Ladies Junior Football Championship Semi-Final
Clan na Gael 1-11
Saoirse 2-06
Clan na Gael ladies advanced to the championship final following this narrow two point win over their Peninsula rivals last Sunday afternoon at Kesar Stadium. Clan na Gael just about deserved the win despite the fact that they allowed Saoirse to score 1-3 in the final quarter which only put daylight between the teams. If Saoirse had been on target with their final few shots they might have forced a draw and indeed could have stolen the game, such was their inefficiency in front of goals.

With the season wrapping up on August 15th, the last remaining final spot in the LJFC decider went to Clan na Gael. Both teams opened strongly and with defenses on top in the early stages it took some time before either side scored. The Gaels Connie MacNamara broke the ice with the first point of the game. Clan Na Gael continued to add the scores and stretched their lead, thanks in part to fine footwork from midfielders Olive Ennis and Michelle O'Leary, and half forward Anne Marie Glennon. At halftime, the score was Clan Na Gael 1-9:Saoirse 0-01. On the changeover Saoirse pressed hard to get back into the match and with the aid of the wind they pegged back the halftime deficit, little by little. Thanks to some fine football from work from Saoirse's Michelle Marino and Jenny Guiney, Saoirse controlled the ball for much of the second half. Saoirse's Catherine Scanlon planted a great shot to the roof of the net for a fine goal to reduce the lead to just two points between the teams and this set up a titanic last 10 minutes. In the end Margaret Bermingham and Michelle O’Leary kept the Saoirse at bay and so advance to next Sundays final where they will meet Fog City Harps.
Team and Scorers:Saoirse: Anne O’Donoghue, Irene Byrne, Christina Clarke, Mederith Holly, Michelle Marino, Jennifer Guiney, Sinead Reynolds, Hope Goblirsch, Fiona McGovern, Sharon Fennelly, Caroline Scanlon (1-3), Kelly Lynch, Morgan Ahern, Barbara Dornseif, Sinead McElhone. Subs: Jessica Fritzsche, Sara Byrne, Audrey Graham.
Clan na Gael: Kristin Minger, Donna Ni Chuinneagain, Mags Bermingham, Donna Finn, Catriona Carey, Rebecca Biernat, Jenny Dickson, Olive Ennis (0-1), Zeo Godoy, Nuala Gardiner, Michelle O’Leary (0-2), Aoife Ni Ceallaigh, Connie McNamara (0-1), Aine Marie Ni Ghlionnain, Doreen Ni Aodhgain. Referee: Seamus Slevin, Buffalo, NY.

Senior Football Semi-Final
Sons of Boru 2-12
Sarsfields 1-11
Sons of Boru GFC ensure that both their club teams are in their respective finals following this four-point win over Sarsfields last Sunday at Kesar. Boru meet Ulster in this Sunday’s mouth watering final of the Mens Senior Football championship. The winner will represent San Francisco in Denver next month at the North American Finals.

There was never more than a few kicks of the ball between the teams all through the game. In the opening half their was some fine passages of play and great points kicked from Boru’s Kevin Murray, T.J. O’Sullivan and Eugene McGrath while John McVeigh, Seamus McCorry, Colm Brazil and Paul Murngahan kept Sarsfields in touch. Kevin Murray got the Boru goal midway through the opening half and they needed this major score to keep Sarsfields in their sights who were playing with the aid of the strong wind. The half time score was Boru 1-05 Sarsfields 0-08.

