The 2012 New York GAA scene got underway on Sunday with Cavan hosting their annual seven-a side competition for the John Joe Cassidy Memorial cup. Eight teams had signed up to play with the top two from each group going forward to the semifinals. Group one consisted of Cork (NY), Armagh, Donegal (Philadelphia) and Wolfe Tones (Boston).
Incidentally some of the Philadelphia boys were no strangers to Gaelic Park as Mick Higgins, Kieran Quinn, Mickey Grimes and Mark Peacock were members of the Four Provinces’ squad from a few years ago. As for the Wolf Tones, it was a case that if you do not succeed, just keep trying. After several previous appearances in the tournament their perseverance paid off as this year they captured the sevens title in emphatic fashion. Meanwhile Cavan, the reigning sevens champions, along with Cork(Boston), Kerry and Leitrim were slotted into Group two. However it appears that a number of the Leitrim players were delayed by the lengthy rituals and liturgies of Palm Sunday and failed to make the starting time, thus forcing the New York champions to withdraw due to a lack of players.
Meanwhile with Eugene Kyne at the helm, the proceedings were run off in a very timely and orderly manner while the commentator Seamus Dooley kept the hardcore GAA fans up to date with the scores and standings.
At the end of the respective rounds Kerry topped their group followed by Cavan, while the Wolfe Tones blitzed their way through their group with Cork finishing second. Thus the scene was set for the semifinals as the Wolfe Tones were pitted against Cavan while neighbors Cork and Kerry battled each other in the other semifinal. The Wolfe Tones and Cavan clash was an exciting and spirited affair played with great passion by both sides as the visitors experienced their toughest test of the day. The Wolfe Tones were ahead at the break by 2-3 to 1-4 with Joe Sheridan, Michael O’Brien, Marty Farrell and Collie Carr continually driving them forward. Despite staunch efforts by Sean Kelly, Lonan Maguire, Ciaran Shields and Paul Lamb, the Wolf Tones always had the fire power to stay ahead and win the game by a score of 3-9 to 2-7. The other semifinal was also a close and tense contest as the scoring prowess of Robbie Moran, Eoin Hogan, Padraig King was enough to earn the Kingdom the victory by 2-7 to 1-6, though the Rebels’ Gary Lowney, Sean Kinahane, Francie Cleary and Eoin McHugh certainly make them earn it.
The final had the two best teams as both had won their divisions, though the Wolfe Tones had very impressive scoring statistics. The general consensus was that they were a very formidable outfit plus they had the recently emigrated Joe Sheridan in their ranks. Sheridan had received plenty of attention for his unorthodox goal in the Leinster final against Louth in 2010. Meanwhile both teams exchanged opening points before the Wolfe Tones struck for their first goal, which had a rather dubious origin too. A number of irate Kingdom supporters roared that the ball had been thrown into the net and thus I feared a Sludden-like moment as I happened to be the referee in this game and didn’t see clearly the sequence of events amidst the matrix of bodies in the goal mouth scramble. Thankfully Paddy Gormley, the Dean of Referees in New York, who was the umpire, informed me that it was an own goal as the Kerry player had ushered the ball into his own net. Fears of being vilified and pilloried in the press quickly evaporated due to the vigilance of a diligent umpire. The Wolfe Tones went on a goal scoring binge over the next five minutes. First speedster Mike O’Brien waltzed his way for a major while Marty Farrell also had the net bulging. The visitors were now playing superb football as the Kingdom had no answer to the nearly incessant waves of attacks as Darren Maguire belted in another. The Kingdom’s response was three points and a promising sortie up the field by Shane Clifford ended badly as the ball was intercepted while the Kingdom net was unguarded. This turnover allowed Sheridan to score a facile goal as he had the liberty of half the playing field to himself as he shot untackled into an empty net.
Kerry did strike for a goal to boost flagging spirits as half time approached to leave the score at 4-2 to 1-5 at the break. The second half started with a great run by keeper Gary Brilly as he sprinted the length of the field to land a superb score. Indeed Brilly displayed amazing versatility as he also brought off some great saves while also landing scores. Mike O’Brien struck for another goal while Sheridan landed a point as the Tones seemed to have the sevens down to a fine art. In fairness to Kerry they kept trying but there was little to show for their efforts as a pile driver from Robbie Moran brought the best out of Crilly. The Tones were now on cruise control as Cormack Joyce-Power, Collie Carr and Kenny Regan continued to chip over points while containing the Kingdom. Kerry did land a late goal from a penalty but the issue was never in doubt as the Wolfe Tones had too many weapons for the Kingdom to contain or control. The Wolfe Tones were deserving winners by a score of 5-8 to 2-7. Overall this was a superb performance by the Boston squad as they had an abundance of strength and size particularly in Charles McCarthy, Cormack Joyce-Power and of course Joe Sheridan. This trio was greatly complemented by the very speedy and skillful Michael O’Brien, Collie Carr, Darren Maguire and Kenny Regan.
Sevens are about goals and strategy, and here the Wolf Tones excelled with veteran Brilly being a strategist par excellence with his timely runs and well placed kick-outs. Cormack Joyce-Power was named player of the tournament but Brilly was not too far behind in the voting. The Kingdom gave it their best shot but unfortunately for them they came up against one of the best sevens teams to play at Gaelic Park in long time. Eoin Hogan, Robbie Moran, Kieran Scannell and Padraig King were always in the thick of things but they were unable to ruffle a very fluid and high scoring Boston machine to any great effect. Judging from the Bostonian performance, it certainly will have the ingredients for a very lively clash when they meet the Big Apple squad in a few weeks.
After the final, the president of the GAA, Christy Cooney was on hand to present the John Joe Cassidy trophy to the victorious team while former President Joe McDonagh was also in attendance. This was also the first time that the John Joe Cassidy trophy was won by a team from outside New York.
Wolfe Tones: Gary Brilly, Charles McCarthy, Seanie Kelly, Marty Farrell, Joe Sheridan, Collie Carr, Cormack Joyce-Power, Michael O’Brien, Darren Maguire, Kenny Regan.
Kerry: Shane Clifford, Michael Nestor, Eoin Hogan, Robbie Moran, Kieran Scannell, James Huvane, Padraig King, Darren Walsh, Martin Falvin. Referee Frank Brady.
