Sligo 1-9 Rangers 0-8
This senior football contest was a hard fought battle with little between the sides until close to the end of the game. Then with a few minutes left and just a point between the sides, came the decisive score, a great goal. The major strike could be short-listed for the goal of the year. Midfielder Brian Power gained possession around the 50-yard line, and he sliced and diced his way past several defenders to unleash a powerful shot to the net to give Sligo a 4-point lead as time was running out. [See Ireland GAA coverage here.]
Though it was a very absorbing contest, proceedings were predominantly possession and defensive oriented with resulting low risk options, and inevitably low scores. Meanwhile both teams got on the score board early, Lee Rice pointed for Rangers from play, and Connell Aherne replied for Sligo from a mark. Rangers had the upper hand in the first quarter which was symbolized by a great point from the speedy center-back Anthony Quinn. Rory Smith landed another fine score after he latched on to a well-directed cross-field delivery. At the other end, Sligo’s incipient attacks were quickly stymied by a staunch Rangers defense. As midway of the period approached, it looked as if Rangers were about to jump into a sizeable lead. Emmett Loughlin was the last link on an attacking chain, but his goal-bound effort rebounded off the post. Well if Rangers dominated the first quarter, Sligo were calling the shots in the second. Hugh Murray got the scoreboard moving after Ciaran O’Dowd set him up. Shortly afterwards fullback Jack Horan showed his versatility by scoring a point. Sligo were now operating much more efficiently as the resultant kick-out was returned for a point by Connell Aherne with Ciaran O’Dowd and Oisin McGee playing contributory roles. Declan Corrigan interrupted Sligo’s mini scoring spree to level up with a point. Still Sligo finished the period strongly as they added two further points. Harry O’Connor sent over from long range and Connell Aherne pointed from an acute angle to have his team lead by 0-6 to 0-4 at the short whistle.
Upon resumption Sligo’s lead was extended with a pointed free from an acute angle by Connell Ahearne. However Rangers upped their performance and would score three unanswered points in the next 10 minutes to draw level. Declan Corrigan had a brace and Kevin Loane had the other. Scoring parity didn’t last long as Brian Beirne sent over a long range effort. Indeed Rangers were also a tad unlucky as a goal-bound effort rebounded from the upright. Sligo added another point to lead by two, courtesy of a pointed free by Connell Aherne after substitute James Brett was fouled. Then it was tit for tat until Brian Power threw caution to the wind, and sped by opponents to blast the ball to net, for the best and most exciting score of the game. Rangers were not about to throw in the towel, and once again it was a great individual run by Anthony Quinn that skimmed the outside the post. Willie Brazil did end the scoring with a point for Rangers, but in the final analysis it was the Power goal that powered Sligo to victory.
Sligo: Vinnie Gavin, Shane Queenan, Jack Horan, David Brennan, Dylan Rooney, Danny Corridan, Simon Murphy, Brian Power, Brian Byrne, Harry O’Connor, Ciaran O’Dowd, Oisin McGee, Cian McArdle, Hugh Murray, Connell Ahearn. Subs Pat Murphy, Dara Gill, Oisin Murphy, James Brett, Joe Henry.
Rangers: Joey Grace, Dan Burke, Dylan Nolan, Shane Doheny, Rory Smith, Anthony Quinn, Emmett Loughlin, James Breen, Liam Butler, PJ King, Conor Kinsella, Lee Rice, Willie Brazil, Kevin Loane, Declan Corrigan. Subs Conor McIntyre, Chris Mulvihill, Tom O’Brien. Man of the Match Brian Power, Referee Peter McCormack.
