Match Reports 8-9-09

Match Reports August 9, 2009

By Matthew Deeney

Junior B Football

Armagh Notre Dame 1-10 v Mayo 2-7

This was expected to be a one sided affair looking at both teams records going into the game with Armagh yet to pick up a point going into their last game and Mayo carrying a record with only one defeat, however, this was not to be the case. Armagh started the game strongly with Kelly and Butler dominating midfield and Hall looking dangerous in the forward line notching up 3 consecutive points to put them 0-3 to 0-0 up. Though it took Mayo 15 minutes to settle, they played some lovely fast football, in particular in their full forward line and brought the difference back to one point. Mayo began to dominate and finish the half with a brace of goals from the Mayo corner forward and a wonderful score from Kelly after dummying with the right and slotting it over with the right, which left them leading 1-4 to 2-4 at half time. Both teams started the second half strong and swapped points keeping Mayo on top. This continued until Armagh found another gear with only 10 minutes to play. With Butler continuing to dominate in the middle, Hall chipped in with another score to leave the minimum between the teams with only a minute on the clock. From the resulting kick out, the ball broke to Murphy on the right wing who bent over a fantastic score to tie the game with the last kick. A hard earned draw for both teams and an excellent contest.

Roscommon Ladies Force Semi Final Play-Off

Ladies Senior Football

Boston Shamrocks Ladies 0-8 v Roscommon Ladies 3-9

Following last week’s poor performance against the Tir na nOg girls, Shamrocks needed a big game to ensure another shot at them in the Boston final, however, this Roscommon team looked focused from the minute they took the pitch, knowing that a victory would earn them a semi final place against the Shamrocks for the right to face Tir na Nog.

Roscommon started like a team out to prove a point and after Sweeney won it on the left, her cross field ball found Toner whose strike found the back of the net to give them an excellent start. From the resulting kickout Shamrocks looked to hit straight back, however, it was Toner again who was there for Roscommon, clearing Murphy’s goal bound shot off the line. The girls in the blue and yellow continued to look dominant notching up two more scores through McGirr and Regan. It took Shamrocks until the 8 minute to register their first score through McGrath’s right footed effort from 30 yards which seemed to settle her team. This was added to by Monahan a few minutes later to leave a goal between the teams. Shamrocks were beginning to control the game pushing their half backs forward at every chance and this led to a goal chance on 15 minutes after Heins played a lovely one two but dragged her effort just wide. Roscommon needed someone to settle them and help regain their composure and they got this in centre half forward Rochford who after picking up the ball in the midfield carried it all the way to the 21 and unleashed a fierce drive into the bottom corner to leave them 2-2 to 0-2 ahead. Heins pulled a score back from the dead ball for Shamrocks and could’ve pulled a goal back but for an excellent last ditch block from O’Connell. Ahern was starting to control the game from the half back position for Shamrocks winning a free converted by Lowrey and setting up another score for Heins to close the gap to three at half time.

Roscommon opened the second half with a score from Sweeney to extend their lead. Despite the Shamrocks turning over a lot of ball with some excellent tackling in particular from McGuickan, their distribution was letting them down at the impressive Rochford hit another point. McGirr added another for Roscommon to restore the 6 point gap followed by another to leave it 2-6 to 0-5. With Shamrocks looking like they were tiring, Roscommon took advantage with another two through Finnigan and Hannon and then put the nail in the coffin, when at the second time of asking, Regan put the ball in the net to leave the gap at 12 points. Roscommon were looking very comfortable in the backline with McLaughlin and Waters doing some excellent hassling. Shamrocks did pull two back through Lowrey and Heins, and despite some poor wides closed the gap further with points from McDonnell and another from Lowrey. Rochford kicked another late score to add to Roscommons total and give them the victory with a score of 3-9 to 0-8.

Battle Of Brighton Ends In Notre Dame Joy

Senior Football

Galway 1-7 v Armagh Notre Dame 1-8

This local Brighton derby was set up to be a heated affair, with just a point separating the teams in the table following Galway’s draw with Kerry last week and both teams with an outside chance of making the intermediate semi finals, both teams were hungry for victory.

Although Galway started well, the Armagh full back line of Lennon and Burke looked comfortable and dominated the early balls played in by Galway. This persistence in the Armagh back line lead to a free on the 21, converted by Jordan for the first score of the game. Galway replied with an energetic burst from Redmond drawing the free on the 21 converted by Hanlon. Hanlon soon won another free which Rogan stroked over to put the men in maroon up by one. Armagh replied with another from Jordan. The game was beginning to look more and more like the local derby it was billed to be as the hits began to fly in and both teams were guilty of sloppy passing. Galway were dealt a blow after 12 minutes as the dangerous looking Hanlon was forced to withdraw with an injury. Galway had a big chance on 15 minutes after O’Dywer made a burst from half back and after a succession of one, two’s found Gallagher who’s tame effort was straight at Molloy in goals. Just a few minutes later O’Dywer made another burst from his own half and this time opted to go himself and made no mistake of stroking past the keeper to give Galway a three point lead. They were also working doggedly in defence and restricting Armagh to long range effort which they were failing to convert as Rogan hit another for Galway. Armagh were in desperate need of a score and got it through Jordan again after an excellent run from Darren Gilsenan. They continued to press and after some determined work from Lennon in the back line, he found Meehan who in turn found Boylan and his low drive found the net to level the game up. Boylan followed this up with an long range free from 45 to leave Armagh with their tails up going into half time.

