Boston GAA Roundup

Men's Senior Football
St. Christopher's 1-15 Armagh ND 2-12

By Sean O'Sullivan

The first game of the weekend saw Armagh ND take on Christopher's. Armagh, fresh of a vital one-point victory over Kerry, entered another must-win game if they were to keep hold of any hopes of making the senior championship, while Christopher's were also desperate for victory, as a loss would signal the end of their play-off hopes.

Both teams looked lively from the start and it was Christopher's who opened the scoring through Cathal McNally.

As both teams found their feet there was nothing between them midway through the first half, as the score line stood at 3 points apiece.

Then a piece of magic by former Cork footballer Mark O'Sullivan resulted in the opening goal of the game for Christopher's. A brilliant turn and swivel was finished off expertly, and Christopher's were providing full value for their lead.

As half time approached Christopher's began to get on top in most areas of the field and a long range point from Dan Shanahan left them with a five-point half-time lead, and the game with a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-5.

Christopher's started the second half just as they finished the first, and two well executed scores from midfield man Philip Donnellan, put them firmly in the driving seat.

Just as one thought they were running away with the game, a ridiculous decision left Armagh with a penalty, and a chance to bridge the gap to three points.

Charles Kielt made no mistake from the spot and when Christopher O'Cowan added a point seconds later there was just a goal between the teams.

As the clock moved into the last five minutes, the score line read 1-13 to 1-10 in favour of Christopher's.

Temperatures began to heat up, and punches were thrown, resulting in two men receiving their marching orders: James Fitzpatrick of Christopher's and Frank Meehan of Armagh.

The clock ran well past the sixty minute mark when drama struck.

A long punt upfield fell gracefully into Armagh man Martin McStravoy's arms, and when he rifled home the goal, the game was evened up.

Angry scenes greeted the referee, as the goal signaled the end of their intermediate championship hopes.

A final score 1-15 to 2-12, was especially harsh on Christopher's who were by far the better team throughout the day, but some questionable calls from the man in charge left them with a frustrating finish to their year.

Armagh on the other hand will be delighted to have grabbed a point, which kept their chances of a senior playoff spot intact

Men's Senior Football
Wolfe Tones 1-09 Galway 0-09

A one-sided game was expected when second in the league Wolfe Tones met lowly Galway, but what materialized was anything but one-sided.

Good work by Wolfe Tones' corner forward Marty Farrell opened the scoring but the impressive Donal Redmond evened the game up for Galway.

The teams began to trade scores with neither really on top of the proceedings, and on the fifteen minute mark the scoreline was even at three points apiece.

A good score by Sean Kelly for Tones was followed by the crucial score of the game.

A great piece of thinking by Galway midfielder Matthew McKenna set up Dessie Lowln with a easy finish for a goal which left the Tribesmen two points to the good, with a score of 1-3 to 0-4, and this is how it stayed until the half-time whistle blew.

Two quick points from Galway man Graham Molloy looked to have put Galway in control, but the Tones dug in and began to make a game of it, mostly thanks to corner forward Sean Kelly and, when he himself struck over a fine point, he reduced the deficit to only a point, with a score line of 1-7 to 0-9.

Galway were not to be denied though and closed out the game expertly with two points from frees courtesy of Eoin McCormack.

A vital win for Galway who now have all but sewn up a place in the intermediate playoffs.

Wolfe Tones, who have already made the senior ranks, have a lot of work to do, if they harbour any hopes of stopping McAnespies.

Men's Senior Hurling
Fr. Tom's 2-15 Wexford 1-12

The first of two hurling matches took place this weekend early on Sunday at Canton.

Toms, entered a must-win game, as anything less than two points would end their championship hopes.

The game got off to a lively start, and Toms got off to a flyer thanks to a instinctive finish from Adrian Healy, who struck the ball home to give Toms a early goal.

Wexford though were unfazed and reeled off three fine points in a row, two of them coming from Gavin Nolan.

