Intermediate Football
Easy Rangers win.
Rangers 1-10 Mayo 0-06

Rangers had a very easy win in the opening game of football on Sunday as they came back from a two point deficit in the opening moments and tacked on points at will over the rest of the hour. The first score they had was a classic goal by Stephen O’Shea when he took a flicked pass from Cormac Murray and rifled home from 25 yards out.

Sean Twomey had four points and was involved in the majority of the scores be it getting fouled for frees or pointing himself. After a halftime lead of 1-03 to 0-03 it was all Rangers in the second half as they outscored their opponents seven to three in that period. Cormac Murray showed himself to be an active forward with three points from play and some in important assists. Rangers ran out easy winners with their all round team play.

Mayo 1 Kevin Stenson 2 Mike Ruane 3 Alan Looney (0-02) 4 Tom Huvane 5 Dermot Keane 6 Keith O’Toole (0-01)7 Raymond Keane 8 James Prenty 9 Brendan Finn 10 Liam Clifford 11 Emmitt Cooney (0-01)12 John White 13 Ger Boyle (0-01)Dean Doherty 15 Kieran McAndrew  Sub Dave Colleran (0-01)

Rangers  1 John Williams 2 Malachey McHugh 3 Chris Colleran 4 Shane Toner 5 Mike Sheridan 6 Roy Henley 7 Kevin Daly 8 Sean O’Neill (0-02)9 Derek Courtney 10 Sean Twomey (0-04)11 Stephen O’Shea (1-01)12 John Brophy 13 Brian Twomey 14 Cormac Murray (0-03)15 Dan Moriarty

Man of the Match Sean Twomey (Rangers)

Referee Paddy Gormley

Intermediate Football
Sweeney leads Gaels to Victory
Astoria Gaels 1-13 Brooklyn Long Island 0-06

Astoria Gaels used long range shooting as the catalyst for the easy win over Brooklyn in this Intermediate contest. Leading by 0-09 to 0-01 at the break, Shane Sweeney had four excellent points in the opening stanza to set the stage for the win. James Dolan rolled back the years with a brace and his fisted effort on a Sweeney dropped ball could have hit the net. Pierce Madden had the Brooklyn reply but it was one of only two real chances, the other was blocked by Eoghan Kyne of the same player on a goal chance.

Des White at full back also had some very timely clearances to negate any forward forays. While the sides had five scores a piece in the second half it was the goal for Astoria that put the result of the contest to bed. Sean Kelly worked the ball out from the back with an excellent ball to JP Boyle. He in turn hit Ciaran Cull with a forty yard pass and the wily veteran was pulled down for a penalty. Kelly continued forward and slotted to the net. Brooklyn did have two of the last three scores of the half but it was all cosmetic at that point as Astoria had done more than enough for the win.

Astoria Gaels 1 Dave Brown 2 Red McGuinness 3 Des White 4 Ger O’Brian 5 Damien Ward 6 Sean Kelly (1-00)7 Eoghan Kyne (0-01)8 Shane Sweeney (0-05)9 Mike Coyle 10 Sam Yore (0-03)11 Pa Ryan (0-01)12 JP Boyle (0-01)13 Ronan Torskin 14 James Dolan (0-02)15 Ciaran Cull

Brooklyn 1 Kevin Rown 2 Steve Owens 3 Bonnie Duffy 4 Donnacha O’Grady 5 Steve O’Kane 6 Enda Lally (0-01)7 Pat Lonergan 8 John McGrory (0-01) 9 Pat Lochery (0-01)10 Jamie Lally 11 Richie O’Connor 12 Ross Connolly 13 Pierce Madden (0-03)14 Naill Traynor 15 Declan McAleer

Man of the Match Shane Sweeney (Astoria Gaels)

Referee Brian Quinn

Senior Football
Cork makes hard work of it
Cork 2-16 Donegal 3-04

The win was always going to be Corks but they made hard work to get to the end line. They had a very good start with 1-03 in the opening ten minutes with Lordon getting the goal before Donegal had a brace of points for the comeback.

