Westmeath 3-9
Brooklyn Shamrocks 1-13
This senior football match was a real battle, definitely no place for the timid or timorous. There were plenty of stoppages to assuage the effects of rather robust physical encounters. The referee was a busy man awarding disciplinary cards for various infringements, and by the end of the game four players had received early marching orders for their transgressions.
Prior to the throw-in the word was that Brooklyn had to win, if they were to have a viable position in the rest of the championship. Unfortunately for the Brooklynites, conceding three goals in the first half left them trying to catch up for the rest of the game. Then to add to their chagrin, Westmeath were not in a very benevolent mood. (For the All Ireland hurling final report, click here.)
Meanwhile Westmeath were first on the score-board as Jack Savage pointed after target-man big Niall Mitchell was fouled. The opening exchanges were fairly even and Brooklyn were soon on the board courtesy of corner-man Dan Cibotar. Both teams exchanged points, before the first goal arrived. A Brooklyn defender was penalized for using a foot-block in the square, setting the scene for a penalty. The peno was duly planted in the net by Jack Savage and he followed with a point from play.
The second goal soon arrived as a long delivery was knocked into the path of Killian Butler by Niall Mitchell, and the corner man gave keeper Cunningham no chance with the shot to have Westmeath lead by 2-3 to 0-4 at the first hydration break.
After refueling the third goal arrived. Corner back, Boidu Sayeh was at the end of a field-sweeping four player movement before releasing the ball to the inrushing Jordan Ajani for him to plant the ball in the net for the third major strike. In fairness to Brooklyn, despite the dispiriting deficit, they battled back and they took the game to Westmeath for most of the second quarter. They put four unanswered points on the board, with the scores coming from their duo of chief score-getters, namely Edward Horan and Dan Cibotar, plus with good support and deliveries coming for teammates Quinlivan, Boyle, Fox and Hannigan. Still they trailed by 3-4 to 0-8 at the short whistle.
Upon resumption players were becoming more intensely engaged, resulting in frequent stoppages, Brooklyn would further reduce the deficit as they scored four points in the third quarter, while limiting Westmeath to just two, still Brooklyn trailed 3-6 to 0-11 at the last water-break. In reality the break was as much needed to cool the heads as well as the bodies at this stage. Peter Fox reduced the gap further with a well-executed point, before Brooklyn went ahead for the first time with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Cibotar scored a penalty after the keeper had flattened a forward. Now it was 1-13 to 3-6 in Brooklyn’s favor. However Westmeath finished much the stronger to put three unanswered points on the board. Man of the match Savage levelled up with a free but he produced a savage point from a “45” to put his team ahead. Brooklyn had chances but failed to convert, while Gavin O’Brien came off the bench to land the last score. Overall a very tough contest between two very committed teams, and I’m sure there will be a few animated discussions about some aspects of the game.
Westmeath: Par Guerin, Niall Donohue, Israel Ilunga, Boidu Sayeh, Eric Lowndes, Rob Wharton, Conor Coughlan, Stephen Monaghan, Adam Loughlin-Stones, Shane Fagan, Jack Savage(1-4), , Jordan Ajani(1-2), Killian Butler(1-0), Niall Mitchell, Dan O’Sullivan(0-1). Subs Mark Galligan, Keith Scally, Stephen Nolan, Emmett Conghaile, Dylan McDermott, Sean Moore, Gavin O’Brien(0-2), Jack Carmody, Darragh Carmody, Luke Kelly.
Brooklyn Shamrocks: Michael Cunningham, Ethan Lennon, Alan Campbell, Redmond Hanna, Bill Maher, Aaron Nolan, Shane Bolger, Andrew McGowan, Michael Quinlivan, Peter Fox(0-1), Edward Horan(0-6), Kevin Hannigan, Dan Cibotar(1-6), Niall Madine, Paddy Boyle. Subs Ryan Corrigan, Brian O’Hanlon, Richard O’Rourke, Niall Cassidy, Keith Quinn, Diarmuid Browne, Liam McGrath, Michael Dorgan, Michael O’Sullivan, Aidan Lalor, John Mc Sorley. Man of Match Jack Savage, Referee Pat Donoghue.
Superior St. Barnabas
St. Barnabas 2-15 Cork 0-7
The score-line in this senior football championship is a fairly good indication of the fare that transpired on Saturday. St. Barnabas were vastly superior in the scoring segment, and perhaps the only other individual that was quite as busy was the referee maintaining law and order. Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, is alleged to have said that, “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts”. That certainly epitomizes this Barnabas squad, as collectively they are a very potent force, and with no player ensconced very long in the spotlight. The true team concept is very well exemplified.
Meanwhile the Bronx Boys were quickly out of the blocks as Jack Reilly pointed a free and Callum Jones punched over, when driving the ball under the bar seemed a real possibility. Tom Joe Sullivan got the Rebel’s first score after Sean Roche was fouled. Well, for the next 20 minutes St. Barnabas were totally dominant as they would put 1-6 unanswered on the scoreboard. Brendan Martin was the goal-scorer, while teammates Reilly, Jones, Mathers and Martin himself chipped in with points to lead by 1-8 to 0-1 with just a few minutes left in the period. The last few minutes were the best and most productive part of Cork’s game. They managed to put four points on the board, courtesy of Sean Roche and Tom Joe Sullivan. St. Barnabas led by 1-11 to 0-5 at the short whistle. On resumption, little changed as the game petered to its inevitable result, though tempers were frequently frayed. Any chances of a Rebel rally were snuffed out once Mikey Brosnan got the second goal. Overall, Barnabas were much the better team as they had plenty of potent firepower up front, a solid midfield base and their defense was quite frugal too. Cork, despite playing with plenty of passion and zeal, struggled to match their more youthful and fitter opponents throughout the field.