Barnabas win
absorbing game
St. Barnabas 3-9 Brooklyn Shamrocks 0-10
This senior clash between Barnabas and Brooklyn was a bruising contest as players battled furiously at times. The first quarter was a rather low scoring affair as both teams registered just a brace. Niall Cassidy opened Brooklyn’s account and Jack Reilly did likewise. This was a fast-paced game, with robust tackling the norm, and occasionally coupled with late hits. Indeed the referee was quite busy, and he handed out a black card after 10 minutes. Dan Ciobtar tapped over Brooklyn’s second point for a foul on Aaron Nolan. Barnabas’s second point was scored after Brendan Martin forced a turnover. Then it was time for the water break, and it was definitely needed to cool proceedings down a little. Upon rehydration both teams scored, Jack Reilly pointed a free and Andrew McGowan sent over a peach of a point from close to midfield. T
hen on the 20th minute mark Brendan Martin displayed an exquisite piece of skill as he rode several tackles before blasting the ball to the net. However just before the short whistle Brooklyn had nearly negated the goal with a brace of points. The “forty man” sent over a nice point after a very patient buildup. Andrew McGowan sent over another long range effort to narrow the gap. Indeed a bit more accuracy from Brooklyn would have eliminated the gap or push them ahead, but they wasted a few bone fide scoring chances, thus leaving the score at 1-3 to 0-5 in favor of Barnabas at the break. Upon resumption Barnabas had the best possible start, almost straight from the throw-in. The ball was quickly delivered where substitute Oisin Mathers was on hand to plant it in the net. In the third quarter the Bronx Boys were playing very confidently as they were controlling affairs fairly well, especially with good support play and tenacious and tight tackling. Mikey Brosnan tapped over a point after an initial goal attempt was repelled. Jack Reilly pointed a free from a very acute angle to extend the lead. Barnabas looked set to goal as a cohesive interchanging sequence of passes involving Brendan Martin and Paidi Mathers ended with Callum Jones’s shot hitting the post. Brooklyn did manage three points in the third quarter courtesy of Brian Ciobtar, Niall Madine and Liam McGrath to leave the score at 2-6 to 0-8 at the last water-break. The Bronx Boys looked set to extend the lead more entering the last quarter as Mikey Brosnan delivered the ball inside to Brendan Martin, but his effort was brilliantly parried. However, Mikey soon followed up with a fine long range effort. Brooklyn despite the mounting deficit kept battling away, and they got points from Shane Gillespie and Dan Ciobtar, but they really needed a goal. It was Barnabas, though, who finished with a goal from Jack Reilly to complete a tough but well- earned victory. In the most fundamental analysis of this game, it was Barnabas’s ability to score the majors at crucial times, while simultaneously denying the opportunities to their opponents. Overall this was a very absorbing game, as both teams were fully committed, and shied away from nothing.
St. Barnabas: Brendan Cole, Mikey Boyle, Jamie Boyle, Paidi Mathers, Ian Kavanagh, Dylan Curran, Peter Cronin, Johnny Reynolds, Shane Brosnan, Gearoid Kennedy, Callum Jones, Brendan Martin, Timmy Fitzmaurice, Jack Reilly, Mikey Brosnan. Subs Jack Dennis, Shane Hogan, Oisin Mathers, Francis Cole, Adam Power, Caolain Mathers, T. Cassidy, C Craig.
Brooklyn Shamrocks: Michael Cunningham, Ethan Lennon, Aaron Nolan, Redmond Hanna, Shane Bolger, Paddy Boyle, Richard O’Rourke, Andrew McGowan, Padraic Dalton, Peter Fox, Dan Ciobtar, Kevin Hannigan, Niall Cassidy, Aidan Lawlor, Brian O’Hanlon. Subs Ryan Corrigan, Diarmuid Browne, Michael Dorgan, Niall Madine, Shane Gillespie, Liam McGrath, John McSorley, Kevin Meehan, Mark Barrett, Michael O’Sullivan, Stephen Malone, Kevin Macklin. Man of Match Jack Reilly, Referee Peter McCormack
Cavan hold off
Mayo comeback
Cavan 2-17 Mayo 2-13
You would be forgiven if you thought that this game was as good as over at the end of the third quarter as Cavan were leading comfortably on a score line of 2-13 to 0-9. However Mayo staged a great rally to score 2-4 to bring them back into contention as the game was coming to a close.
Meanwhile Cavan got off to a great start to put three points on the board courtesy of Frank Reilly(2) and Colm Reilly. Then it was Mayo’s turn to put a trifecta on the board. Mike Lundy opened the account with a pointed free from an cute angle, and Tom Quinn and Tom Flynn also hit the target. Cavan stepped ahead on the basis on a well-executed goal from Mike Brady. Shane Harten and Ian Browne added points to have Cavan lead by 1-4 to 0-4 at the first water break.
The second quarter was even, both sides registered 5pts. Mike Brady had another goal and Colm Reilly had a brace. Mayo’s scores came from Mike Lundy(3), Shane McNeilis and Tom Quinn, and Mayo looked set to goal but the Cavan keeper Mark Galligan saved brilliantly from Ian Browne, leaving the score at 2-6 to 0-9 at half time. That score line changed dramatically in the third quarter as Cavan added seven points courtesy of the O’Reillys and the Bradys, while Mayo registered nothing. That changed in the last quarter as Mayo hit for 2-4, with the goals coming from Eddie Hogan and Tom Flynn while Lundy(2), Queenan and Flynn added points to reduce the deficit to just two points. However Cavan stalled the Mayo comeback as once again the Breffni Boys finished strongly with late points to get them safely over the line as time ran out for a resurgent Mayo.
