[caption id="attachment_66642" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Wexford's Fiona Rochford is tackled by Tracey Ann McCullagh of New York. "]
The big sporting news this week comes from St. Brendan's Park, Birr, in Offaly where the New York ladies shut down a high scoring Wexford team to book themselves a spot in the All-Ireland junior final on Sept. 25. Up front Emma Clarke gave an inspired display, hitting seven points while the rear guard did a masterful job of holding Wexford to a paltry five points, a remarkable feat when you consider that they had registered 14-43 in the competition to date. Though New York faced a stiff wind in the first half they had the opening score from an Emma Clarke free. However they only registered one more score in the period, another Clarke point. Still Wexford did not use the wind to their advantage and managed to hit three points in the first half, with just one from play.
Though New York trailed at the break, they outscored Wexford by 0-8 to 0-2 in the second half. However Wexford opened the scoring with a point before Captain Molly O'Rourke and top scorer Clarke began to torment the Wexford defense. Clarke struck for three unanswered points while Molly also hit the target to put New York ahead by 0-6 to 0-4 midway in the period.
Wexford did have chances but they were bedeviled by poor shooting, hitting a total of sixteen wides over the hour. They had a goal disallowed for a square ball plus Dawn Bergin hit the post but it took until the 48th minute to register their second score of the period. At this stage New York were very much in the driving seat as Clarke, O'Rourke and Aine O'Dwyer would add further points to consolidate the lead. Overall New York's parsimonious use of the ball was in sharp contrast to the squander mania of their opponents. New York now meet Wicklow in the final and their chances must certainly be fancied as Wicklow and Wexford have split the decisions the last twice that these teams have met.
Meanwhile returning for the All-Ireland will result in substantial expenses for the team, so I urge you to do your bit as the ladies begin additional fund raising during the next two weeks. The ladies are on the cusp of making sporting history. It would be great to see an All-Ireland trophy reside on this side of the Atlantic for a change. In addition it would make for a very fitting wedding present for Rosie, the chairperson of the Ladies Board and the longest serving player, to plant the trophy along with the china and silver from the wedding presents plus the rest of the dowry after she and Donie march down the aisle in St Dymphna's Church in her native Lavey next week.
New York Alison Leyden, Louise Lilly, Tracey Ann McCullagh, Imelda Mullarkey, Jesse Garcia, Catriona Brady, Joanne Monaghan, Linda McKeon, Aine O'Dwyer(0-1), Molly O'Rourke(0-2), Kelly Roche, Courtney Traynor, Emma Clarke(0-7), Fiona O'Dwyer, Maebh De Burca Subs Caroline McBrien, Michelle McVann, Mary O'Rourke, Michelle Brennan Wexford: M.R. Kelly, M Quill, N Scallan, L Tector, J Kelly, N Cullen, C Donnelly, N Crosbie, D Fox, S Kehoe, F Rochford(0-1), A Everd, T Maloney(0-2), L Goff, L Everd(0-2) Subs D Bergin, M Doyle, K Kearney, M Cullen. Referee M Duffy, (Tipperary) Player of the game Emma Clarke
Westmeath
rally to win
Westmeath booked their spot in the junior semifinal against Monaghan by finishing both halves strongly to edge Cavan by two points. Cavan looked to be getting the job done as they led by 0-4 to zero after twenty minutes. Twenty minutes had elapsed before Dave Dunican pointed a free after Dean Barrett was fouled. Then a very productive closing five minute spell saw the Mark Downes and Dean Barrett combine for two well executed goals to send Westmeath in leading by 2-3 to 0-5 at the break.
Cavan picked up the pace after the resumption as Ian McKiernan and Barry Annette hit a brace while Westmeath seemed to go AWOL, similar to their first half performance. Darren Petit did get a point midway making the most of a good interception by Kieran Sheridan. However Cavan seemed to be getting the business done as Sean Sheanan and Joe Shanahey landed points before Ian McKiernan cut through for a powerful goal to put Cavan ahead with ten minutes left. Cavan seemed to be building up steam as Shanahey landed another.
However Westmeath stormed back to hit the next five points, with Colin White and Sen Fagan(2) hitting the target, before a massive long range free from Vinny Gavin put them ahead. Wesmeath came up strong at both ends but they will need to be a lot more consistent if they are to dent Monaghan's armor.
