GAA: Daly upbeat about new rules departure.

The GAA's Head of Games, Pat Daly, is convinced the new disciplinary rules can help make Gaelic Games more exciting and entertaining.
Daly attended a number of ties in the pre-season competitions at the weekend, and was encouraged by what he witnessed.
After watching Queen's defeat Cavan by 3-13 to 0-12 at Breffni Park, Daly was upbeat about the experimental departure.
He was particularly enthused by the high scorelines which appear to have resulted from a reluctance on the part of the players to commit themselves to cynical, reckless or disruptive fouling.
'We were happy, basically there was more playing time, less frees, less cynicism and bigger scoring,' he said.
'I don't think anybody would have anticipated that kind of a scoreline from a McKenna Cup game.
'It will take the referees a bit of time to adjust, and it will take the players a bit of time to adjust to it.
'But the message will get through. The message here is on playing the ball, not on playing the man.'
Four players were sent off on yellow cards at the Cavan town venue.
The home side's Eddie Reilly lasted just 13 minutes, and he was followed to the dug-out by team-mates David Gibney and John McCutcheon, with QUB's Paul Courtney also making an early departure following a booking. All four players were replaced by substitutes.
'You don't want to see anybody sent off. The guys that went, the referee (Fermanagh's Martin Higgins) said he was pretty sure that they were neck-high tackles, they were deliberate fouls and the guys deserved to go, based on the rules of the day,' said Daly.
'It will take the perennial fouler a bit of time for it to sink in that "if I play my usual game here I won't be around playing it".'
But the Croke Park chief insisted that players, managers and referees will be given some leeway in the weeks ahead as they grow accustomed to the new rules, which will also apply to the National Leagues.
'I think everybody needs a bit of time, everybody needs a bit adjustment, but it was a good open game. It maybe died a bit after Queen's got their third goal, but I don't think they would have got the third goal under the old rules.
'Basically what we would be saying to referees, if the player is making a reasonable attempt to play the ball and conceded a free, just ignore that.
He added: 'It's not a black mark down against the player, and once referees get to understand that, that the guy is making a reasonable effort to play the ball and concedes a free, it doesn't come against him.
'It's only when he isn't making any effort to play the ball that he is penalised, and I think if all the referees are working on that wavelength when we get to the start of the National League, then that would be very good.'
And he cautioned fans that enjoy the less savoury aspects of the game that they are going to be disappointed in the weeks and months ahead.
'I think supporters come and expect to see a bit of digging, if I can put it that way. But if you come and expect to see a bit of digging, you'll be disappointed.
'You can't be ambivalent about the thing. You either play football, or you don't play football.'

Source RTE

Boston GAA: Results from Sunday June 22nd 08

E-a-s-y Nora! The senior ladies would open Sundays action in Canton with a strong showing from the Brighton based Tir Na Nog crew by taking a commanding lead early over the Roscommon ladies and never looking back.

Picture/ Neil McDaid

Tir na nOg 2-15 Roscommon 0-10

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Tug of war, Things got a bit heated in the first half of the senior hurling match. After the dust and tempers settled both teams got down to playing a very exciting fast paced game, which would offer up some fantastic scores. Although it seemed that Wexford had the early advantage, Galway would managed to match scores with the Men of the south resulting in a draw. Picture / Neil McDaid

Galway 1-11 Wexford 2-8

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Double trouble, with his team down a man after a red card infraction, Donegal’s Sean McEwain finds himself under pressure as he charges through mid field. Picture / Neil McDaid

Donegal 3-9 Armagh-Notre Dame 2-11
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In the final game of the day, Cork would struggle in the first half to stay with the pace of the Tones. Picture/ Neil McDaid

Cork 2-5 Wolftones 0-20

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Boston GAA Sunday June 3rd

Orl Benson Cup [Ladies Football]

Boston Shamrocks 3-08 to Roscommon 1-07

SFC

Donegal 1-12 to Galway 3-09

Wolf Tones 0-11 to Shannon Blues 0-05

SHC

Galway 0-07 to Tipperary 2-11

Boston GAA Sunday May 27, 2007

Tom's Dermot Fox had to get the boot in as he charged forward through the Cork backline[Photo Neil McDaid]

Game 1, SHC: Fr. Tom Burkes 3:16 to Cork 0:08
Another disastrous outing for the rebels in this their second meeting with the Fr. Toms in 2007. Cork made little or no improvement over their last performance in the Sheehan Cup semi’s. Tom's had pulled well ahead in the first half, showing a score of 1-10 to 0-05 at the break. Cork clearly lacked the legs and only managed a meager three points in the second half, while Tom's would add 2:06.

