In the opening junior game of the knock-out competition, both teams finished all square after a very a sporting contest. John McArdle had the opening score for his team as he finished off a good move that was initiated by Derrick McKenna and Kenny Cox. At the other end C.J. Doherty made the most of a good ball from Richie Gaule to put St. Rays. on the board. Celtics went ahead as Gary Nugent pointed after McArdle was fouled. The lead was further extended when Gary Nugent planted a penalty in the net after Adrian Mullins was grounded at the halfway mark. However for the remainder of the period, St. Raymond's were more productive as C.J. Doherty began a mini scoring spree with a point while Shay Furlong forced a great save from keeper McArdle. For the next attack, a rather harmless looking forty five dropped in front of the goal but fortunately for St. Rays. it was inadvertently ushered into the net by a Celtic defender to level the game. Further misfortune or indecision befell the Celtics as they failed to clear their lines, thus allowing Doherty to give his team the lead at the break. On the resumption, Celtics launched several fruitless attacks before John McArdle finished a good cross from Gary Nugent to the net after veteran Derek McKenna worked the ball intelligently from midfield. Celtics appeared now to be in the driving seat as they tacked on two points courtesy of McArdle and Richie Morgan. However they failed to press home the advantage as St. Rays. simultaneously upped their performance, hitting the next four points. First Shay Furlong pointed after good support play from Donie Broderick, Steve Gomez and Tom Enright. Soon CJ Doherty followed with two pointed frees to leave just the minimum between the sides as time ticked away. Another late surge that began with Dennis Kilkenny and Thomas Huvane ended with Liam Butler blasting over to tie up a very entertaining with a draw being a very fair result.Celtics: Kevin McArdle, Sean Wally, Mick O Keefe, David Haugh, Ger McCullough, Brian Green, Derek McKenna, Cathal Loughnan, Kenny Cox, John McArdle, Adrian Mullins, Gary Nugent, Danny O Sullivan. Subs.Dermot O Sullivan, Dennis O Sullivan, Richie Morgan Brian Logue. St. Raymond's: Ryan O Sullivan, Philip Wickham, Shane Tierney, Liam Butler, Tomas Huvane, Steve Gomez, Richie Gaule, Shay Furlong, Donie Broderick, Danny Murphy, Tom Enright, CJ Doherty. Subs:Conor Coffey, Louis Bruno, Michael Enright, Anthony Tierney.Referee: Brendan Moran, Man of Match CJ Doherty
United States-born have measure of Northerners In this junior football clash a young, skillful and all American born squad had too much pace and play for their Northern opponents. St. Barnabas went on the attack right from the throw in as a fluid move saw Conor Hogan open the scoring. At the other veteran Gary Dowd got his team's opening score after Paul Tierney was fouled. The Bronx Boys continued to press but wasted several chances before Dion Norney pointed for a foul on Shane Hogan. However by the ten minute mark, Tyrone had jumped ahead as Gary Dowd pointed frees for fouls on Darren Doherty and Jerome Donnelly. Then for the next quarter St. Barnabas went on a scoring spree, hitting 2-4 in the process. Substitute Pat Maguire had the perfect entry into the game as he set up Norney for a goal. A Shane Hogan point kept the scores coming before Maguire pointed from a free after he was fouled. Maguire's scoring streak continued as he got the last touch on a Conor Hogan "45" to knock it into the net. Tom Brady and Maguire chipped in with two further points while Dowd closed out the scoring to leave St. Barnabas ahead at the break by 2-6 to 0-4. On the resumption Billy Donoghue extended the lead with a point before a defensive snafu allowed a Gary Dowd free to cross the goal line. However for the next quarter St. Barnabas stormed right back as Shane Hogan, Brian Dennehy and Thomas McGovern contributed four points to the tally. Tyrone did rally for the last quarter as a Gary Dowd goal threw them a temporary life line but they were too far adrift to threaten the Bronx Boys at that stage.St. Barnabas: Ryan Meara, Mike McVann, Joe Hallinan, Brendan Murphy, Dermot Hayes, Tom Brady, Conor Hogan, Shane Hogan, Dion Norney, Brian Dennehy, Terence Flynn, Sean Corbin. Subs. Adrian Clarke, Jason Clarke, Billy Donoghue, Doug Brady, Matt Hannon, Pete Hannon, Pat Maguire, Brendan Mulroy, Tom Flynn.Tyrone: Cathal McCrory, Pauric Byrne, Sean Hall, Chris Owens, Niall Maguire, Charlie Corcoran, Darren Doherty, Paul Tierney, Jerome Donnelly, Gary Dowd, Peadar Donnelly, Kevin Toner, Dion Gallagher. Subs; Mark Devlin, Rory Keenan, Brian McNaughton, Eunan Myler, Barry McElduff, John Griffin, John Mulvihill Referee Brian Quinn, Man of Match Thomas McGovern.
