Brooklyn 3-13 Westmeath 1-17
This senior football match was an enthralling encounter with the outcome going right down to the hooter. Westmeath’s Jackie Robinson had an impressive 10-point tally, but it was Brooklyn’s Liam Kerr’s 3-2 that ushered his team over the line where tempers often matched the temperature in a sweltering Gaelic Park.
Meanwhile Westmeath had three points in the first five minutes, courtesy of Kieran Murphy, Colm O’Neill and Joshua Jahan. Brooklyn responded likewise over the next five minutes as Oran Power and Liam Kerr(2) hit the target. Indeed Kerr would go on to give a scintillating display of forward play as he periodically sliced and diced his way through defense. It was basically a tit for tat affair as Brooklyn were 0-6 to 0-5 at the first water break, badly needed to cool the bodies and also the heads.
Upon refueling, Westmeath were turbo-charged as Jackie Robinson was firing over points before Oran Power shot to the net after good combination with his corner forwards to go four up. Now Brooklyn stepped heavily on the gas as Gavin O’Brien came twice to striking a major before Kerr’s superb individual effort did land a major. It was 1-9 apiece at the short whistle.
Westmeath’s cause wasn’t helped on the restart, first they lost midfielder Dan Sullivan and then keeper Pat Querin, both due accidental heavy clashes. Despite losing key players Westmeath seemed to be edging on the basis of points from Robinson and O’Neill and solid defense from Healy, O’Riordan and Jahan at the back. However once again Kerr would rock the Midlanders’ boat as he became the last link on an intricate defense-splitting movement to breach their fortress. That put Brooklyn one up with a quarter to go.
Upon rehydration, both corner forwards, Robinson and Murphy, sent over points, before Westmeath went on a mini scoring spree with points from Murphy, Robinson and Healy and looked to be cruising to the finish line. Not so fast, said Kerr, as he completed his major hat-trick and Fergal O’Neill put the icing on the cake with his late point. Now Brooklyn’s Maher, Campbell, Wharton and battened down the hatches. There wasn’t room to sneeze never mind to get a shot off. Overall an absolutely brilliant game of football, played with great intensity and speed despite the extreme temperature.
Brooklyn: Ryan Corrigan, Niall Donoghue, Alan Campbell, Ethan Lennon, Bill Maher, Andrew McGowan, Rob Wharton, Jack Kennedy, Ted Regan, Fergal O’Neill, Jack Savage, Liam Kerr, Conor Murphy, Gavin O’Brien, Robert Carr. Subs Lorcan McPartland, Shane Homan, Colm Doherty, Connall Kennedy, Aidan Lawler, Liam McGrath.
Westmeath: Pat Guerin, Brendan Holton, Israel Ilunga, Conor Toner, Tadgh O’Riordan, Joshua Jahan, Jack Healy, Kieran Murphy, Dan Sullivan, Oran Power, Colm O’Neill, Jack Torpey, Jackie Robinson, Adam Loughlin-Stones, Luke Russell. Subs Gavin Lee. Man of Match Liam Kerr, Referee Peter McCormack.
Battle of free-takers
Waterford 1-20 Westmeath 2-17
This was another great battle between two power houses of hurling in the Big Apple. It ended all-square with the leveling point being kicked over the bar by Cian Mullane. In a way it was also a contest between two expert free-takers, namely David Mangan and Donall Parr. (Now from a writer’s perspective, it was almost impossible to know which of Waterford’s numbers were which, as they are camouflaged by the stripes on the jersey).
This was another tit-for-tat affair in the first quarter, Westmeath’s goal came from Gary Corliss and the points from Mangan, Caulfield and Potteran. Sean Clancy goaled and points came from Parr and Larkin. Westmeath were ahead by 2-9 to 1-10 at the break, being the beneficiary of a goal by Jack Martin, which was mishandled by the defense. Both sides traded points courtesy of Mangan, Byrne, Corliss and Caulfield, while Parr and O’Donoghue responded for the Déisi.
The game had become quite tempestuous, forcing referee Noelle Comyn to issue seven yellow cards. It was still very much the Mangan/Parr show in the third quarter, though Mangan might have thought he had a penalty when Adam Loughlin-Stones was man-handled close to the goal. The exchanges were ferocious in the last quarter, as Oisin Kelly, Kevin Larkin along with Parr got critical scores. At the other end Sam Byrne was a handful as he pointed and had a bone fide goal shot deflected over and of course Mangan was chipping in to have his team ahead by a point entering the last minute. Then Cian Mullane got possession and headed for goal. He was surrounded like a prized prisoner, and couldn’t swing his hurley, but he did manage to swing his foot to kick the ball over the bar, for the equalizer.
Waterford: John Joyce, Gerard Leen, David McCaul, Ruairi Slane, James Birmingham, Darren O’Donoghue, Cormac Condon, John Power, Joseph Diggins, Aidan Organ, Oisin Kelly, Donall Parr, Nial Coen, Sean Clancy, Cian Mullane. Subs Conall Bohill. Nollag Brophy, Kevin Larkin, Stephen Moroney,
Westmeath: Daniel Mottram, Eoin Corrigan, Sean O’Leary Hayes, Alan Sherlock, Conor Caulfield, Ger McPartland, Connall Kerr, Adam Loughlin, Conor O’Shea, Paudie Doran, David Mangan, Gary Corless, Nicholas Potteran, Sam Byrne, Mickey Cullen. Subs Sean Loughliin-Stones, Padraic Doolan, Jack Martin, Tom Blackburn. Man of Match Cian Mullane, Referee Noelle Comyn.