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Wolf Tones would try to muscle their way past Donegal [Photo Neil McDaid]

Game 2, SFC: Donegal 0:11 to Wolf Tones 0:07.
Donegal would see a hard hitting effort from the Wolf Tones in their first game of the 2007 championship. A full Donegal / Tones game report can be found at www.donegal.us

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Kieran Cox, for the Gaels, coming in for a hard landing [Photo Neil McDaid]

Game 3, SFC: Connemara Gaels 2:19 to Armagh 1-05
The departure of some key players from Armagh is beginning to show in their early season performance in 2007. They would take to the field on this Sunday to face a Gaels team that showed the same vigor and energy that brought them oh so very close to taking it all in 2006. Early work up front from Coxey [Kieran Cox] with the assistance of a fitter looking Bosco O’Halloran would start to put the hurt on Armagh, and it was all downhill from there. A scuffle in the second half would add salt to an already bleeding Armagh side when their big man in center field, Gerry O’Reilly, would be sent to the line on a red card. Armagh will need to right themselves in the next two weeks as they are scheduled to meet McAnespies on June 10th.

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John Wall was just outstanding for Tipp [Photo Neil McDaid]

Game 4, SCH: Tipperary 3:18 to Wexford 1-04
As with the football game that proceeded, the second hurling game on the day would prove to be a one-sided affair. Not the typical performance we would expect from Wexford. I would have to say that a few of their key players might have been overworked as Peter Nolan, Pat Nolan, Peter Ryan, Donal Redmond, and Jonathon Ryan all featured for Galway in a hard fought 85 degree football game the night before. But in saying that, the same was not true for the clear star of this game the multi-talented John Wall for Tipp, Wall had also played the night before for the Blues against Galway and showed little affect. Wall was unstoppable as he notched up point after point . Paul McElligot would take credit for the three goals that were registered for Tipp. With the pressure on, tempers flared resulting in the ejection of Wexford’s Jonathon Ryan and Tipp’s Cronan Dempsey. The only bright spot for Wexford was a back handed goal from Pat Slone, who also contributed a few points.

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McAnespies had a lot of trouble containing Cork in the first half [Photo Neil McDaid]

Game 5, SCF Cork 1-9 to McAnespies 1-12

To the surprise of the McAnespies and many others on the side lines, Cork would put in an effort like we have not seen from them in awhile. It would make for one of the most exciting action packed games of the day. McAnespies, who stormed through to take the 2007 O’Brien Cup, were unable to answer the game that Cork brought to the field in the first half. Cork’s captain, Gavin Wren, would run riot around McAnespies' back line, scoring three of Cork's first half points. Wren would also drive home a great goal against McAnespies' keeper Derek Davis and Declan Traynor, who was also on the goal line. At the break Cork were ahead by 1:07 to 0:05.
Eugene McKenna would find his mark for the McAnespies early in the second. That, along with Peadar Nugent being brought in from the bench, would finally see things starting to turn in McAnespies' favor. Under pressure to stay ahead Cork would fowl Paddy McCusker in the space, resulting in a penalty being awarded to the Mc’s. Christy Lynch slotted the ball into the left corner just past the finger tips of Cork's keeper Keith McNamara. Colm McCory, who had worked so hard for McAnespies in the first half, would tie with score with a great point he ran in from midfield.
Kieran Connelly, who was definitely in control of midfield for Cork throughout the game, would take a hard tackle from Declan Traynor, putting him on the ground for some time. Traynor was ejected from the game on his second yellow. Points from McGettigan, McCrory and McKenna would make the difference for McAnespies, as they just about got past Cork.

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Boston GAA Saturday May 26th. SFC: Shannon Blues v Galway

Galway would turn the tide on the Blues in the second half [Photo/Neil McDaid]

Galway claws back to claim their first senior victory in years

By Neil McDaid

Saturday May 26, 2007 - Canton, Ma. Galway started their 2007 campaign in the same manner as they closed their 2006 season, with a victory. Although this victory came with much less fanfare than when Galway took the 2006 Boston North East Intermediate title, today’s win marks a long awaited return to senior championship football for this storied Boston GAA club.
Although Galway opened quickly in the first half, scoring a point from play in only the second minute, they would struggle to come to grips with a new look Shannon Blues team.
The Blues seemed to have the upper hand in midfield. New addition Richey Hennessy worked the ball well into a very fast moving Shannon Blues forward line, who were in superb form in the first half. Conor Daly would split the Galway uprights on a fine pass from Gary Henry to get things moving for Shannon Blues.

