Reports

by Rory on May 13, 2018 at 6:26 pm

By Rory O’Donnell  Donegal and McAnespies into the Pat O’Brien Cup Final Shannon Blues 2-7 Aidan McAnespies 3-10 A win for Aidan McAnespies put them on top of Group B and into the final of the cup next Saturday.  It was an explosive affair, and the wet conditions did not help matters in that regard.  There was plenty of good football on display from both sides, however, it was McAnespies […]

by Rory on May 7, 2018 at 12:04 am

By Rory O'Donnell The second round of the Pat O’Brien Cup was played at the Irish Cultural Center, Canton Mass Saturday afternoon with strong wins for Donegal and Wolfe Tones in Group A, and for Aidan McAnespies in Group B.   The situation means that it boils down to Donegal and the Tones looking for the win to secure the top spot in Group A, and in Group B it comes down to the Macs and […]

by Rory on April 29, 2018 at 11:09 pm

Donegal 0-10 Connemara Gaels 0-10 An entertaining, testy affair got Donegal and the Gaels off to their 2018 season start.  Things got a little tense in the final 15 minutes as the game was on the line, Hugh Devine was issued a black card for a challenge on Coleman Mulkerrins, and a scuffle followed.  At the time the Gaels led 0-9 to 0-8 after erasing a four point deficit.  With the game on […]

by Rory on April 15, 2018 at 2:21 pm

The 2018 season is upon us.  The draw for the Pat O’Brien Cup took place at the meeting of the board and the competition is set to begin on April 26.  There are 7 teams entered and the format will consist of 2 groups, one with 4 teams and one with 3.  Group A includes Galway, Wolfe Tones, Connemara Gaels, and Donegal.  Group B includes Cork, Aidan McAnespies and Shannon Blues.  Teams w […]

by Rory on March 4, 2018 at 9:28 pm

The 2018 Boston Continental Youth Championship (CYC) will be held August 1-5, 2018 at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton.  The CYC is the largest youth GAA tournament held outside of Ireland.  Over 2,500 players from Under 6 to Under 18 making up 200 teams are expected to participate.  In hopes of winning Championship honors, clubs travel from all over - including Ireland, England, Canada, […]

by Rory on February 17, 2018 at 3:18 am

The Boston Northeast divisional board 2018 AGM was held last Sunday, February 11, at the Irish Cultural Center, Canton Mass.   Aside from electing the board of officers for the 2018 season, there were a couple of fairly significant developments.  A motion was passed to restructure the senior hurling championship with the goal of focusing on resident players and improving the competition […]

by Rory on October 29, 2017 at 2:15 pm

Next Saturday, November 4, Connemara connections on either side of the Atlantic will be restored when a visiting Cárna/Caiseal team plays the Connemara Gaels in a challenge for the Coley Lydon Memorial Cup at the Irish Cultural Center.  The relationship between Boston and Connemara is long and deep, and the area west of Galway city has left an indelible mark on the Boston area over the […]

by Rory on September 5, 2017 at 1:39 am

San Francisco hosted the 2017 North American GAA finals on Labor Day weekend.  The games were played at Pairc na nGael on Treasure Island, San Francisco GAA’s home facility.  Treasure Island is a man-made island in the middle of San Francisco Bay that was created from dredging the harbor to make for safer shipping channels.  The island was created in 1937-38 and the Golden Gate Exposition was […]

by Rory on August 22, 2017 at 8:07 am

Worcester v Barley House Wolves There was no separating these teams when they met earlier in the year, and for most of this final it looked like it was heading towards another draw. But three goals in the second half lifted Worcester to victory, and their captain Liam Kelly lifted the cup on a 3-06 to 0-08 scoreline.  Worcester Captain Liam Kelly raises the junior C hurling cup. T […]

by Rory on August 22, 2017 at 8:05 am

Tipperary v Offaly Offaly started this match very brightly and for most of the first half it looked like Tipperary might have been California dreamin’ too early. But going a man down early seemed to spark the Premier county men and they’re off to San Francisco with cup in hand after raising their game near the heights shown all year. Stephen Brown struck the sliotar cleanly, and Offaly […]