A major incident in the game arrived on the fifteen minute mark, when Wexford back Brian Dalton was sent to the stands for throwing his hurley.

Initially Wexford struggled to cope and when Joe O'Leary pointed a 65, there was four points between the teams and a score line of 1-5 to 0-4.

Wexford showed great heart again and outscored Toms on the run up to half-time.

Christopher O'Conner tapped two good points over for Wexford and when Gavin Nolan scored on the half-time whistle, there was only a solitary point between the teams, 1-6 to 0-8.

Just like the first half, the opening score of the second was a goal, this time for Wexford, through Shane Hennessy.

This goal seemed to rock Toms, and slowly but surely Wexford began to dominate, guided by the influential Richie Kehoe.

As the game reached the fifty-minute mark there were just three points between the sides.

The games' finishing blow came from O'Conner who, after ducking round two challenges, rifled the ball home to put Wexford six points to the good, 2-15 to 1-12.

A final point from Nolan left Wexford, who had, despite going down to twelve men, battled on gallantly, with a seven-point margin and no change to their position on the top of the table.

Fr. Tom's however, will have to wait until next year, if they're going to get their hands on the trophy.

Men's Senior Football
Cork 0-08 Donegal 1-15

Second in the league Donegal took on bottom of the table Cork, in what many claimed would be a one-sided affair.

Cork, yet to claim a win all year, were desperate to give their followers something to cheer about, while senior playoff hopefuls Donegal, were out to cement their second place in the table.

Paul Roper, gave the game its first score, but this was quickly cancelled out by Cork man Cian Griffin.

Sad to say, this was as good as it got for the Rebels, as Donegal began to string together score after score.

The rout was orchestrated by corner forwards Declan Murphy and Dawlha Molloy, who both grabbed good scores, and on the twenty-minute mark the score read 0-8 to 0-1.

Any hope of a Cork revival was dashed shortly after, as Eamon Murphy notched himself a goal, after hesitant defending by the Cork back line.

Points were traded as half-time fell, and a scoreline of 1-9 to 0-2, was not flattering in the slightest to Donegal.

Cork to their credit did not throw in the towel, and at least added some respectability to the score through points from Kieran Connolly and Niall Devlin.

Donegal continued to add to their score though, and stayed far enough ahead to never really be threatened by Cork.

Donegal comfortably closed out the game, 1-15 to 0-8, but Cork will at least take heart from the fact they drew in the second half.

Donegal now look all set to claim second spot behind McAnespies, while Cork can already look ahead to next year.

Men's Senior Hurling
Galway 0-08 Tipperary 0-11

After the earlier result of Toms losing to Wexford, both Galway and Tipp knew their playoff spots were assured.

Still, position and seeding in the table, was up for grabs, and a feisty game ensued as the rain began to bucket down.

The game got off to a quick start and Galway would have been a goal to the good early on, if it wasn't for two fine stops by Tipp goalkeeper Jim Howard.

The first score came courtesy of Adrian Healy for Tipp, and this proved to be the only point in the opening twelve minutes.

Another score from Healy left Tipp two points to the good, but Galway then stepped it up a gear and reeled of five scores in a row, three coming from corner forward John Byrne.

The final score of the half was struck over by the star of the show, Tipp man Alan McGrabbe, to leave the score line reading 0-6 to 0-4 in favour of Galway, in a low-scoring first half.

The second period continued along the same lines as the first, with neither managing what would have been a vital goal.

When Noel Kelly fired his second point in quick succession over the bar, Tipp were firmly in the driving seat and had a three-point lead with ten minutes remaining.

Back came Galway though and fine scores from Stephen Dineen and Finton O'Leary narrowed the gap to a single point with only five minutes left on the clock.

Tipp though finished the game off ruthlessly, and showed no sign of nerves, calmly adding scores through McGrabbe and Kelly, to leave the game with a final scoreline of 0-11 to 0-8 in favour of the lads from Tipp.