Once things got going for the Blues there was virtually no stopping them as they delivered point after point to close the first half with a 8-3 advantage. Galway’s manager, Manus McFadden, didn’t panic however as he encouraged his men at the break.
Words of encouragement went a long way as again Galway would open the scoring in the second half with a point from Peter Nolan. Shortly thereafter Donal Redmond found an opening and made a deposit into the Shannon Blues net.
An exchange of points from both sides would keep things interesting, but it was veteran player Mickey Joe Hynes who almost stole the show. After an excellent through ball from Tom Walsh, Mickey Joe would work his way within range of the Blues goal, but a miss-judged aim would rob him of his glory.
His disappointment was short lived as Mick Curran, who was brought in as a sub, would get a fist to the ball again raising the green flag for Galway.

The tide had turned on the Blues; they had let Galway claw their way back from their shortfall at the half. Possibly the 85 degree heat or playing into the sun in the second half had taken affect on Shannon Blues. They seemed to slow as the game ticked away but, but as we all knew, the Blues were not going to go down without one last charge.

In the closing minutes of the game we would see a furious attack from the Blues. Down by four points a ballistic rip from forward John Wall could have made the difference for the Blues, but it clipped the cross bar and went over for a point. Another drive from Conor Daly would rebound to Wall who delivered a towering point to close the game.
An elated Galway side had achieved their goal. Knowing that this is only the start of a long season they were very satisfied to be off to a good start. Finals score 2-9 to 0-13.

Boston GAA Schedule for May 26th-27th

Saturday May 26th, 07

5:00 SFC Galway v Shannon Blues

Sunday May 27th, 07 [Main field]

12:00 SCH Cork v Fr. Toms

1:15 SFC Donegal v Wolf Tones

2:30 SFC Gaels v Armagh

3:45 SHC Tipp v Wexford

5:00 SFC McAnespies v Cork

Field B:

2:30 Jr A, Donegal v Shannon Blues

4:00 Jr A Galway v Wolftones

Directions to the Irish Cultrual center in Canton Ma. click here

Boston GAA Sunday, May, 20th 2007

All Boston GAA games for today have been canceled due to weather.

Boston GAA, Sunday May 13, 2007

2007 Pat O'Brien Memorial Cup final, Donegal vs. McAnespies [Tyrone]

A great start to the 2007 season for McAnespies [Photo/report by Neil McDaid]

Lined out in the Tyrone away colors, Aiden McAnespies would get the upper hand on the Tir Chonaill men to claim the 2007 Pat O’Brien Memorial Cup.
McAnespies Peadar Nugent would inflict pain early with a point from play. Shortly there after Nugent would also work his way into the space driving one past Donegal’s keeper Jonathon Byrne.
Showing some great form Donnacha Gallagher would score from a free to get things rolling for Donegal. Michael McGinty would also bend one in under pressure from the McAnespie back line.

Donegal tried their best to keep Paddy McCusker wrapped up.[Photo/Neil McDaid]

By the half McAnespies were up by a goal and looked to be in control of the game. Donegal would net in the second, but McAnespies answered quickly with a brash of points to stay ahead. Although it is early in the season, McAnespies are looking like a team hungry to repeat their performance of '06, Donegal brought their B game and walked away empty handed . Final score 1-11 to 1-08

Like one from middle earth, McGettigan was flying low for the McAnespies [photo/Neil McDaid]

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Orla Benson Cup semi final, Tir Na Nog vs. The Boston Shamrocks

Shamrocks' Maura Walsh lines up one of her two points.[photo/Neil McDaid]

Tir na Nog faltered on their second chance to make it into the final of the Orla Benson Cup final next Sunday. Despite getting the first score on the board they were clearly out classed by The Shamrocks. An early goal from Paula Callaghan would see Shamrocks ahead at the half 1-03 to 0-03.
Shamrocks' Sinead Walsh would point from a free to open the scoring after the break. Despite their three points in the first half, Tir Na Nog had nothing for the Shamrocks in the second. Maura Walsh would add a couple of fine points from play to cap off a good effort. Final score 1-08 to 1-03.
From here it’s on to the cup final for the Shamrocks where they will meet Roscommon next Sunday.

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Sheehan Cup semi final, Cork vs. Fr. Toms

Tom's Kevin Kilkenny heading for the cork uprights [Photo/ Neil McDaid]

The rebels fall, and fall hard to Fr. Toms. There was little question where this game was going from the start. Toms' Mark Walden cranked up the tempo early, and terrorized the Cork uprights by driving home a few great points from play. A scramble in front of the Toms' net would result in a soft goal for Cork. This, along with a single point, would be as close as this game would get.