by Rory on August 22, 2017 at 8:03 am

Cork v Shannon Blues Cork relied on an injury time penalty last week to reach this final, and the Rebel men made it interesting once again as they scored a last minute goal to claim this thrilling decider by a single point. It was the club’s first win in this competition in twelve years, which will make the refreshments tonight in Cambridge taste all the sweeter.  Cork made it all t […]

by Rory on August 22, 2017 at 8:00 am

Shannon Blues v Aidan McAnespies The sun was setting on a perfect summer evening as the champagne-soaked Shannon Blues raised the cup. It was a physical encounter, more tactical than thrilling, but the Blues fully deserved to go through to the North American finals. Brian ‘Biscuits’ Kennedy had his charges in shape and in tune for this final, and Boston GAA Chairman John Farrell described […]

by Rory on August 17, 2017 at 12:20 am

Sunday August 20 - Irish Cultural Center, Canton Mass. 4:00 Senior Football Final – Shannon Blues v Aidan McAnespies McAnespies have made it this far against the odds - can they take the final step? So, we are down to the last two teams standing after a very close run senior football championship.  Starting with the Shannon Blues.  The Blues have at times looked unstoppable this year […]

by Rory on August 15, 2017 at 12:07 am

Aidan McAnespies 1-10 Donegal 0-11 It was a game that contained the best of the game – and the worst.  There were ugly scenes in the first half as two major melees broke out.  The result of both was a plethora of yellow cards, and one sending off.  The best of it was the heart and determination shown by McAnespies, when a man down, and after losing their key midfield men, how they buckled […]

by Rory on August 14, 2017 at 11:30 pm

Galway 0-14 Shannon Blues 2-13 Shannon Blues put in a dominant second half performance to overturn a five point half-time deficit and end with a 5 point win.  The Blues won the lion’s share of second half possession and when Galway did manage to get into scoring range, the Blues defence smothered any opportunity of scoring.  A Darren Wallace second half goal spurred the Blues comeback, and […]

by Rory on August 14, 2017 at 8:17 pm

Cork 3-22 Connemara Gaels 5-8 (AET) The Gaels seemed to have the game in the bag, but Cork pulled off a second half comeback to force extra time.  The rebels then had more in reserve for the additional 20 minutes and in the end came out comfortable victors.  Cathail Arnold was the center of all things good for the Corkmen, and when the Down man had the ball in his hands it was almost always […]

by Rory on August 14, 2017 at 6:45 pm

Shannon Blues 2-13 Donegal 0-8 Shannon Blues earned a place in the junior A football final with a well-earned win over Donegal on Saturday evening.  Two early first half goals put some distance between the teams, a gap that mis-firing Donegal could not bridge.  There were some great performances, Jack Goulding at corner forward did well, and when the Blues needed a lift Pat Murray and Conor […]

by Rory on August 14, 2017 at 5:55 pm

Another junior A Semi-Final, another game that went into extra time.  It was tight all the way through, and with Tom’s ahead by a point in injury time, and Offaly free leveled matters to send it into extra time.  A sending off in the additional period did not help Tom’s cause, and a Shaun Dunne goal early in the second period set up Offaly for the win and a date with Tipperary next week. […]

by Rory on August 14, 2017 at 5:39 pm

Donegal 6-12 Cork 0-16 Donegal put in a six goal performance to deliver their third junior B football trophy in a row.  Christy McLaughlin was the man of the hour, netting two goals and putting some beautiful points over the bar from all angles and distances.  In the second half when Cork were pushing close to catching Donegal, the Malin native retreated to the middle of the field and […]

by Rory on August 11, 2017 at 3:21 am

Sunday August 13 Shannon Blues v Galway 1:45 First up are Galway and the Shannon Blues.  Galway find themselves one game away from repeating last year’s final appearance.  The westerners field a balanced side and play a fluid style, moving the ball well when in possession.  There are plenty of finishers in the forward line.  Home based stalwart Kevin Cummins can be relied on to come u […]