Sunday August 1st

Boru Stage the Greatest Comeback Since Lazarus
Mens' Senior Football Championship
Sons of Boru 4-15, Shannon Rangers 4-14

Boru struggled to make much of an impact in the first half of this game with Shannon Rangers opening up a lead that widened to seven points by half time thanks to a blistering goal by Owen O'Sullivan.

The second half was a very different story. Boru rallied early getting a few points without reply and coming perilously close to getting goals a few times, eventually getting one from a penalty by Kevin O'Sullivan. Tough defending by Boru prevented Rangers from scoring from play for the longest time, until both teams started running in close to the net and producing some heart-stopping moments by fishing for goals, and in many cases succeeding. A Boru goal by Eugene McGrath was the start of a goal-fest that was to last for the rest of the match, and a point by Kevin Murray brought Boru to within a point of the Rangers.

Rangers replied with another goal, Boru replied with yet another goal from Eugene McGrath, and Kevin Murray rattling points over the bar in quick succession put them into the lead.

With less than four minutes to go the sides were level at 3-13 each. Tit-for-tat point scoring had the possibility of a draw very much in the minds of the crowd that was now on its feet, the high scoring and tight scoreline more than making up for the scrappy play. An attempted point fisted over the bar fell too low but deflected off the back off one of the Borus' backs and into the net to briefly put Rangers back into the lead, but Boru replied almost immediately with another goal to win the game on a final score of Boru 4-15, Rangers 4-14. Drama you wanted? Drama you certainly got!

Na Fianna Juniors Make Up For Seniors' Defeat
Senior Hurling Championship
Na Fianna 3-14, Naomh Padraig 3-6

Na Fianna set the pace in the first half opening up a three point lead but briefly allowed Naomh Padraig back into the game with some sloppy marking. However, Padraigs' weren't able to take much advantage of this or into the game during a dry and lacklustre first half that ended with Na Fianna five points ahead.

The standard of play improved slightly in the second half, but there were still a lot of shots dropping way short of the goals and into the hands of the goalkeepers who didn't even have to raise a stick to slow the ball down. Some aggressive incidents in each goalmouth added to an air of aggression on the field. There were some heart-stopping moments in each goalmouth, one of which included Na Fianna's goalkeeper, Jamsie, reaching to catch yet another shot in his hand but underestimating the power behind it and allowing the sliothar to slip through his fingers and into the net for Naomh Padraig's first goal courtesy of Cahal Uniac.

The men in green fought back against strong performances from the likes of Na Fianna captain Declan Sheedy, John Fox and double goal-scorer Ray O'Halloran. They even managed to get a few late goals thanks to Mike Ryan that helped to lower the gap to eight points, but Na Fianna were taking their points with conviction and the game was well on its way. For Naomh Padraig to pull off a victory would have required a major comeback and it was just not to be.

Na Fianna's celebrations in the Blarney Stone carried on well into the night, and rightly so.