Eugene McGrath signaled the Boru intent with his sides first point of the second half. T.J.O’Sullivan added another minor before the Boru had a goal from the boot of Kevin Murray to put five points between the sides. Sarsfields needed a goal at this stage and they got one after Paul Murnaghan goaled from the penalty spot. Colm Brazil shot over a point from distance and Kevin Murnaghan had the sides level again with a well taken point. Boru shifted up a gear and were soon back in the lead with points from Kevin Murray. Boru took control for the rest of the game and points from Murray (0-2), O’Sullivan and McGrath ensured the Boru are in this Sundays Final. Sarsfields tried hard for a couple of late goals but the Boru defense stood firm allowing Paul Murnaghan to get in for just one more point. Sarsfields sent in subs Sean Johnston and Sean Hanway late in the game but to no avail as time ran out before they could have any impact on the outcome of the game.
Teams and scorers:
Sons of Boru: Billy Fogarty, Kevin O’Sullivan, Sean Shannon, Andy Fogarty, Paul Galvin, Mick Kenny, Brian O’Reilly, Eugene McGrath (0-3), Kevin O’Reilly, Kevin Murray (1-5), Mick Cunningham (0-2), Joe O’Reilly, T.J. O’Sullivan (1-2).
Sarsfields: Brain Kinvey, Michael McCarthy, Cathal Keegan, Shane Coyle, Ken Fagan, Seamus McCorry (0-2), Colm Brazil (0-3), Shane Kenny, Shane Connolly, John McVeigh (0-2), Kevin Murnaghan (0-1), Paul Murnaghan (1-3), Ciaran Fahey. Subs used: Sean Johnston and Sean Hanway.
Referee: Seamus Slevin, Buffalo, NY.

Intermediate Football Championship
Ulster 0-19
Michael Cusacks 1-09
Ulster are through to this years Intermediate Football Final following a well deserved win over the Michael Cusacks at Kesar Stadium last Sunday afternoon. Although Ulster ran out seven point winners in this encounter the game was very closely contested. The game started at a ferocious pace and both sides exchanged points early on with Cusacks star player Seamus O’Gara, brother Mick O’Gara and Daire O’Connor all on target for the saffron and blue. Ulster relied on Paul Harmon and Pauly Bayly to keep them in contention in the opening 20 mins. However it was in the 21st minute that it all went wrong for the Cusacks as they were reduced to 12 men after a red card was issued by visiting referee Seamus Slevin from Buffalo. From then on they were chasing the game and went in at halftime trailing Ulster 0-08 to 0-06.

On the changeover Seamus O’Gara, Colm Cafferty, and Padraig Geoghegan did every thing in their power to get the Cusacks back in the match but they met a resilient Ulster defensive back line spearheaded by Declan Rafftery and Colm McCafferty. Paul Bayly continued to pile on the misery for the Cusacks many missed opportunities at the other end of the field as he converted points from play and from placed balls. Ulster took no chances heading into in the final quarter and played free roaming Paul Bayly as an extra man in defence behind the half back line. This move help keep the dangerous duo of Colm Cafferty and Podge Geoghegan at bay until Cusacks sub Owen Sweeney did manage to score a late goal to put a bit of respectability on the scoreline. The loss of Martin Ferris to Cusacks cause was a huge blow in recent weeks as the Michael Cusaks did look like making it all the way to this years Intermediate Final had they a full squad available to them. Geoghegan, Cafferty and Seamus O’Gara were outstanding on Sunday and indeed throughout the championship series and they will be disappointed at not making it to the final. Ulster on the other hand have been gaining momentum in recent weeks and with the addition of Paul Bayly to the squad who is back after a lengthy lay off through injury has been a huge addition to their chances of winning this years Intermediate title. Best for Ulster on Sunday were Paul Harmon, Paul Bayly, fergal McMahon and Colm Tully.
Teams and scorers:
Ulster: Kevin Grimley, Brendan McCafferty, Mike English, Michael McGlone, James Marron, Declan Rafferty (0-1), Gary Foley, Colm Tully (0-2), Paul Harmon (0-1), Aidan Lester (0-1), Jody Ogle (0-1), Fergal McMahon (0-1), Colm Doherty and Paul Bayly (0-10). Subs Ramsey Maher, Padraig McShane (0-1).
Michael Cusacks: Barry O’Kane, Maurice Wren, Eugene Brolly, Alli Downey, Owen McCarthy, Declan O’Donnell, Padraig Geoghegan, Seamus O’Gara (0-6), Colm Cafferty (0-1), Mick O’Gara (0-1), David Rolls, Daragh O’Connor (0-1), Fergus O’Sullivan and Ken O’Neill. Subs: Kevin White and Owen Sweeney (1-0).
Referee: Seamus Slevin, Buffalo, NY