season and hopes of a senior semi final resting on a victory. Both teams started lively, with Kerry, despite already being destined for the intermediate championship, seemingly motivated by the thought of knocking out the reigning champions. Despite the high intensity, the game lacked any chances with both teams guilty of dropping balls into the keepers hands. It took until the tenth minute for the first clear opening of the game and it fell to the team in red and white, when corner forward Kelly took advantage of a lapse in concentration in the Kerr defence but after breaking clear, scuffed his effort on goal wide. After this let off it for Kerry, they took the lead after a throw ball on the 21 gave Croft an easy free to open the scoring. They continued to build on this moments later and a wonderful individual run and score from wing back O’Sullivan doubled the lead as Kerry began to looked settled. It wasn’t until halfway through the half that McAnespies registered their first score through Kelly from the right. Godley hit another for Kerry as the half backline tried to control the game as they have in previous outings for their team. McAnespies were looking nervous and were lucky to be level 5 minutes later after McCrudden and a lovely effort from Donnelly made it 3 a piece. However, it was again, as against Connomara last week, frees that were threatening to be the Macs undoing as Croft hit another, added to by Corrigan shortly after. With two between the teams, McAnespies looked to get the break they needed so badly after a typically explosive run from McRory drew the foul from Fenton and won a penalty. It was McRory who picked himself up to hit the spot kick but his strike was turned away to the right by the diving Kelly. McCrudden scored from the resulting 45 to leave one between them. Croft added his third for Kerry on the stroke of half time from the dead ball to leave the scores at 6-4.

The second half started with McRory being moved into his more familiar position of corner forward and almost had an immediate impact, hitting the post after beating his man. This was followed up by a score after Kelly set him up with a great run to cut the difference to one. The second half was already shaping up to be more exciting than the first with both teams looking to hit their full forward line at every opertunity, but it was driving run rather than the early ball in than turned the game after McAdam collected the on the left on his own 45 and powered through the challenge of Corrigan and after a one-two with McCrudden his cheeky flick lobbed the keeper to put the Tyrone team ahead for the first time on the game. Kerry replied with another Croft free but McAdam restored the lead to 2. And again it was McRory’s move to full forward that was paying dividends as he turn provider this time as his flick to Kelly was driven low and under the keeper to put them in the driving seat. Kerry were lucky not to be out of the game minutes later after Keilly was lucky to escape with a yellow card after appearing the lash out with the boot but McAdam added his third score from the free to leave 7 between the teams. With the Kerry backs looking unsure, Macs took the opportunity to kill the game with two quick fire goals through McCrory and one from Kelly following some lovely build up in the forward line. Donaghy added another for Macs and Kerry pulled a goal back but time was running out for the Kingdom men. Corrigan and Morriorty  cut the deficit further with two more scores but the task at hand was too big as McAnespies ran out winners by 4-9 to 1-8. They must now wait to see if they will face Donegal or Christophers in the semi final as they look to peak at the right time as we enter the business part of the season.

SFC

Donegal Coast Into Top Position

Donegal  1-14 v 1-4 Cork

This was a game of little relevance to any of the standings in the senior football championship with Donegal already secured in the top two and Cork resigned to the bottom of the table for this year. Donegal opened the scoring early on with a great score from Roper wide on the 21 followed up by a free from Curren. However, the Canton crowd were shocked moments later when Corks full forward turned and beat the keeper with a cool finish to put the rebels ahead as they threatened to damage Donegals chances of a top of the table finish. Donegal looked rattled but it was the ever consistent Healy who burst forward from corner back to level the teams. Cork were refusing to be overwhelmed by the senior semi finalists and their full forward inparticular was proving to be a handful as he again broke clear but his shot was saved from the Donegal keeper  to keep it level. Donegal went ahead again but Cork replied with two of their own, the pick of which from their veteran half forward who showed his experience after collect a 50/50 ball fired over from the 45 metre line. This was proving to be a very open affair and Donegal were guilty of missing two excellent goal opportunities, with neither team putting on much of a defensive show. A good take and score from Bell left the scores level at 1-3 to 0-6 as both teams continued to entertain. Donegal doubled their lead to put them 1-2 to 0-7 up at half time.