Brooklyn have lion's share of scores, playIn this intermediate knock out game the Brooklyn Long Island squad completely dominated Kerry as they led by 2-8 to 1-1 at the break. Darren Moore led the onslaught as he hit 1-5 while Declan struck the other goal after a good pass from Bonnie Duffy. The very busy John Connolly chipped in three points as well. It was a tortuous half for the Kingdom with just a point from Danny Kennelly midway, and the goal from the evergreen Mike McKenna just on the short whistle. The McKenna goal seemed to inspire his teammates as they played with a lot more purpose and passion on the resumption as Kieran O'Shea, Conor O'Leary and Kyle Corkery combined to add four points in the opening five minutes. However once again Moore turned on the jets as he sandwiched a goal between two points to dampen the Kerry revival. Still the Kingdom were undaunted by the setback as Conor O'Leary reacted fastest to blast a Darren Courtney rebound to the net. At the other end Thomas Beirne pointed, but O'Leary countered with a minor as well before a good move involving McKenna, Courtney and Kennelly ended with Corkery rattling the net to leave just five points between the sides with ten minutes left. Though O'Leary would add another Kerry point, they would get no closer as the Brooklyn L I squad finished with a goal from Beirne and a brace of points from Darren Moore who finished with a very impressive personal tally of 2-9 for the game. While the first half was poor from a spectator's viewpoint, the second half was certainly much more competitive and exciting.Brooklyn L.I. Richie Burns, Tom Doyle, Enda Lally, Ross Connolly, Bonnie Duffy, Kevin O'Callaghan, Paddy Loughery, Mattie Cartwill, Richie O'Connor, John Connolly, Darren Moore, Thomas Beirne, Gary Moore. Subs. Jamie Lally, Ciaran O'Kane, Declan McEleer, Steven O'Kane, Martin Rooney.Kerry: Alan Curran, Alan Lyne, Ronan Young, Owen Murphy, Shane Coffey, Mike Lenihan, Darren Courtney, Mike McKenna, Danny Kennelly, Kieran O'Shea, Conor O'Leary, Timmy Quaid, Kyle Corkery. Subs. Donald Walsh, Jonathon Mulvihill. Referee Dean O Connor, Man of Match Darren Moore.
Rossies edge Sligo In the other intermediate match the exchanges were much more evenly balanced as a late goal from Sligo kept the issue in doubt to the final whistle. Roscommon were quickly out of the blocks as Mike Travers had the opening score as he punished a Sligo defensive lapse. However over the opening quarter Sligo were more industrious and productive as they hit the next three scores with Danny Murphy, Sean Harnan and Joe Gannon on target. Meanwhile besides being static on the score board, Roscommon lost Henry Mitchell to a red card. However for the last ten minutes, Roscommon hit form as midfielder O Connor fired over and Travers leveled up for a foul on Conor Hogan. Both players were again involved in the next score courtesy of a similar situation leaving Roscommon ahead by a point at the break. In the opening minutes after the resumption both teams scored frees from late tackles, Travers punished a foul on Ferdinand Coyne, while Danny Murphy did likewise for a similar indiscretion on Kevin Hegarty. Roscommon were now in the driving seat as Adrian Purcell hit over a point and Dermot Fleming was called to make two good saves from Travers. Further pressure led to further scores with a brace from Damien Dooley and a single from Rory O Connor leaving the Rossies ahead by five points with ten minutes left, and apparently coasting to the finish line. However an Eamon Duffy point and a goal from Kevin Hegarty after a timely pass from Brian Quinn changed that perception very quickly as there was just a point between the sides now . Sligo surged forward looking for the equalizer but Keane, Coyne and Beirne kept the supply lines closed at the back. On a counter attack Roscommon won a free from a late tackle which their chief score getter Mike Travers pointed to give the Rossies breathing space and settle the nerves of the mentors. Overall Roscommon were deserving winners but Sligo made them earn it.Roscommon: Kevin McArdle, Jonathon O Sullivan, James Beirne, Ferdinand Coyne, Ramie Keane, James Egan, Rory O Connor, Conor Hogan, Adrian Purcell, Henry Mitchell, Mike Travers, Damien Dooley, Aidan Smyth. Subs. Austin Cunningham, Pat Egan, JR StackSligo: Dermot Fleming, Paddy Brennan, Kevin Caffrey, Eamon Duffy, Dennis Kilkenny, Jamie Walsh, Steve Gomez, Joe Gannon, Paul Flynn, Sean Harnan, Danny Murphy, Kevin Hegarty, Brian Quinn. Subs. Steven Marren, Declan Henry. Referee Alan Hearty, Man of Match Mike Travers.