Kerry edge spirited Sligo
Kerry 1-14 Sligo 0-15
In this senior championship match Kerry were quickly out of the blocks as Shane Cronin and Peter Fox hit over early points after good deliveries from Liam Kearney. Sligo soon found their rhythm as Niall Toner slotted over a free and keeper Ryan Scullion did well to stop a shot from Aaron Byrne.
For the first quarter exchanges were well balanced as Toner would augment his tally with a two-pointer to be 0-5 at the water break. At the other end Conor Lynam(2) and Nial Madine hit the target.
After refueling, Daire O’Boyle pointed after a long delivery from Jordan Ajani, but then Kerry stepped on the gas to hit three unanswered points courtesy of Madine, Cronin and Dara Walsh. Indeed the upright and crossbar combined to deny Kerry a two-pointer, plus ‘keeper Cadden saved brilliantly to deny Thomas Shalvey.
Kerry led by 0-8 to 0-7 at the break, but they stormed ahead upon resumption. Keeper Scullion started the scoring spree with a two-pointer and Michael McCarthy palmed a well-coordinated sequences of passes to the net. Lynam and Fox raised white flags before Sligo’s Cian O’Dea stalled the mini rout with a point. This seemed to energize Sligo as they played their best football in the last quarter despite facing a seven-point deficit. They would hit seven points while limiting Kerry to two. Colm Murphy, Nial Toner, Danny Corridan, Aron Byrne and Connell Aherne were the scorers. However Aherne’s point was denied due to insufficient players in their half, thus gifting a handy free to Nial Madine. Sligo’s case was not helped by their squandermania and the last effort from a free to draw level was defected safely over the bar to leave Kerry winners. Simply the Kingdom availed of their chances, while Sligo squandered too many of theirs.
Kerry: Ryan Scullion, Shane Bolger, Donal Hunt, Shane Doheny, James Walsh, James Kelly, Shane Cronin, Liam Kearney, Eoghan McElligott, Peter Fox, Michael McCarthy, Thomas Shalvey, Cillian Lang, Niall Madine, Conor Lynam. Sub Creagh Courtney.
Sligo: Vinnie Cadden, Eoghan Kerin, Noel Hatton, Shane Barry, Aaron Boyle, Cian O’Dea, Paul Kelly, Eoghan McCloughan, Liam Stafford, Darragh McConnon, Aaron Byrne, Jordan Ajani, Daire O’Boyle, Alan Colm Murphy, Niall Toner. Subs Cathal Sheehan, Daniel Corridan, Connell Ahern, Andrew Flynn, Daniel Cox, Jamie Cox, Shane Queenan,Mathew Moyles. Man of Match Shane Bolger, Referee Jeff Farrell.
Cork win it in 2ndhalf
Cork 4-12 Cavan 1-17
Though Cork got the opening two scores from points from Dara Mooney and Coilin O’Connor, Cavan had slightly the better of exchanges in the first half as they would lead by 1-8 to 1-6 at the break. However, that would change dramatically in the second half.
Meanwhile once Cavan got fired up they landed three points via Luke Kelly(2) and a spectacular one from Frank Reilly. Then the Cavan defense was coming under pressure as Dara Mooney cut through but keeper Grace saved brilliantly. Still Cavan were doing most of the attacking as Gareth Mannion, Cian McArdle and Luke Kelly shot points before Michael Argue knocked a ball into the net. There was little time to enjoy the major strike as Cork went straight down the field, leaving Sean Rock to rattle the net. Cavan finished the period strongly as Luke Crowley and Gareth Mannion fired over two great individual efforts to have the Breffni Boys lead the Rebels by those two points.
On resumption that lead was soon wiped out when Dara Mooney scored 2-2 in a few minutes. In addition, free-taker O’Connor kept adding to Cavan’s woes. However, it was free-takers par excellence that brought Cavan back into the game, with two-pointers and singletons.
When the margins got small, a great run by Rory Duggan and a pass set up goal scorer-in-chief Mooney for his hat-trick, but ‘keeper Grace denied him with another super save. However Sean Rock did clinch the fourth goal to halt the Cavan comeback and thus cement the Rebels as victors, and thus conclude a very spirited and entertaining game.
GAA results and fixtures
All-Ireland SHC quarter-final
Tipperary 1-28 Galway 2-17
Dublin 2-24 Limerick 0-28
All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final
Galway 2-26 Down 3-21
Dublin 1-19 Cork 1-16,
Kerry 3-20 Cavan 1-17 0-12
Donegal 2-22 Louth
Tailteann Cup semi-final
Limerick 2-18 Wicklow 1-17
Kildare 1-13 Fermanagh 0-9
(Final to be played on July 12)
Saturday 28 June/Sunday 29 June
All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals
Meath v Galway, Croke Park
Armagh v Kerry Croke Park
Monaghan v Donegal, Croke Park
Tyrone v Dublin, Croke Park
