Championship 2006 - Saturday July 15th

Mens Football - Sean Treacy’s 1-9 Cusack's 0-10 Report
Mens Football Challenge - San Diego Setanta 2-11 Ulster 2-9 Report
Mens Junior Football - Celts 3-16 Sean Treacy’s 1-3

Treacy’s Leave it to the Last Minute
Mens Football
Sean Treacy’s 1-9 Cusack's 0-10

Michael Cusack’s more or less had a monopoly on possession in the early stages of this intense game, Sean Treacy’s had to move the ball away to a free man very quickly to escape the attentions of the feisty boys in blue. Treacy’s were under severe pressure at all times and were able to convert few of the rare scoring opportunities they were able to create for themselves. Cusack’s by contrast were sprinting into space and shooting virtually unopposed.

A red goal looked imminent as a kickout was intercepted and promptly returned back from where it came, but that opportunity went the way of the other shots and wide. It was the start of a period where Treacy’s built up some momentum though, a few shots ended up on target and by half time Treacy’s had closed the gap to a single point.

Five minutes into the second half, Treacy’s sneaked into the lead thanks in large part to Mark ‘Westy’ Gallagher teaching everyone a lesson out there in the forwards.

The two sides spent much time with scarcely a point between them, and after rapid-fire scoring on both sides and with a single point win for Cusack’s looking imminent, a last-minute shot at the Cusack’s goal by Paul Allen saw the ball wipe its feet before crossing the line and securing a miraculous two point win for Sean Treacy’s.

Referee, Bertie Penny

Surfers Show How it’s Done
Men’s Football Challenge
San Diego Setanta 2-11 Ulster 2-9

Setanta took to the field determined to make a lasting impression on one of the few games that they would get this year. The lads from down south gave an impressive display against the North American champions, showing great confidence and composure on the ball at all times and sporting two big names in the form of James Brogan and Mark Cahill from the St. Brigid’s club in Dublin.

In a low-scoring first half, Ulster took most of the shots and put the vast majority of them wide. Setanta were having problems of their own in winning the breaking ball and getting accuracy into their long balls. However, San Diego were making better use of their scoring opportunities and staying just about on top.

Ulster very nearly got a goal from point blank range only for the ball to be deflected wide for a 45.

San Diego finished the half on 8 points to Ulster’s 4, a half in which they had shot 2 wides to Ulster’s 12.

Both teams worked at a frantic pace in the second half to push the ball up the field for some hair-raising moments in front of goal. Setanta drove a lot of balls in low, leading to a certain amount of wasted effort that could have been converted to scores.

San Diego upped the ante some more with a blistering goal by James Brogan, and a few minutes later another by the same player lobbed over the head of the goalie who was well off his line outside the 21. Ulster returned the compliment with a pair of goals of their own by John McCann and Fergal Malone, making it look like they were going to pull the victory out from under Setanta, but it wasn’t to be.

Referee, Malachy Higgins