Tyrone started very impressively in this senior football knock out competition as Conor Skeffington fired over a fine point from the wing to open the scoring. Defensively the Tyrone men were also doing well as they broke up early attacks from the Kerry men. Tyrone continued to launch raids on the Kerry goal with Darren Petit making his presence felt to very good effect as he latched on to a good delivery from Jason Killeen. The big man was brought to the ground and Donal Hartnett pointed the resultant free. Petit got the next score as he finished off a good move involving Hartnett and Skeffington. Kerry seemed to be in dire straits as keeper Clifford was forced to execute a good save form Conor Downey after Conor Skeffington set him up with a well-placed pass. In the early stages, Kerry appeared disjointed as passes went astray and shots fell short or wide off the posts. However after thirteen minutes, Mike Fitzgerald finally got his team on task and on target as he landed a peach of a point from close to the side line. However Petit responded with a well struck point of his own to keep the momentum going for Tyrone. The O'Neill County continued to dictate matters as Seamus Skeffington and Declan Garvey controlled the defense and Michael Gallagher had the liberty to see his shot rebound from the crossbar. With ten minutes left, Kerry got the score that infused them with a lot more purpose and passion. It began with a very perceptive pass from Ross Donovan as he threaded a radar like diagonal ball into the path of Kevin Walsh who cut through the Tyrone defense to blast a powerful shot to the net. Walsh soon followed with another point as Niall Corbett worked diligently to set up the chance. On a counter attack Conor Downey hit a point for Tyrone as the tide seemed to be turning against them. Further Kerry pressure led to a "45" which Ross Donovan appeared to have dropped short of the target. However the breaking ball fell into the clutches of the astute Bingo Driscoll, who despite falling to the ground managed to flick the ball to Walsh to notch his second goal. Kerry led by 2-2 to 0-5 at the break. In the second Kerry were very much in the driving seat as they methodically controlled the game. They recorded the first three scores of the period as Walsh was on the mark after Donovan set him up, while the latter player struck for a brace. Tyrone were pinned back on defense though Donal Hartnett did manage to raise a flag after Conor McNabb was fouled. However for the last quarter Kerry would hit a further 1-7 with the scores coming fluidly and frequently from Fitzgerald, Walsh, Bingo, and Moore as they were given quality ball by Glacken, McSweeney, Foley, O'Mahoney and company. It was left to Bingo to apply the coup de grace as he intercepted a pass and then he faked and feinted his way around multiple defenders before coolly and clinically planting the ball in the net for his team's third goal. Tyrone had a late goal from a penalty strike by Downey and a pointed free from Hartnett, but the scores just added a slight veneer of respectability to Tyrone's score line as they were completely outplayed by a very cohesive and composed Kingdom squad in the second half.Kerry: Shane Clifford, Nobby Smith, Darren Courtney, Niall Corbett, Eoghan O'Mahoney, Dermie Foley, Dave McSweeney, Mike Fitzgerald, Kevin Walsh, Ross Donovan, Anthony Glacken, Darren Moore, Brendan Driscoll. Subs: Conor Ryan, Finbar Flood Tyrone: Barry McElduff, Steve Keating, Declan Garvey, Michael Gallagher, Ryan Canavan, Seamus Skeffington, Conor McNabb, Jason Killeen, Conor Downey, Conor Skeffington, Barry Dalton, Donal Hartnett, Darren Petit. Subs. Patrick Maguire Referee Eugene Kyne, Man of the Match Kevin Walsh.