The second half began as the first had ended as Boylan continued to assert himself in the midfield area that Galway had earlier dominated, however Jordan missed the chance to extend the lead with a close free. Rogan replied for Galway by also missing a similar free as both teams free takers looked shaky. Armagh extended their lead by one with a close range effort from Magill. Some good work from Nolan led to another free from Rogan to leave the minimum between the teams. Again though, Armagh replied with some lovely link play between Gilsenen and Blake winning a free for Jordan to curl over. Armagh were dealt a major blow with only 15 minutes to play as McCelland looked to be harshly sent off following a second yellow for an off the ball incident. This seemed to give Galway a huge boost as they unlocked the Armagh full back line but Nolan’s strike towards the top corner struck the post and back into play, the resulting clearance found Magill who’s excellent run won a free which the reliable Jordan convert to settle the Notre Dame boys. Galway again came charging and Nolan hit another point, followed by a lovely bit of linkup between Nolan and Redmond, who hit a strike across the keeper and hit the post and rolled back across the line only to be cleared by Molloy in the Armagh goals to keep the difference at two points. Kelly put one over for Galway but Gilsenen restored the lead as Armagh refused to lie down. As Galway pushed for a goal, Armagh refused to be broken down as Lillis settled for the point going into the final minutes. Rogan had the chance to level for Galway with a 40 yard free but pulled it just wide to give Armagh a hard earned victory.

Toms Just Tipp It At The Last

Senior Hurling

Tipperary 2-13 v Fr. Toms 3-11

Fr. Tom Burkes

This was a game that was crucial for Fr. Tom’s and one in which they had to beat the leaders Tipp to stay in contention. This was echoed in the early contests of the game as Toms started strongly hitting the net within the minute mark through corner forward Murphy. They continued to heap pressure on Tipp and were leading comfortably by 1-5 to 0-3 after 15 minutes following a lovely score from centre half back Moore from the 60 and another from Murphy. Tipp though regained their composure and a score from Kavanagh closed the gap. However, just minutes later, Tipp had keeper Howard to thank for keeping them in the game after a surging run from Healy, his goalbound strike produced an excellent save from the keeper. Tipp pulled another back from a Howley free to leave a goal between the teams. Young scored another for Tipp as they began to get on top, with Minton getting his third of the game from a 20 metre free. McCarthy pulled another back for Tipp as Fr. Toms began to look sloppy. Kennan hit a well needed score for Toms on the stroke of half time with the score of the game, a free from his own 45 metre line to leave it 0-8 to 1-7 at half time.

Tipperary Squad

The Toms started the second half just as they did the first hitting the net through Howley after just 30 seconds to give them a boost. This was followed up by a free from Moore to leave 6 between the teams. Some wonderful fielding from McCarthy won a free for Tipp which Minton converted for a badly needed score. This was followed up by a 20 metre free which McCarthy dispatched into the Toms net to leave just two between the teams. And it was that man McCarthy again just moments later that cut the lead to a point with 12 minutes remaining. Toms were struggling as Tipperary continued to build momentum with Ryan and Dempsey snuffing out the majority of Toms attacks. McCarthy added another to tie the game and make for an interesting finish. Tom’s hit back again through Keenan but McCarthy quickly levelled again as Tom’s paid for giving away sloppy frees. Moments later McGrath broke through the Tom’s back line but his shot was kept out by a top class save from Benden in goals. Tipp took advantage of another soft free as McCarthy put them in front for the first time with just 5 minutes remaining. Just when it looked like Tipp could wrap it up, Moore hit back with a tremendous point. With only minutes to play a long puck from Mines fell in the square and Kavanagh’s swing turned the sliotar into the Toms net to leave it 2-13 to 2-10. True to this end to end game though, from the puck out, Keenan picked up the ball and ran to the 20 before powering the ball into the net to level again. In this heated contest it would’ve been hard to pick a better team but Fr. Toms were to have the last laugh as they got their hard sought after victory following a wonderful score from substitute Henley. Tipp had one last chance but a last gasp lunging clearance from Moore denied them the score and give Fr. Toms victory by 3-11 to 2-13. Although there were many protests with the referee at the final whistle, this should not take away from what was an excellent and entertaining game.

Christopher’s Leave It Late To Go Top

Senior Football

Wolfe Tones 0-9 v Christopher’s 1-8

The lone Saturday game produced an excellent encounter in a game where both teams needed the win for different reasons. A win for Christopher’s would’ve brought them level on the top of the table going into the final weekend, while a win for the Wolfe Tones would help their case in making the senior play-offs. The first half was quite a dull affair with the Tones leading the whole way without really dominating, with scores from Brilly and McCabe the pick of the bunch in giving them a 0-5 to 0-3 lead at half time. The second half though produced a much livelier and brighter affair with both teams really going for the win. For the first 10 minutes, both teams traded points as the Tones regained their two point lead. The game was turned on its head though with 15 minutes remaining when Christophers brought on Foley and out the big man straight in at full forward. From the proceeding dead ball, the ball was played in on top of Foley who collected, side stepped his man and rattled the Wolfe Tones net to put them a point ahead. This was followed up by an excellent score from Kelly on the right and a further point from midfielder Rowlande as Christophers gathered speed with only 5 minutes on the clock remaining. Wolfe Tones refused to give in and two scores from Acton and Farrell cut the lead to two but Christophers had enough grit and determination to hold out for the two point victory and can now enjoy their weekend at the top of the table. As for Wolfe Tones, they now face a nervous wait to see if other results will leave them with a place in the top four.