St. Barnabas: Jack Dennis, Peter Cronin, Dylan Curran, Paudie Mathers, Mikey Boyle(0-1), Shane Hogan, Ian Kavanagh, John Reynolds, Conor Rafferty, Conor Mathers(0-3), Callum Jones(0-2), Shane Brosnan, Brendan Martin(1-1), Jack Reilly(0-8), Mikey Brosnan(1-0). Subs Paudie Studdart, Oisin Mathers, Cian Craig, Adam Power, Gearoid Kennedy, Caolan Mathers, Timmy Fitzmaurice, Jamie Boyle, Thomas Cassidy.
Cork: Donal Casey, Conor Hearty, Alan Raftery, Sean Tierney, Enna Barry, Jamie Davis, Andrew Burke, John Conefrey, Eamon O’Brien, Tom Joe Sullivan(0-2), James Casey, Dara Walsh, Fintan Gould, Sean Roche(0-5). Subs Lorcan Kennedy, Dara Melly, Padraig McNamara, Jamie Coyle, Pa Sheehan, Mickey Lenaghan. Man of Match Jack Reilly, Referee Ciaran Lee.
Gaels test Kerry
Kerry 3-11 Shannon Gaels 3-6
This game in the intermediate championship was the best game at the weekend, though most of the pundits had Kerry coasting comfortably to victory. Well it seemed that perception was accurate as Kerry had built up a sizeable lead after 20 minutes, 1-7 to 0-3, but then came a two-goal strike from Shannon Gaels to let Kerry know that this was not going to be an easy walk in the park. Meanwhile the Gaels were first to score as Sean Price fired over a spectacular point. The momentum switched quickly to the other side as a swift-moving Kerry offensive put four unanswered points on the board courtesy of Liam Kearney, Conner Keane, Niall Madine and Niall McCarthy. Aidan Flynn got a second point for the Gaels, but Kerry, with timely inter-passing and fast exchanges saw Niall McCarthy and Martin Stack add two more points. Sean Price tagged on one for his team midway in the period, before Sean Liddy banged the first goal after a fine delivery from Niall Madine. Indeed Kerry looked set to have another goal, but the upright came to the Gaels’ rescue. Keane added another Kerry point before the transformative two goal major strikes from Shannon Gaels. The first goal resulted from an Oisin Mathers penalty after Sean Smith was downed. The second came from defender Conor Maguire after he maneuvered his way past several defenders to rifle the ball to the net. Both sides finished the half with points, Keane for Kerry and Mathers for the Gael, leaving the score at 1-8 to 2-4 at the intermission.
The situation continued to look promising for the Gaels against their highly rated opponents as Liam O’Rourke levelled with a point. However then it seemed as if it was back to the predictable Kerry script. The Kingdom went on the offensive, but Niall Madine missed a bone fide goal chance. Sharp-shooter didn’t miss his major chance, and neither did Martin Stack, so now it was 3-8 to 2-5 ten minutes into the second stanza. Both sides traded points, Logue for Kerry and Mathers for his team. However, the Gaels like a good ring warrior were not about to throw in the towel. Oisin Mathers, after a good pass from Pascal Kavanagh, banged in another goal, though the first attempt was denied by the post. That would be as close as it got as the Kingdom now resorted to a policy of containment. Still the Gaels won plenty of possession, but a late bout of squander-mania didn’t help their cause. Kerry are now one step closer to their favorite habitat, the senior division. The Gaels tested them, and it’s great to see, a predominantly American-born squad perform so well against Kerry, a powerhouse in New York since Gaelic games began.
Kerry: Kevin Dwyer, Hugh McDonald, Niall Collins, Aidan Long, Rob O’Sullivan, James Walsh, Mike Cronin, Liam Kearney(0-1), Peter Fox, Sean Liddy(1-0), Niall McCarthy(0-1), Colm Logue(0-2), Conor Keane(1-4), Martin Stack(1-2), Niall Madine((0-1) Subs Sean Flavin, Ronan McLoughlin, Ed Myers, Shane Hennessy,Keith Quinn, Creigh Courtney, Padraig McCray, Conor Lynch, Gary O’Driscoll, Ciaran Higgins, Conor Maguire.
Shannon Gaels: Eamon Reid, Rob Corridan, Stephen Traenor, Eamon Doran, Declan McNamara, Conor Lohan, Colm Maguire(1-0), Tom McCarthy, Asthon Walsh, Liam O’Rourke(0-1), Aidan Flynn(0-1), Conor Sheedy, Sean Smith, Oisin Mathers(2-2), Sean Price(0-2). Subs. Pascal Kavanagh, Fintan Corbett, Liam O’Connell. Man of Match Conner Keane, Referee Jeff Farrell
