Westmeath 2-14; Tipperary 2-14
Westmeath and Tipperary hurlers served up a very entertaining and competitive senior hurling match on Saturday despite playing under absolutely appalling conditions resulting from the continuously cascading rain. The players embraced the climatic challenge with tenacity and they battled to the very end.
Meanwhile both teams quickly registered scores after the throw-in, Mikey Sheedy for Tipp, and Ger McPartland for the Lakesiders. Tipp tapped over two points in as many minutes courtesy of Sheedy and Rudman Mulrooney. The tit for tat pattern evolved as Adam Loughlin-Stones landed two long-range shots. At the other end Tommy Kavanagh lofted over a fine effort, and Tipp looked poised to surge ahead as they quickly bagged two goals courtesy of the front duo, Mikey Sheedy and AJ Willis. However Westmeath stormed right back with their scoring spree. Sean Loughlin-Stones led the way with a goal after obtaining a good pass from his brother Adam. Ger McPartland struck a brace from the midfield area, and Eamon Brennan and center-forward Adam added minors to have all square with ten minutes left in the half.
Now it was time for Tipp to reassert themselves as Tom O’Meara and Colin O’Brien stepped up the supply from midfield. On a raid O’Brien drew a foul and Sheedy tapped over the resultant free. Now the points were flowing as Sheedy and Mulrooney were on target and corner-man Willis added a brace to send his team in leading by 2-9 to 1-8 at the short whistle. On resumption both teams exchanged minors, McPartland for Westmeath and Sheedy for Tipp. Westmeath now got into the driver’s seat as Conor Caulfield was the launching pad for several attacks. The Loughlin-Stones brothers, Adam and Sean, along with Simon Hickey, worked well to have the sides level by the 10-minute mark. Mike Sheedy and Adam Stones landed superb long-range attacks to maintain the stalemate.
In the last quarter despite incessant rain, Tipp looked to be edging ahead as chief marksman Sheedy struck a few spectacular points. Then Westmeath, like a valiant fighter, came off the ropes as Sean Stones got in behind the defense to score a goal and grab the lead as time ebbed away. Indeed they looked to have victory tied up, but another goal-bound effort was brilliantly saved by keeper Keith Robinson. The action moved to the other goal, where talisman Sheedy got the equalizer just before referee Peter McCormack sounded the final whistle. Overall a draw was a fair result and kudos to both teams for serving up such a fine game in atrocious conditions that kept the few well-drenched supporters on the edge of their seats to the very end. Plastic garbage bags seemed to be the preferred apparel to stave off the torrential rain, prompting one wise guy to state, well there was still garbage in the bag !
Westmeath: Danny Mottem, Brendan Hickey, Brian McPartland, Alan Sherlock, Conor Caulfield, Gary Corless, Ultan O’Connor, Ger McPartland, Brendan O’Leary, Adam Loughlin-Stones, Simon Hickey, Eamon Brennan, Sean Loughlin-Stones. Subs. John Melia, Aidan McKiernan.
Tipperary: Keith Robinson, Bryan Power, Johnny Burns, Frankie Kennedy, Darragh Hynes, Henry Keyes, Tom O’Meara, Colum O’Brien, David Pond, Tommy Kavanagh, Rudman Mulrooney, Mikey Sheedy, AJ Willis. Subs. Paudie Gill, Jason Divan, Caoileann Conroy, Joe Grace, Liam Donovan. Referee Peter McCormack.
Kerry trounce Gaels
Kerry 5-12 Manhattan Gaels 0-4
This intermediate league game between the Kingdom and Manhattan Gaels was a very one-sided contest. Kerry scores just came in powerful waves just like the torrential rain that enveloped the playing surface and flooded the adjacent parking lot. Once Niall Madine netted the first goal, the flood gates opened as Gary O’Driscoll, Liam Kearney, Shane Hennessy, Keelan Hickey, David Langan and company kept the umpires very busy. Naturally Manhattan Gaels were very much on the defensive against the almost incessant Kingdom onslaught. However a few scores from Des Fetherton, James Cox, Cillian Thornton and Ronan McGovern did help break up the monotony of the Kingdom’s scoring spree. I’m sure just like the weather, there will be much better days ahead for Manhattan Gaels.
