In this intermediate football clash Mayo were no match for a very impressive Astoria Gaels squad. It has been said that no good deeds should go unrewarded and this appears to be the case for Astoria. Over the last few years several of the Astoria players drafted with Down and helped them with a senior championship. Now that Down has disbanded a number of their players have thrown in their lot with Astoria, and thus transforming them into very viable championship contenders. Even their bench has star quality on it. With Packie Downey, Robbie Moran, Seamus Kelly and Liam Farrell plus manager Ciaran Fearon on board, the principle of reciprocity would seem to be working very well in Gaelic football.
Astoria were quickly out of the blocks as Seamus Kelly pointed in the first attack while a quick free by Robbie Moran set up Nestor Allen for the second point two minutes later. Allen supplied the pass for the next score for Liam Farrell to fire over as Astoria were tormenting the Mayo rear guard. After ten minutes Astoria had raced into a five points lead as Downey, the most prolific scorer for the last few seasons, had a brace plus he also forced a good save from keeper Potter.
Ronan Doherty opened Mayo's account with a point from a free after Emmet Cooney was fouled while Brendan Moran quickly added another from play but it did little to slow down a rampant Astoria squad as they would tag on another five unanswered points. First Moran landed a long range free while midfielder Brian Geraghty soloed in for a fine score. Indeed Geraghty was very impressive with his fine fetching and ball carrying skills. Geraghty was also involved in the next score as he combined with Downey for Moran to put over. He also had the next point while Downey finished a good move involving Foley, Farrell and McQueeney to land the last score of the period leaving Astoria comfortably ahead by 0-10 to 0-2 at the break.
Mayo got a great start in the second half as a speculative shot from Tom Galvin ended in the Astoria net plus Galvin also added a point but it had little effect as Astoria stepped on the pedal again. Shane Sweeney and Moran added points before Sweeney goaled after Downey set him up. Downey struck another point before Geraghty cut right through the middle to blast a powerful shot to the net which effectively ended the game as a contest with still a quarter left to play. Both teams would add a few points but they were inconsequential.
Astoria Pa Ryan, Alan Foley, Fergal Murphy, James O'Brien, Sean McQueeney, Sean Kelly, James Scully, Robbie Moran (0-5), Brian Geraghty (1-2), Seamus Kelly (0-1), Donal Sullivan, Liam Farrell (0-1), Nestor Allen (0-1), Packie Downey (0-4), Alan McDonagh Subs Shane Sweeney(1-2), Shaun Munnelly, Same Yore, Des White, John Keaveney(0-1), Ray Carroll. Derek McKenna Mayo Kieran Potter, Tom Huvane, Darren Walsh. Kieran Butler(0-1), Colm O'Neill, Ciaran Quealey, Ciaran Carlton, Thomas Keegan, James Prenty, Tom Galvin(1-2), Brendan Moran(0-1), Gary Staunton, Emmet Cooney(0-1), Ronan Doherty(0-1), Dave Colleran Subs Tom Duffy(0-1), Dean Doherty, Mossie Dore. Referee Tom Fahey, Man of Match Brian Geraghty.
New York ladies start preparations with win
The New York ladies football team has reentered the Irish championship and they will be participating in the junior quarter finals against Kilkenny or Carlow. It is over ten years ago since they last competed at this level, beating Waterford in the semifinal before losing to Tyrone in the final on that occasion.
Incidentally New York's current premier forward, Molly O'Rourke, was playing for Waterford then while New York's ever green and longest serving player and current chairperson, Rosie O'Reilly-Broderick, was in action for the opposition. This time around they will be on the same side as they cross the Atlantic at the end of August. O'Reilly-Broderick feels that it is fitting that the local squad should enter the Irish championship on this the 20th anniversary on the founding of ladies football in New York. Naturally preparations have been underway for a while. Philip Sheridan has been appointed manager while his selectors are Paula Brophey, Fergal O'Neill and Mark Comerford. So with a view to gauge their progress a probable New York squad was picked to play a selection from the remainder of the Big Apple players.
This was a high scoring contest as the New York squad got off to a great start as their superior fitness and team work left their opponents struggling. Scores rained over from the lethal finishers Molly O'Rourke and Emma Clarke while midfielders Linda McKeon and Aine O'Dwyer provided a plentiful supply as well as contributing scores themselves. At the back, T. A. McCullough, Catriona Brady and company were well in control of their mission. However, at the intermission manager of the Big Apple selection , Dessie O'Reilly, reshuffled his squad and his team played with a lot more passion and purpose in the second half. Caroline Murphy led the charge from the front to land several points while Karen Feeney, Molly Boyle, Caroline McBrien and Ashley Callery tightened up in the defense. Alisha Jordan became much more assertive in the middle as she carried the ball forward to create chances for Joanne Levine, Ciara Moore and Caroline Murphy.