They followed it with a point but again they allowed a goal to give Donegal life. Ciaran Talty linked with Shane Lyons before the wing forward slotted home low to net. That was immediately cancelled out by a Jason Kelly goal for Cork both before the break Donegal had their second three pointer. A long range effort from Mark Downes went all the way to the net from forty yards out. At the break the scoreline was 2-07 to 2-03 but Donegal were been given an opportunity to stay close.

After two points to open the second half for Cork Donegal had their third goal. A long ball from Ciaran Talty was dropped in the square by the defense and Shane Lyons made no mistake with the easy task of finding the net. It was their last brave attack Cork had points at will as they used brilliant play in front of goal by attacking wing back Brian Argue who had three points from play in an excellent performance. Sean Purcell was off the bench with a brace while Donegal’s only reply was a Shane Lyons score from a free as the game wound down. 

Cork 1 Kevin Connors 2 Paddy Harrington 4 Dennis McCarthy 5 Liam Hanley (0-01)6 Alan Raftery 7 Brian Argue (0-04)8 Sean Lordon (1-00)9 Sean Mannion 10 Jason Kelly (1-02) 11 Ger McCullough (0-02)12 John Fitzpatrick 13 Benny Reilly (0-01)15 Francie Cleary (0-02) Subs Sean Purcell (0-04) Conor Hunter, Kevin McArdle

Donegal 1 Tony McMahon 2 Colm McCarron 4 James Huvane 5 Anthony Kelly 6 Ray Keenan 7 Brian McCaffrey 8 Tom Hardwick 9 Brian O’Connor (0-01)10 Ciaran Tabby (1-00) 11 Mark Downes (1-00)12 Michael Travors (0-01) 13 CJ Molloy 15 Shane Lyons (1-02) Sub Paul Breslin

Man of the Match Brian Argue (Cork)

Referee Tommy Fahey

Senior Football
Annette goal wins it for Down
Down 2-09 Cavan 1-11

In a battle to the end it was Down who had the final call in this close encounter. They had come from behind after two minutes to lead throughout the game and would have been hard done by to not get a result. Cavan had two points to open the encounter before Down replied with 1-04 with the goal coming from Brian Murray as he joined the attack and scored off a deflection soccer style.

Brendan McGourty also had a point as he dominated the half back line with excellent play. Cavan after a scoreless drought did have three of the final four points of the half with one point by James Moynagh skimming over the bar. It left the Mournemen up by a goal at the break as they used tenacious play across the field as the foundation for the lead.

The sides swapped four points to open the second half but again Cavan fell asleep in front of goal as they went a further 18 minutes without a score. Barry Annette extended the Down lead when he linked with Alan O’Hara to leave his side in front by 1-08 to 0-07 with ten minutes in the clock.

A Declan Fitzpatrick point started a Breffni comeback and Alan Carolan hit the crossbar from 14 yards out moments later. When Shane Russell linked with Moynagh and Fitzpatrick he was given the easy task of slotting low to the net and the sides were level. Two further points edged Cavan in front before Michael Sloan and James Moynagh swapped scores to leave the sides two apart with a minute on the clock.

A Cavan wide was followed by a miraculous Down recovery. They moved the ball out the field with Brendan McGourty and Alan O’Hara linking to feed Liam Farrell in the corner. He founds Brian Annett in front of goal and with the last kick off the game the cornet forward blasted to the net for what was a deserved win. 

Cavan 1 Alan Hearty 2 Nobby Smith 4 Kieran Martin 5 Alan Carolan 6 Brian Naughton (0-01) 7 Patsy Martin 8 Kevin Smith (0-01)9 Shane Russell (1-01) 10 Declan Fitzpatrick (0-02) 11 Kevin McGeeney (0-01)12 Garth Kelly 13 Paddy Smith (0-02)15 James Moynagh (0-03) Subs Conor Brady.

Down 1 mark Kelly 2 Brian Murray (1-00)4 Dermot Hayes 5 Pat McCormack 6 Brendan McGourty (0-01) 7 Damien Ward (0-01)8 Sean Kelly (0-02)9 Alan O’Hara 10 Brian Annette (1-00)11 Michael Sloan (0-04)12 Mike Sheridan 13 Liam Farrell 15 Barry Annette (0-01) Subs Terrence Flynn

Man of the Match Brendan McGourty (Down)

Referee John Fitzpatrick