Finding himself open Toms' Kieran Moore would slip through the Cork back line and blast one into the back of the waiting net raising the green flag to push Toms ahead at the half.
Despite a point from a free in the opening minutes of the second half Cork were at sea without an oar. They were clearly outclassed and out hurled by the Toms. Final score 1:08 to 1:02.

Toms will go on to meet Tipp in the Sheehan cup final next Sunday. I expect that Tipp will have the upper hand over the Toms.

Boston GAA

The Pat O'Brien Cup, semi finals. Donegal Vs Kerry and McAnespies Vs Galway

Donegal’s Michael McGinty sent his first attempt a bit to the Stranorlar side, early days yet an extra tug on the boots should sort things out.

Donegal Vs Kerry Photo/ Neil McDaid

Canton, Ma. May 6, 2007 - Donegal would claim a place in the Pat O’Brien Cup final after taking care of Kerry in the first of the semi-finals played on this day. Donnacha Gallagher would point for Donegal to get things underway. It was to be a lead that the boys from the Northwest would never relinquish.
Kerry showed little organization as Donegal controlled the play and continued to pile on the scores.
Down by 1:06 with only a minute in regular time on the clock, Kerry would make one last desperate drive on the Donegal net. Although Donegal’s keeper Marty Callaghan caught the ball he was unable to keep it from crossing the line. Final score 1-09 to 1-03

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McAnespies Vs Galway

McAnespies Vs Galway Photo/Neil McDaid

No surprises in the second semi-final; McAnespies [Tyrone], the clear favorites going in, would run riot over Galway. McAnespies, the defending 2006 Boston North East Champions, are showing some great early season form. Although Galway did manage the first score, it was not long until a nice ball from McAnespies mid-fielder Nail Donaghy was delivered to the boot of Benny McGettigan. McGettigan wasted no time in burying the ball into the back of the Galway net. This would be the first of two goals for the red headed wonder. Colm ‘Minnie” McCory was seeing yellow from referee Gerry Rowley for rough play just before the half time mark.
McAnespies would keep the pressure on into the second half. An unmarked Paddy McCusker would add to the goal tally taking all hope of a miraculous recovery from Galway. Tempers flared late in the game resulting in the ejection of two players [one from each side]. Final score in favor of the Mc's 3-06 to 0-06. [Galway again lined out in Wexford colors]
The stage is set for a classic Boston Gaa clash as McAnespies will meet Donegal in the O’Brien cup final.
If past performances are anything to go on, it will be well worth the price of admission, for there is no love lost between these two strong northern sides. After today’s performances McAnespies are showing as the stronger team going into the final.

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The Orla Benson Cup semi final [1]

Photo/Neil McDaid
Orla Benson cup:
The 2007 season opener for ladies football would get underway with the first qualifier for the Orla Benson Cup. Although not representative of the final score, Roscommon had the upper hand on Tir Na Nog throughout the game, aided by a goal in the first half via a hand pass from Stephanie Flynn. The final score 1-08 to 1-03. Despite the loss, Tir Na Nog will get another crack next Sunday when they meet the Shamrocks. The winner will go on to meet Roscommon in the final.

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The Sheehan cup semi final [1]

Although this wasn’t championship caliber hurling by any means, Tipp would see off Wexford to mark their spot in the Cup final scheduled for May 20th. Final score 2-06 to 1-05.

In the second of the semi finals, Cork will be hoping that the boat will dock with some much needed help later this week. They are scheduled to meet Fr. Toms next Sunday to decide who will meet Tipp in the final.

Boston Gaa

Boston GAA, Quarter finals of the Pat O'Brien Cup

Sunday April 29th 07

Donegal Vs Christopher’s would be the first of the quarter finals played on this cold New England Sunday.
Clearly outclassed Christopher’s would struggle throughout the game to match Donegal’s home based strength. With their victory in hand, Donegal will move onto the semi finals. Final score 1-12 to 1-02

Kerry would hold a slight edge against the Shannon Blues to take the victory in game two. It's on from here to meet Donegal in the semi finals. Final score 1-08 to 1-04 victory.

McAnespies would open strong in game three, as a result they would show a 2-01 advantage by the half. Armagh finally found their stride in the second but it was not enough to make a difference.

Final score 2-06 to 0-10

Cork’s Kieran Connelly had the upper hand in mid field, but his team mates could not seem to force the play on a lively Galway side. Galway’s victory sees them into the semi finals next week, where they will be tested against a well organized McAnespies side. Final score 2-07 to 0-09

[Note, Galway would show in Wexford colors due to the delayed delivery of thier 07 jerseys]