Cork do enough in entertaining clash
In this highly entertaining and high scoring game both teams experienced periods of dominance though Cork managed to come off the ropes at critical junctures throughout the game. Cork started in splendid fashion to hit three points in the opening three minutes as Sean Purcell, Jason Kelly and Tadgh Foley were on target with good support from Francie Cleary and Michael Travers. However on Armagh's first attack, Seamus Toner landed a fine score from long range. A minute later Armagh took the lead courtesy of a Gareth Kelly penalty. As the bustling forward headed for goal he was upended and he duly blasted the spot kick to the net. The next quarter was unproductive for both sides as they both spurned and squandered numerous scoring opportunities. The squander mania ended with a fisted point from Gareth Kelly after Toner had done the support work. However Cork finished the period in scintillating style as they hit for a tally of 2-3. The points came with rapid fire as a nice move involving Shay Furlong and Mike Travers ended with Sean Purcell pointing a free. Derek Courtney was next on target with Purcell and Furlong doing the lead up while Jason Kelly landed one of his trade mark specials from long range. Richie Morgan and James Moynagh wasted chances at the other end before Mike Travers struck for the first goal. It was engineered by a quick free from John McLaughlin to Jason Kelly and the fleet-footed Offaly man carried the ball right through the Armagh defense to set up Travers for the major strike. The net was still shaking when Purcell banged in another goal to leave the Rebels ahead by 2-6 to 1-2 as the break. Armagh got the perfected start to the second half as they were gifted a goal as the keeper failed to hold on to a high ball from James Moynagh. At the other end the Orchard Boys had a major let off as Jason Kelly missed a penalty. The spot kicked resulted from a well-directed delivery from Liam Hanley which Francie Cleary collected behind the defense only to be hauled down. Kelly immediately made amends for his miss as soloed in and unleashed a powerful volley to the roof of the net. Once again Cork drifted out of the game as the momentum swung to Armagh. Richie Morgan landed a point before James Moynagh had a rasper rebound from the crossbar. However Armagh got it right on the next attack as Morgan had the net rattling and Cork's nerves shaking as there was just a goal between the sides. Armagh applied plenty of pressure for the next ten minutes as defenders Caolan Short and Aidan Morton were surging forward to assist the attack. Still there was a paucity of scores as Morgan was the only player on target. With ten minutes left Jason Kelly lifted the siege on Cork territory with a long distance point. Armagh went right back on attack but a Moynagh foul on the ball cost his team dearly as a quick free sent Jason Kelly speeding in the opposite direction. He found Purcell lurking in the danger zone and the Wexford man sent a sizzling shot to the corner for goal number four. Conor Hickey would add another point for Cork while Caolan Short hit two from long range frees for Armagh but it was not enough as Cork made much better use of their chances over the hour to deserve the victory.Cork: Gary Lowney, Paddy Harrington, Gary Hanley, John Fitzpatrick, John McLaugnlin, Liam Hanley, Tadgh Foley, Jason Kelly, Francie Cleary, Shay Furlong, Derek Courtney, Sean Purcell, Michael Travers. Subs. Conor Hickey, Darren O'Mahoney Armagh: Donal Hearty, Patsy Martin, Ramie Keane, Caolan Short, Sean Kelly, Aidan Morton, Gareth Kelly, Kevin McGeeney, Chris Morton, Seamus Toner, James Moynagh, Collie Fearon, Gavin Trimble. Subs. Richie Morgan, Eoghan McPartland, Ryan Kinley Referee Tommy Fahey, Man of the Match Jason Kelly.
New York get good workout in Boston
New York footballers continued their preparations with a challenge match against Boston in Canton on Saturday. Judging from the score line and accounts that I got from some of the players involved, it appears to have been a successful work out for the Big Apple kickers. Unfortunately I did not attend as I was not aware that there was a game scheduled as no information was disseminated about the game from the GAA's press office. The first inkling that I got that there was a game was when I saw players boarding a bus on McLean Avenue on Saturday morning, then it was too late to make suitable arrangements to travel to the game. On occasion this scribe has been criticized for not providing adequate coverage by the New York GAA. Surely it is not too much to ask that the press be given appropriate and adequate information about upcoming events. Meanwhile my sources informed me that New York played very well as a team with Dan Doona giving a captain's display. Others mentioned as hitting scores and/or catching the eye were Aidan Power, Steve Harold, Paul O Hara, Ronan McGinley, Johnny Goldrick, Kevin McGeeney, Robert Tasker, Pat Madden, and Seamus Toner. Big Kenny also entered the fray and bagged a goal according to informed sources. Perhaps on second thoughts may be New York wants to have a black out on information about the team so that the Rossies will have little information about their opponents. Just a thought in this age of conspiracy theories.