Kerry: Kevin Dwyer, Hugh McDermott, Seth Myers, Rob O’Sullivan, David Langan, Keelan Hickey, Liam Kearney, Shane Hennessy, Colum Logue, Niall Madine, Shane Mangan, Creighton Canty, Gary O’Driscoll. Subs Shane Smith, Mike Cronin, Sean Flavin.
Manhattan Gaels: Damien McCaughney, Cathair Quinn, Stephen O’Quigley, Fergal O’Brien, Stephen Nolan, Aaron Dunlea, Paddy Dunne, Paul Gordon, Barry Gilbert, Cillian Thornton, Ronan McGovern, James Cox, Des Fetherton. Subs Rory McLoone, Conor O’Shea, James Doherty, Nevin Higgins. Referee Pat Donoghue.
Home win vs. visitors
New York 2-11 Dingle 1-6
The visiting Dingle football team got their wish to play in Gaelic Park, though it was under monsoon-like conditions and truncated circumstances. It was against a New York selection, which consisted of mostly New York-born players, with the bulk coming from the St. Barnabas club. The odd men out were Offaly man Luke Kelly and Paudie Stuttard from the Orchard county.
New York got the perfect start to the game as Emmett Loughnane scored straight from the throw-in. Young Loughnane was also the instigator of the next score as a deft pass set up Tiernan Mathers for a point. However after a patient buildup Dingle surged ahead with a well-executed goal from Conor Greaney after five minutes. Luke Kelly, who was operating very effectively from the “forty,” soon had the teams level with a well-struck long range point. Indeed New York looked set to jump ahead but keeper Curran brilliantly saved a bone fide goal-bound blistering shot at the expense of a ‘forty five.”
However there was no denying the great solo effort from midfield by Luke Kelly, as he sliced and diced his way through the Dingle defense to plant the ball in the corner of the net. Dingle battled back as Conor Greaney pointed from a very acute angle. The same player was also involved in the next score as he delivered a good diagonal ball to Declan Devane for him to tap over the bar. New York regained the momentum on the basis of monopolizing possession by the Mathers brothers, Conor and Tiernan, along with Shane Brosnan. Emmett Loughnane scored his second point and Shay McElligiot was also on hand to punch over a point. Luke Kelly finished out the scoring for the Big Apple boys, and Brian Devane closed the scoring for the period with a fine long range shot, to leave the score at 1-6 to 1-3 in New York’s favor at the short whistle, it was shorter than usual, just twenty minutes.
On resumption the exchanges continued to be relatively even. Thomas Conway got the score board moving for Dingle, while at the other end Adam Loughlin-Stones and Emmett Loughnane hit the target. By the 10-minute mark Dingle had reduced the deficit to just two points courtesy of minors from Dara Murphy and Conor Greaney. However that was as close as the visitors would get as New York’s fitness and support play set the scene for a strong finish. Defenders Boyle, Curran, Cronin and company battened down the hatches at the back, while Dylan Rooney set up Adam Loughlin-Stones for a goal. New York were now at full throttle and a trio of points followed from Tiernan Mathers, Luke Kelly and Shane Brosnan to confidently close out the game. I was informed that New York resume collective training next week in anticipation of their upcoming game in the Tailteann Cup. Given that New York don’t play in the preliminary rounds, it’s projected that they will engage a very formidable opponent at the quarter final stage. The scheduled date for New York’s next game is circa June 10, with the venue depending on the opponent.
New York: Jack Dennis, Dylan Rooney, Peter Cronin, Dylan Curran, Mikey Boyle, Shane Brosnan, Conor Mathers, Tiernan Mathers, Emmett Loughnane, Luke Kelly, Paudie Stuttard, Mikey Brosnan, Timmy Fitzmaurice. Subs Adam Loughlin-Stones, Shay McElligiot, Brendan Cole.
Dingle: Gavin Curran, Donal Sheehy, Derrick Enright, Jack O’Sullivan, Tom Leo O’Reilly, Brian Devane, Mikey Greaney, Michael Hallissey, Declan Devane, Mikey Boland, Thomas Conway, Conor Greaney, Dara Murphy. Referee Shane Hogan.
Game abandoned
The Intermediate league game between Mayo and Shannon Gaels was terminated at half time, with Mayo leading by 0-6 to 1-2 as there was surface water all over the field due to the incessant heavy rainfall over the course of two days. Definitely the right decision.