However, despite the greatly improved second-half performance from the Big Apple selection, the New York squad with their devastating first half display has put the game well beyond the reach of their opponents.
New York Mary O'Rourke, Jessie Garcia, T A McCullough, Imelda Mullarkey. Louise Lilly, Catriona Brady (0-1), Joanne Monaghan, Linda McKeon (3-3), Aine Dwyer(0-3), Michelle Brennan, Kelly Roche, Aislinn Gormley(0-1), Molly O'Rourke (1-5), Emma Clarke (1-5), Rosie O'Reilly-Broderick(0-1) Subs Karen Henry, Allison Leyden, Aoife Gibson, Michelle McVann, Niamh Britton, Courtney Traenor, Maebh DeBurca Big Apple Nora Kilkenny, Bronagh Lally, Ashley Callery, Caroline McBrien, Molly Boyle(1-0), Aoife O'Rourke, Karen Feeney, Mary McGuire, Alisha Jordan(0-4), Emer Talty, Theresa Marron(0-1), Joanne Levine(1-1), Caroline Murphy(0-6), Ciara Moore(0-2), Michaela Newell. Referee Frank Brady, Player of the game Molly O'Rourke
Challenge games
The New York ladies will continue their preparations with further challenge games against Philadelphia and possibly Boston. In addition they will also undertake some interesting and possibly hilarious fund raising ventures to support the trip. The ladies will be staging a competition similar to the highly rated "Dancing with the Stars." As I go to press the names of the eight couples have not been released as the organizers are careful not to induce too much stress on the performers. In addition in the event that any of the competitors falter badly or fall, perhaps they could consider entering "America's funniest home video" as a consolation. Further details on the event will appear in this column.
Under 8 Blitz
The weekend the Rangers Football Club in conjunction with the Minor Board organized a very successful under 8 football competition at Gaelic Park. The display of skills and sportsmanship is certainly a great barometer of the very instructive and positive coaching that is being done at this level. There were some spectacular block downs, exquisite scores, goalkeeping saves coupled with great fielding, passing and solo running by these Gaelic stars of tomorrow. The competition was divided into two sections with six teams in Group A and five teams in Group B. Comprising the first group were Rangers, Shannon Gaels, Celtics, St. Patrick's, St. Barnabas and Rockland. In the B group there were Rangers (2), Shannon Gaels (2), Celtics (2), St. Barnabas (2) and Rockland (2). At the end of the round robin in the A division Shannon Gaels defeated St. Patrick's by 3-5 to 0-3 in the semifinal while Rangers held off Rockland by 2-3 to 2-1.
In an exhilarating final the Rangers defeated Shannon Gaels by 2-5 to 1-4 with the early goals for Rangers being the decisive factor. On duty for the victorious Rangers were: Christopher Mulvihill, Evan Mulgrew, Kieran O'Connor, Daniel Taylor, Shay McElligott, Niall McKenna, Cathal Egan, Joey Grace, Jason Powers and Ryan Powers. Doing their best for Shannon Gaels were Colin Gargan, Senan Price, Oisin Foy, Luke Corridan, Liam Martin, Oisin Mathers, Pascal Kavanagh, Michael Moore and Rory Duggan. In the B division Rockland's and Ranger's second teams emerged to contest the final with Rangers clinching the victory by a score of 2-0 to 1-1 in what was another very exciting and sporting contest. Starring for Rangers this time were: Nolan McCaffery, Asthon Walsh, Nevin Murphy, Ryan Phelan, Jack Phelan, Finan Carolan, Charlie Curtin, Darragh Foley, Christopher Kennedy, Mark Carthy, Megan Conway and Calvin Quinn. Battling bravely to the end for Rockland were: Aidan Boyle, Oisin Selby, Conor Duffy, Riley Slemmerman, Liam Oates, Sean McGinley and Ryan Tobin. Overall it was a great exhibition of youth football with the games being played in a very punctual manner. Seamus Dooley, the M C, kept the patrons well informed about the scores, the standings and the venues plus the availability of the very copious and nutritious refreshments.
Feile
Feile Results: The New York boys and girls Feile teams were participating in Cork over the weekend. The boys reached the semifinals by defeating Middleton by 3-3 to 0-3, Crossmaglen Rangers by 2-4 to 1-4, Fr. O'Neill's by 4-4 to 0-5 and Erin's Own by 1-12 to 3-0. However their successful run was ended by St. Enda's Glengormley as they lost by a score of 0-7 to 0-1. The ladies also reached the semifinals as they beat Banteer by 5-9 to 0-1, Ballincolloig by 7-7 to 0-0, and St. Ciaran's by 2-4 to 2-3. However in the semifinal Dungarvan got the better of them by a score of 4-4 to 2-4.
