Results

Y.I's hold out in thriller
Young Irelanders 1-18
Michael Cusacks 2-14

Late arrivals to Balboa Stadium for the start of the 2004 San Francisco GAA season last Sunday missed a thrilling start to the Intermediate football championship. The Michael Cusacks rocked by the Y.I.’s who were well worth the win and the one point margin of victory. The winners were ahead by two at halftime 0-11 to 2-5 courtesy of points from John McCormack, Colin Harte, Martin Deane and Eamon Coen. The Cusacks did pull level midway through the second half and had a golden opportunity to forge ahead when a goal chance arose for Mick O’Gara who stroked the ball wide from 3 yards out. Following this miss the Y.I’s goaled with 5 mins to go to put three between the sides. The Cusacks roared back but the Y.I.’s held on until the end of this pulsating tie.

Seamus O’Gara (Cusacks) had a chance to level the sides deep in injury time from a 14 yard free but his shot struck the left hand post on its way over the bar and came back into play to the sound of the final whistle.
Best for the Cusacks were Martin Ferris, Seamus O’Gara and Padraig Geoghegan. The Young Irelands had good displays from Colin Harte, Eamonn Coen and John McCormackAny aspirations the San Francisco Celts had of promotion to the Intermediate grade before the start of the championship were dealt severe blow by the Sons of Boru juniors last Sunday at Balboa Stadium. They were well beaten all over the field especially in front of goals.

All square in Senior clash

Sons of Boru 1-13
Ulster 1-13
Despite leading from the start, Ulster let this one slip and paid the price for taking their foot off the pedal with just 10 mins to go as they allowed the Boru to storm back from the dead and secure a share of the spoils. Eugene Cudden had early points for Ulster (0-3) before Mick Cunningham opened the scoring for Boru. Eamonn Burns (0-2), Ross McKenna, Killian Feely sent Ulster in at half time two points in front (0-7) to (0-5) with the Boru scores coming from Eugene McGrath, Sean Shannon, Joe O’Reilly and Cunningham.

Ulster raced into a 6-point lead thanks to Sean McCann (0-1) and Declan McAuley (1-2) and looked likely winners of this opening game in the Senior Championship but McGrath, Shannon and Cunningham kept the Green and Whites in contention as the game entered the final quarter. Ulster continued to put scores on the board through with points from McAuley and Eamon Burns. A goal by Craig Leahy brought the Boru back into the game. Further points from Eugene McGrath (0-2) Joe O’Reilly (0-3) ensured at least a point for the Boru.

Teams and Scorers
Ulster: Fergal Clancy, Sean O’Neill, Damien Campbell, Ross McKenna (0-1), Denis Murphy, John Healy, Austin McKenna, James Downes, Declan McAuley (1-3), Eugene Cudden (0-4), Killian Feely (0-1), Sean McGann (0-1), Eamon Burns (0-3)

Sons of Boru: Timmy Looney, Mick Kenny, Sean Shannon (0-2), Kevin O’Sullivan, Andy Fogarty, Brian Reilly, Eugene McGrath (0-4), Craig Leahy (1-0), Billy Fogarty, Joe O’Reilly (0-4), Kevin Reilly, T.J.O’Sullivan, Mick Cunningham (0-3).

Boru teach Celts a lesson
Sons of Boru 5-14
Celts 4-03

Any aspirations the San Francisco Celts had of promotion to the Intermediate grade before the start of the championship were dealt severe blow by the Sons of Boru juniors last Sunday at Balboa Stadium. They were well beaten all over the field especially in front of goals. While the Celts were guilty of overplaying the ball within scoring range time and time again, the Boru had no problems shooting scores from all angles. Deadly duo-Rich Brown (2-5) and Pat McGee (3-2) were the Boru scorers in chief last Sunday. The Boru were solid in defense where Berty Penny mastered the young guns around him except for the Celts Conor Daly who got inside the Borus defense to net three goals during the hour. The Boru second team looks a strong bet for this year’s junior title.

Teams and Scorers:
Sons of Boru:
Sean Keirghan, Berty Penny, John Sheehan, Seamus O’Donohue, Liam Poff, Jim McGuiggan, Tom Greaney (0-1), Brian Guiney (0-3), Brendan Robinson (0-1), Brian Murray (0-1), Casey Handy, Pat McGee (3-2), Rich Brown (2-5), Paul O’Sullivan, Mike Costello (0-1).

Celts: Colm Walsh, Kevin Powers, PJ Materson, Kevin Shannon, Aidan O’Flynn (0-2), Niall O’Flynn (0-1), Tim Coyne, Dan Durkin, Brendan Powers (1-0), Conor Daly (3-0), Colm Driscoll, Sean Smith.

McMahon points the way for Ulster

Ulster 3-09
Sean Treacys 0-10
Ulster did just about enough to hold off the challenge of a spirited Sean Treacys in this hard fought contest. Bosco Hughes was a constant thorn in the side of the Ulster defense all afternoon and he was was unlucky that two of his points did not hit the roof of the Ulster net as they whizzed over Grimleys head and over the bar. Had these shots been major scores then Treacys could have won the game.

Pat Tunney (Treacys) had a great game at full forward netting (0-4) in total, while Mark Gallagher and Gearoid Murphy played well in defense, aided by Kieran Keaney in the middle of the park. Fergal McMahon was the most accurate Ulster marksman hitting a personal tally of 1-6. Mike Collins and Declan Rafferty in midfield gave plenty of ball to the Ulster inside forwards, while in defense Michael McClone and Brendan McWilliams played best.

Teams and Scorers
Ulster: Kevin Grimley, James Marron, Dermott McWilliams, Brendan McCafferty, Mike English, Michael McGlone, Mike Collins, Declan Rafferty, Paul Harmon (0-1), Fergal McMahon (1-6), Michael Donnelly (0-1), Cahir McHugh (1-1) Sub: Gerry Doyle (1-0).

Sean Treacys: Liam Moloney, Brian Longergan, Paudie O’Connor, Kevin White, Pat O’Connor, Mark Gallagher, Kieran Keaney, Colin White, Ken Hyland, Karol Keane, Gearoid Murphy, Bosco Hughes (0-5), Pat Tunney (0-4), Howie Hughes (0-1). Sub: Pat Murphy, Micheal Keaveny.

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