Blues, Kerry, Donegal and Wolfe Tones Take the Spoils on Opening Day

By Rory O'Donnell
PRO Boston Northeast Gaelic Athletic Association

There was a great crowd at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton for the first day of the Boston Gaelic Football Championship.  There were three games played on Sunday, May 20, with Kerry, Donegal, and Shannon Blues coming out on top. 

The Ladies footballers were also in action with Tir na nOg (Teer na Nogue – Land of Youth) defeating Connacht Ladies in the Orla Benson Cup.  The men’s gaelic football championship consists of 11 teams.  Each team plays eight games and the top six at the end of the regular season make the playoffs.  Games are played every Sunday afternoon beginning at noon and playoffs take place in August.

Donegal 2-17 (23) Christopher’s 0-9 (9)

Donegal and Christophers began their championship campaigns under blue skies at the Irish Cultural Centre on Sunday afternoon.  Donegal deserved their win and dominated in most facets of the game, in spite of Christopher’s getting off to the better start a point from Braintree youngster, Paudie Kenneally.  Christopher’s then almost had a goal with the ball nearly trickling into the net, but the scare had the effect of waking Donegal out of their slow start.  Points flowed from Christy Bell and Brian White and were followed by Ciaran Williams and veteran stalwart, Kevin Curran.  Goal came from Garbhan Friel and White. Donegal were in a comfortable half time position, leading by 2-10 to 0-3 for Christopher’s.

 Christopher’s opened the second period brightly with a nice scores from Paddy Mainiry and mid fielder Shane Flannagan, but once again Donegal took over.  Hugh. Devine and Niall McConnell came in for Paul Mc Nulty and Kevin Curran, and scores came from Ciaran Williams and Michael Mc Ginty. 

Christophers fought back hard with some great scores from the impressive Eoin Gorham and Shane Flanagan, but the Donegal team under new manager Barney Laverty finished strongly to get their quest for 2012 silverware off to the best possible start.

 Kerry 3-6 (15) Aidan McAnespies 1-10 (13)

 The reigning Boston champions, Aidan McAnespies, met Kerry to open their title defence and were defeated in a tight, intense game. 

McAnespies got off to a flying start with two points in the opening five minutes, one coming from Colm McCrory.  Kerry opened their account with a fisted goal from Ian Whelan, who met a cross square ball from Robert O Hanlon.  The goal put some fire into the Kerry furnace and the men from the kingdom got on top.  Padraig Doyle pointed for Kerry after 10 minutes, and just after the mid way point of the opening period, Ian Whelan again pointed.  McAnespies looked like they were going to stage a come back, but two goals in the last five minutes rocked the champions.  The first came from Paddy Tanny and the second from Donncha Fenton.  After McCrory pointed for McAnespies it was Kerry who held the lead at the break, 3-2 to 0-5.

 Kerry continued to enjoy the advantage in the second half. A point from Tanny after 8 minutes was followed by another after 14. McAnespies then went to work realizing that there was a game to win and it was Kerry who experienced the barren period. For a time it looked as if the experience of the champions would carry them through. Gareth O’Neill pointed after 19 minutes and converted a free shortly afterwards, while Fergal Doherty urged his cohorts to lift their game. With less than 10 minutes to go McAnespies won a well earned penalty.  Colm McCrory being the player fouled and also got up to fire the shot home. 

Kerry though, showed some character and fought back, scoring points in the last 25 and 30 minutes. Mike McCarthy pointed a free and Whelan accounted for the other score. McAnespies were forced to go for goal and almost generated chances on a couple of occasions, but each time the final pass went astray.  With time up McAnespies won a 45 which they dropped into the square, Kerry broke the ball out, and with it Joe Moriarty called time.  First blood to Kerry in what was perhaps a surprise result.

Shannon Blues 2-14 (20) Galway 0-7 (7)

With key forwards Danny Reddin and Gearoid O’Connor out with early season injuries Galway faced a tough task on Sunday and went down to an excellent Shannon Blues side.  Eoghan Kavanagh was the man of the match for Galway, while for the Blues Brian Curran and Shane Kelly led the charge. 

 Orla Benson Cup

 Connacht Ladies 1-1 (4) Tir na nOg 3-10 (19)

Tir na nOg got a won over Connacht Ladies to earn a place in the Orla Benson Cup final against old enemies, Boston Shamrocks. The Connacht Ladies played some great football in the first half and kept with their more established opponents, at the break it was a close 1-0 to 1-3 for Tir na nOg.  In the second half the Brighton side took over as superior fitness told.  Aisling Kerr and Carolyn Egan fought hard for Connacht Ladies, and for Tir na nOg Sinead Bannon and Carolyn Egan played well.

Next Sunday, May 27, there are 3 senior football games beginning at 1:15.  Cork play Donegal, Connemara Gaels play  Mayo, and Galway play Kerry.