Westmeath John Gavin, Dave Russell, Kieran Sheridan, Andy Carroll, Pierce Loftus, Anthony Kelly, Mike Downey, Vinny Gavin(0-2), Dean Barrett(1-1), Dave Dunican(0-1), Darren Petit(0-1), James Stones, Mark Downes(1-0), Colin White(0-1), Sean Fagan(0-2). Subs. Mick Stones, Pat O'Driscoll(0-1), Mike Hayes, Aaron Farrell, Kevin Wilson. Referee Jimmy Naughton Man of Match Dean Barrett Cavan Jack Fannan, Brian Murray, Michael Ledwidth, Michael Smith, Gerry Fitzpatrick, Paudie Kyne, Shane Buggy, Barry Annette(0-1), Ronan Fitzsimmons, Ian McKiernan(1-1), Shane O'Reilly(0-1), Sean McGivney, Joe Shanahey(0-4), Derek Reynolds(0-1), Paul Galligan(0-1), Sean Sheanan(0-1)
Astoria through
to inter semifinal
The first half of this intermediate match was a rather listless and languorous affair as Astoria led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break. Both sides missed early goal chances but a brace of points by Shane Sweeney and one from Liam Farrell put Astoria in command before Darren Moore opened Brooklyn's account. Astoria always seemed to have their opponent's measure as Robbie Moran landed a brace from frees. James Connolly and Darren Moore inched their team back into the game with points but that was as close as it would get.
Shane Sweeney and Sean Kelly hit over early points after the break before a two goal strike killed off the game as a contest. The first was the culmination of an intricate move involving Eoghan Kyne and Derek McKenna with Sweeney blasting to the net. The twines were still shaking when Mark Dobbin threaded a superb diagonal ball into the path of Nestor Allen for him to keep them shaking. Astoria continued to increase their lead, per Moran. Farrell and John Keaveney and it would be midway before Brooklyn's Bonnie Duffy had their first score of the half. They would add another five but Astoria were never troubled as they had their semifinal spot against Dublin well booked by the end of the game.
Astoria Gaels: Pa Ryan, Alan Foley, Eugene O'Hagen, Thomas Christy, Sam Yore(0-1), Sean Kelly(0-1), Eoghan Kyne, Robbie Moran(0-3), Shaun Munnelly, Derek McKenna, Mark Dobbin, Seamus Kelly, Liam Farrell(0-2), Shane Sweeney(1-3), Nestor Allen(1-0). Subs. Mike Coyle, John Keaveney(0-1), Ciaran Fearon Brooklyn/LI Gavin Dwyer, Kevin Rehill, Enda Lally, Donal McKeown, Gareth Moore, Brendan Duffy(0-1), Kevin O'Callaghan, Gary Moore, Richie O'Connor, Stephen O'Kane(0-1), James Connolly(0-3), Declan McEleer, Ryan Kerr, Darren Moore(0-4), Brian McGonigle Subs James Lally, Martin
McKeown. Referee Tom Fahey Man of Match Shane Sweeney
Donegal win
fine match
This was the best game of the day as the others were rather labored affairs on this Labor Day weekend. Donegal were fully deserving of their victory as they their young American born players such as McDaid, Deane, Ferreira, Slattery, Cullinane and of course Molloy are blending in very well with Tavey and company. Ciaran Tavey opened the scoring for Donegal while Steve Williams spurned a great goal chance at the other end. Tavey would soon add another while Ronan Caffrey opened Rangers' account. Donegal's next score resulted from a nice give and go between Liam Deane and CJ Molloy with the latter firing over.
Steve Williams kept Rangers in touch with a point before Dean snagged in a long ball from Gary White and rounded his man to rattle the net midway in the period. Rangers responded well to the major strike with a beaut from Derek Courtney and a brace from Caffrey. Both sides finished out the period with a brace, Tavey for Donegal and Caffrey for Rangers to leave Donegal ahead by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break.
Donegal had much the better of the exchanges in the opening quarter of the second half as they led by 2-10 to 0-7 as their forwards were moving with great fluency. They had five unanswered points courtesy of Dean, Flanagan, White and Tavey before Molloy blasted a powerful shot to the net. Once again the Rangers showed great resilience as they battled back. Steve Williams threw them a lifeline with a goal plus points from Mark Coughlin and their most dangerous and productive forward Ronan Caffrey edged them closer. However stern defending by Brian Sweeney, Ciaran Slattery and Conor Maguire coupled with some wayward shooting prevented the Rangers from getting any closer while Liam Deane capped a fine individual performance with the closing point. Donegal now meet Kerry in the semifinal.
Donegal Brian Cullinane, Brian Sweeney, Fintan McKeown, Ciaran Slattery, Tom Moran, Conor McGuire, Mike Molloy, Conor Classon, Aaron Somers, Del Ferreira, Gary White(0-1), Ciaran Tavey(0-5), PJ Flanagan(0-1), CJ Molloy(1-2), Liam Deane(1-2) Subs Niall McMahon, James McFadden, Pat McGill, Anton Toner, Pauric McDaid Rangers Mike Sheridan, Mal McHugh, Dean Murphy, Lorcan Malone, Pat O'Driscoll, Derek Courtney(0-1), Thomas Maher, Killian Caffrey, John Power, Steve Williams(1-1), Mark Coughlin(0-1), Robbie Jackson, Mike Bishop, Mike McCarthy, Ronan Caffrey(0-6). Subs. Daniel Lehane, Kevin Daly, Billy Madden. Referee Sean Jones, Man of Match Ciaran Tavey
