Boston GAA

Sun May 29

With the Limerick versus Tipp hurling match rescheduled, and the last game of the day in football between Armagh and Wolfe Tones canceled due to the continuing bad weather, this time in the guise of a heavy thunderstorm, we had just two games down for decision on Sunday in Canton.


SHC
Wexford 3-15
Cork 3-06


Concentration on the ball


Wexford hurlers get off to good start

Wexford were the better side in this lively hurling championship kickoff, that produced no less than 6 goals in total, where Cork even though they tried hard in the second half could not pull back the first half lead built up by a fired up Wexford unit who saw all their forwards on the board after 30 minutes.

Inside two minutes, Wexford made their intentions known when both corner forwards,
Tom Murphy and James Kinsella shot over two nice points before Murphy minutes later found the Cork net with a low hard drive to the far left corner for the first goal of the game.

Wexford were playing well while Cork were particularly struggling in defense as right half forward Paddy Walsh put over another point for Wexford. Cork hit back soon after when center forward Morris Kellegher sent a rocket to the back of the Wexford net to reduce the gap to three points after just 10 minutes of play.

But Wexford looked dangerous going forward and soon Walsh and Kinsella, whom both were causing major problems in attack, added two more points to stretch the lead to five. Things got worse for Cork in a hurry when Wexford's big center forward Ronan Wade sent in a high ball which looked to be just scraping over but deceived all, including the Cork keeper who failed to block and it sailed past and into the net for an easy goal.

The sides swapped points through We ford's, Mick Fenlon and Cork's lively midfielder, Allen Keane who up to this point looked their best player.

Wexford were now on top and looked very eager while Cork tended to stand back somewhat. The sides exchanged double scores through Wexford's, Walsh and Fenlon points, while Cork's, Keane and Kellegher (free) obliged for the rebels to leave 8 points between them once more.

Before the break Wexford surged again and put over three unanswered points from, two from Kinsella, who was causing havoc and a Mick Fenlon who was doing well at left half forward.

Wexford looked in a strong position at half time ahead by 11 points with Cork having a mountain to climb to get back in the game.

Wexford increased their lead immediately on the restart when Paddy Walsh and Fenlon continued to impress with two good points.

Cork began to press more as center back and newcomer, Gary Daly began to dominate in the half back line. The sides again exchanged points through Cork's midfielder, John Cotter and Tom Murphy for Wexford.

Gary Daly going forward impressively got another point back for Cork but Wexford dashed Cork hopes anew when on 6 minutes into the second half, dangerman Murphy got his second goal with a one handed pull overhead to extend the lead once more to an unadsailble margin of 15 points.

Cork did try though to get back in it and soon raised a green flag of their own when brendan O'Donovan shot a free to the Wexford net. With the defnse having tightened up they pressed for scores and with 10 minutes hit 1-01 Morris Kellegher on the full line getting the goal while the John Cotter got the minor reducing the lead to 8 once more.

But Cork had left it too late even though they tried hard in the last quarter to get on terms and just could not find a way through the Wexford defense where center back, John Byrne did well.

Wexford added the final score with a Ronan Dade point to run out comfortable winners in the end.

Cork need to find a few more players in defense and up front while Wexford will pose a stiff challenge to one and all this summer although they could do with a stronger midfield.

Their was some wild pulling and unnecessary challenges by both sides in the last 10 minutes, behavior that can be a hallmark of some hurling games played here. Pulling like crazed men wins nothing, it's scoring that counts and not how hard you can pull.

SFC
Donegal 0-09
Cork 0-03


Richie Fleming jumps highest


Donegal over Cork but no classic

A dour football clash in which for a long time, these 2003 championship finalists, seemed as if they wanted to hand each other the first win of the championship season as both sets of forwards shot some awful wides while scrappy play was the norm on this Memorial Day Weekend.

Two years Cork had the upper hand in the final but last years champions Donegal, just about deserved their opening championship win as their better balanced team's experience showed in the end.

The game got off to a tense start with tight marking a feature but Donegal's big center forward, Brian Kelly, found some room and put over a nice point for the early lead. Cork equalized when freetaker, Conor Hickey converted a placed ball by the sixth minute before a period of stalemate ensued.

Donegal hit some poor wides until corner forward, Shame Friel found the range and replied with a point from a free to restore the one point margin.

Richie Fleming, Cork's ace midfielder the last few seasons, was having his first game of the season having arrived to play in the morning from Missouri, and was doing well in the middle of the park, yet Cork's forwards were having difficulty finding the target on the half line while freetaker, Hickey's touch was not in as he missed some free taking opportunities.

Inside Cork forward, Eddie Driscoll was unlucky in the 22nd minute when his effort went across the Donegal goalmouth.

Before the half time whistle, Friel for Donegal, stretched the lead to 3 points with a brace of frees to see his side just about deserving to be ahead, on a scoreline of 0-04 to just the one point for Cork.

The scrappiness continued in the second period before Donegal after some further wayward shooting saw the always dangerous Friel pop up to take an excellent point to leave 4 the margin.

Daragh O'Keefe got one back for Cork but after hitting another wide, Donegal re-established the 4 point margin when midfielder, Michael McGinty pointed.

With time running out for Cork they looked to try and pull back the deficit but could not break down a solid Donegal defense where corner backs Jamsie Donnelly and Enda Reilly allowed Cork forwards no space, while half back line of Eoin McGarvey, John Moroney and John Gurhy did well also.

Lively Donegal half forward, Paul Roper increased the lead once more when converting two more frees with 10 minutes remaining. Cork went looking for scores but continued with some bad wides before Mark Daly shot over for a point to leave 5 in it. At the other end, Cork keeper, Brendan Kelleher, did well when saving from Donegal's corner forward, Daryl McNulty.

Donegal though had the last say with a lovely point from corner forward Friel to leave 6 in it at the final whistle.

Donegal were the better team here but must cut back on their error prone shooting but look to be building a solid team for the championship season. Cork who last week won the pre championship, O'Brien Cup, need also to find their scoring range but they need to find a few players as well.


Denis O'Brien