SFC

Semi Final Reward For Armagh’s End of Season Form

Armagh Notre Dame 3-8 v 0-10 Mayo

With last week’s huge win over Galway, Armagh have gone from having nothing to play for to being well in the hunt for the intermediate championship. A victory here would guarantee a semi final place and set up a potential tie with Wolfe Tones. However, with Mayo knowing that a victory could still set up a playoff to get into the Intermediate Championships, the stakes were big for both clubs. The game was a less than exciting affair throughout and lacked spark until the second half. Both teams stated nervously with balls being spilled in all areas of the field and some poor tackling and marking left the forwards with the run of the game. It was Armagh who opened the scoring with a free from Jordan but this was quickly cancelled out by Flemming as he stroked over after some poor tracking from the Armagh midfield. Jordan hit back with his second and first from play to make up for a bad miss from a dead ball moments earlier, but this was again cancelled out by Flemming. Mayo were looking like the more comfortable and dominant team in possession  but for the second week in a row the Armagh full back line of Burke and Lennon didn’t look like giving much away. Blake put Armagh ahead for a third time after a great burst forward from Burke, but Mayo levelled again after Toner and O’Donavan linked up excellently to provide Walsh with the chance to stroke it over from the right. Armagh were beginning to settle into the game and seemed to have cut the threat of the lively looking O’Donavan. it was more great defensive work, this time from Meehan than set up the move of the match so far as he burst forward to find McClelland who’s pass found the younger of the Gillsenan brothers but his finish was not enough to beat O’Malley in the Mayo goal. He didn’t have to wait long for another attempt though as he timed his run to perfection to collect the break off Blake and coolly slide the ball under the oncoming keeper. Jordan added another free soon after to leave 4 between the teams at half time.

Mayo started the second half in a strong manner and hit two quick scores to narrow the gap, Armagh replied with a free but still looked out of shapes compared to the first half. The introduction of Magill had the desired effect as the wing half forward collected the ball on the left and following a mazy run fired over for the score to take the pressure off Armagh and leave the score 1-7 to 0-5. Mayo narrowed the lead again with a free from O’Donavan but it was Gillsenan again though who pulled Armagh on and after a great break from midfield, he set up McClelland who’s effort deflected past the keeper and into the net for another goal. Mayo kept plugging away and Walsh pulled one back with ten minutes remaining. They were having a purple patch and looked determined to hit the Armagh net but two great blocks from Burke and Tiffney kept them at bay. Both teams swapped points again and the gap remained six between the teams. With only minutes remaining, Armagh looked more than comfortable and were keeping the ball very well and this patient build up lead to them unlocking the Mayo defence once more as Maguire found Gillsenan and he again showed his composure to hit his second and Armagh’s third of the game. Mayo pulled one more back but Armagh continued their late season surge to hold on to the victory and set up an Intermediate Semi Final which seemed a long way off two weeks ago.

SHC

Toms And Galway Must Do It All Again

Fr. Toms 2-13 v 0-10 Galway

Like many of the final league fixtures, this game had a lot riding on it with Fr. Toms still holding the chance to force a play off for a semi final place. Knowing this, it was Fr Toms who got out of the traps fastest hitting two early points through Cuddy and Callaghan. Galway looked unsettled and looked unsure of their shape, employing three different goalkeepers within the first five minutes finally settling on their strongest.  This failed to faze Toms as Healy scored from the 60. Minutes later, Galway got their first break of the game as a slip by Callinan let in Moylan but with the goal gaping he pulled his effort wide. O’Dywer hit Galways first with a free but Toms replied through Kelly. Galway had a penalty on the 15 minute mark after some sloppy defending from Toms but Moylan had to settle for his point,  followed by his second from another free. Keenan brought back the two point lead shortly after with a fine individual score with his back to goal on the half way, turning to fire over. Kelly didn’t wait long to add another for Toms but it was Galway who were looking the more dangerous, dominating the possession failing to score though, hitting some simple wides. Moore was looking rock solid at the back for Toms but he was not getting much relief as the sliotar was constantly being puked back on top of the defence. With the game lacking any real spark and threatening to fizzle out, Lyons popped up for Galway to show the forwards how it’s done with a great score, but again, Toms hit back instantly through Healy to restore the 3 point lead. With half time approaching Byrne hit a point off the boot for Galway but for the third time in a row Toms hit back within a minute with Cuddy striking again. Galway continued to push and for the first time broke the Toms defence  but Moylans shot towards the top corner was wonderfully turned wide by Bendon as he continued his excellent form between the sticks. Moylan again failed to punish a free with the last play of the half to leave it 0-8 : 0-3 at half time.

Galway knew that they had to work hard to overturn the deficit and kill any notion of a play off and their increased desire was evident as Creavin hit his first within a minute to cut the gap to one. True to form though Fr. Toms replied with a great score off the ground from the sideline form half forward Howley. Like the first half though, the game again went dead after a bright start with neither team threatening to score. Moylan hit a free for Galway but the gap was still two going into the final quarter but just as it had been the whole game, each Galway score seemed to kick Toms into action and this was no different as Kelly plucked the ball from the air and despite pressure from three defenders, fired into the top corner to give Toms a massive boost. Things got even better for them after this as again a high ball from Kelly was spilled by Roberts in the Galway goals and O’Dwyer was on hand to pull home and leave the score at 2-10 to 0-8 and a play-off looking like a serious possibility. Healy brought the gap to 9 as Toms continued to push on for the win.  Fox and Lyons traded points before Linnane reduced the gap to 8. The deadly Kelly weighed in with another and Moylan pulled a late goal back for Galway but they never threatened to really close the gap and both teams must now do it again to decide the semi finalists.