Two North American Cups Come to the Bay Area
2006 North American Playoffs Report
By Liam Moloney

On a weekend when Hurricane/Tropical storm Ernesto swept through Philadelphia the resilience of our players and organizers came shining through. A persistent downpour for almost 24 hours on Friday and Saturday with strong winds to boot, rendered conditions unlike any this reporter has ever witnessed.

Indeed were it not for the fact that teams had traveled up to 3000 miles this competition would not have been finished. Great credit is due to all players who served up some enthralling contests against all the odds. In the end the unbreakable spirit of The Gael won through against all the odds.

Ladies Senior Football: Fog overcome the storm

Fog city eclipsed Hurricane Ernesto and the opposition to claim the senior title in Philadelphia at the weekend. Saturday's semi-final saw Boston Roscommon put to the sword in a torrential downpour. Evelyn Griffin who had the finishing touch of an assassin was top scorer on a day when the Fog defense was impenetrable. The final score of 0-8 to 0-1 didn't reflect the superiority of the San Fran girls.

On Sunday the St Bridget’s ladies from Chicago were highly fancied to land the silverware but were never in the running as Fog came out of the traps with all guns blazing. After notching up five unanswered points, Siobhan Dolan bundled the ball over the line for a goal that had this one in the bag at half-time on a score of Fog 1-8 to Chicago 0-0

When Sharon Edgecombe scored the second goal early in the second half it was a coast to the finish. Evelyn Griffin was once again the fulcrum of the Fog attack, indeed having been involved in a traffic accident during the week it was remarkable that she played at all, and the MVP award she shared with Katie Gordon showed how important she was to this unit. Others to stand out were Monica Jordan, Helen Stephens, Kate Burke, Tish Collins and Sharon Edgecombe.

FT Fog City 2-9 St Brigid’s 1-4

Well done to Colin, Bertie and Frankie and all associated with the team for a remarkable success in what has been a tough year for the club.

“The Quality will be remembered long after the price is forgotten!”

So the quote goes from the irrepressible Na Fianna chairman Liam "Dingo" Fleming who saw his outfit march to glory in the men’s Junior A Hurling championship in Philly. After seeing off the challenge of the Limerick club from Chicago on the Saturday it was on to the final and a chance to avenge the '04 defeat at the same stage to Fr Tom Burkes of Boston. It was a game which Na Fianna took by the scruff of the neck from the start and ran out easy winners 2-10 - 0-05. It was a pity conditions were so bad as this was the best junior team to travel from SF in many years but they still managed to play some fine hurling in both games. Best for Na Fianna over the weekend were Peter Daly, Alan Brett, Mike Barry, David Moloney, Brian Murray and Paudie Allen. It was the culmination of a seasons hard work for coach Aidan O'Sullivan, Eric 'Abramovich' Kennealy and Dingo Fleming and all the players who do their part to keep hurling alive in the Bay Area. If the celebrations on Monday night in The Blarney Stone are anything to go by these lads will keep it pucked out for years to come. Well done to all involved.

Men’s Football Championships

In the Senior champ it was a disappointing end to the season for the defending champs Ulster who were put to the sword by eventual winners Wolfe Tones of Chicago. This was a star studded Tones side who stamped their authority on the game from the start and the likes of Graham Geraghty and Sean Kavanagh proved a handful for the Ulster side. For Ulster Simon 'Maxi' Maxwell, Declan McCauley Stephen O'Neill and Sean O'Neill , who was superb in the Ulster goal, gave it everything for the San Francisco outfit.

San Francisco Intermediate champs Shannon Rangers had a right cut at the title and only fell short by a goal to Galway Boston in a final that they could have won had the breaks gone their way. Having seen off a strong Tyrone Phil side on the Saturday by the narrowest of margins, Rangers took the game to Galway and a fortuitous goal was the difference between the sides, when the final pass on a Rangers attack was brilliantly intercepted in the last minute the title was Boston bound on a score-line of 1-9 to 0-9. Over the weekend Paul Coffey, Aidan Morrisey, Martin Crean, Gilbert O'Sullivan and Enda Butler excelled for Rangers.

Credit to Con Brosnan and his squad on a great year for the club.

In the junior A final The Celts gave a great account of themselves only to succumb to a very strong Chicago Parnell’s side who repeated last years win at this grade. In a classic semi-final the Celts saw off Kevin Barry’s of Philly by a three point margin after extra time. This game saw the San Francisco outfit dig deep into mental and physical reserves in a ding-dong battle that despite the torrential downpour was one of the most entertaining of the weekend. Colm Walsh, Mike Cotter, Aidan O'Flynn and Finn Sharpey who kicked some points that would have graced any arena wore down a dogged Philadelphia side.

In the final it was a blistering opening 15 minutes when Parnell’s had the upper hand that was to prove the difference between the sides. Racing into a 4-1 lead three points was still the difference between the sides when Celts blazed high and wide with the goal beckoning and just minutes left. Parnell’s scored a late goal to put a lopsided look on the final score 1-9 to 0-6.

It was a huge step forward for the young team who have progressed from the local youth program and showed they can compete with the best on any stage. Players like Aidan O'Flynn, Pat Power, Teddy Gunthren and Niall O'Flynn would be at home at the highest level. The future for this side looks bright and with the backroom staff of John O'Flynn, Tom Hunt, Gerry Martin, Pat Power, Ally Downey and Daire O'Connor this won't be the last you'll read about these lads.

In the junior B competition Ulster were the local representatives and had a facile victory over Eire Óg on Friday in a game that saw the return to action of some veteran campaigners. Joe Duffy's hiatus on the sideline was ended when he was thrown in as an impact sub and only poor service from his colleagues kept him from making a bigger impact in a game that was noteworthy for some high fielding especially from Seamus Canning who soared with the eagles at times. Saturday's contest was marked by the introduction of Peter Cooper who in his own words 'could have played for Down only wasn't good enough'. St Jarlath’s of Cleveland, the eventual winners saw off a spirited challenge in the semi-final.

Other competitions

In the ladies junior A semi final a spirited Clan na Gael were outdone by a very strong Emerald Eagles side from Philly who went on to win this competition easily. Clan battled right to the end and will be happy with the year overall.

Shamrocks Camogie depleted by injury and hampered by having many players involved in football competition declined to compete in the Camogie competition. This is a worrying time for Camogie in San Francisco and a return to the drawing board is needed if the game is to have any future here, it is tough on the few girls who struggle to keep the game alive here and maybe a development strategy needs to be put in place to help them forward.