Leitrim 1-12 Cork 2-08

Leitrim are the New York Champions for the first time in 12 years after a nail biting encounter against a gallant Cork side. The Rebels pushed the winners into extra time and had an effort at a tying score go narrowly wide at the final buzzer. The game was level on a host of occasions with both sides having four point leads at different times only to see them get pulled back. Cork started the game with a 1-01 salvo with a defensive mix-up allowing Ger McCullough too grab the goal but they then came back into the contest with three of the next four points. Dan Doona was prominent with two of the scores from frees. After a Ger McCullough free left Cork with a three point lead, a long ball from Gary O’Driscoll was pulled down by Ken O’Connor and deposited in the net at the second attempt.

After points on the board for each side the break arrived with 1-04 a piece showing. Cork had two of the first three points to open the second half but it could have been much more bi8t for a brilliant save by Pa Ryan on Conor Doherty when the forward soloed hard in on goal in the second minute. A defensive struggle ensued before Cian Tobin from a free had the sides level again, Leitrim were guilty of a serious miss however when Dan Doona set John Goldrick free in front of goal and the defender shot wide. So the game headed for the final five minutes but the sides couldn’t be split as both had further points and the game headed for extra time. The first ten minute period was scoreless. Cork had two wides from scorable positions while Leitrim also had a wide and a ball that dropped into the keeper’s hands. The winners roared out the gate in the final session. They had four consecutive scores from Mike Creegan, Gary O’Driscoll, Donal Kelleher and a fisted Dan Doona effort to put the m into what looked like an unassailable lead. With time ticking away, Cork created a thrusting attack.
Jason Kelly finished a seven player move by turning to set up for a shot on goal in the penalty area. He was fouled in the act of shooting. He received treatment and then stood up and drove the kick to the net off Pa Ryan’s outstretched leg. On the kickout Cork won possession but with the final buzzer sounding Conor Doherty drove a high kick that tailed wide and Leitrim were champions.

Leitrim 1 Pa Ryan 2 Dermot Keane 3 Stephen Brown 4 Lonan Maguire 5 John Goldrick 6 Ciaran Kelleher 7 Eoin O’Neill 8 Gary Driscoll (0-03) 9 Pat Madden 10 Colm Cronin 11 Ken O’Connor (1-00)12 Mike Creegan (0-01)13 John O’Neill 14 Dan Doona (0-05)15 Donal Kelleher (0-02) Subs Cian Tobin (0-01) Jamie Doolin Kieran Scanlon

Cork 1 Gary Lowney 2 Dennis McCarthy (0-01)3 Alan Raftery 4 Jonathon McDermott 5 Ciaran Kiely 6 Rory Stafford 7 Steve Garvey 8 Brendan Quigley (0-01) 9 Shane Mannion10 Francie Cleary (0-01)11 Gavin McIntire 12 Ger McCullough (1-03) 13 Conor Doherty 14 Jason Kelly (1-01)15 Padraig McMahon (0-01)Subs Ronan Caffrey Sean Purcell, Declan Reilly, Brian Argue

Man of the Match Gary O’Driscoll (Leitrim)

Referee Lawrence McGrath

Second half wins it for Cork

Cork 0-14 Cavan 0-06

A dominant second half performance when Cork took over and rifled in the last six points of the game was enough to get the victory and a place e in the final against Leitrim in next weeks final. With an attack where Ger McCullough was clinical from frees and Francie Cleary a terror on the open paths Cork closed out the game brilliantly. They made hard work of the first half and had just a two point lead at the break, 0-04 to 0-02. The opening fifteen minutes of the second half were a struggle also as both sides added four to their total. When Cavan finally got moving the team was brilliant and on the strength of the second half display will start as favorites in next weeks final

Cavan 1 Alan Hearty 2 Ciaran Martin 3 Ciaran Shields 4 Patsy Martin 5 Nobbie Smith 6 Kevin Carden 7 Paul Lambe 8 Eoghan Carew 9 Alan Carolan 10 Brendan Reilly (0-01) 11 Kevin Smith (0-01) 12 Declan Fitzpatrick 13 Enda Lenard 14 Conor Brady 15 James Moynagh (0-01)

Cork 1 Gary Lowney 2 Dennis McCarthy 3 Alan Raftery 4 Jonathon McDermott 5 Brian Argue 6 Ciaran Kiely 7 Steve Garvey (0-01)8 Brendan Quigley 9 Sean Lordon 10 Francie Cleary (0-03)11 Gavin McIntire 12 Ger McCullough (0-06)13 Conor Doherty (0-01)14 Jason Kelly (0-03)15 Padraig McMahon Subs Ronan Caffrey Sean Purcell,

Man of the Match Jason Kelly (Cork)

Referee Sean Jones

Senior Football Semi Final

Leitrim move on

Leitrim 2-09 Down 2-05

Leitrim qualified for the Senior Football final with a dominating second half performance when they outscored Down 1-05 to 1-01. They were certainly helped by the red card to Eddie O’Reilly fifteen minutes into the second half and they then used the extra man to very good effect. Dermot Keane gave Leitrim an early lead with a well worked goal, and the sides then swapped the next six scores. As the first half reached the twenty minute mark, both sides had goal chances. Mike Creegan shot wide for Leitrim, while Pakie Downey crashed the ball to the net at the other end. Both sides had scores to end the half but it was all level at 1-04 a piece. Leitrim broke the game open with 1-03 in the first twelve minutes of the second half with Kenny O’Connor creating the goal for Dan Doona. Reilly received his red and despite 1-01 for Down with the goal a result of a penalty, Leitrim were able to easily withstand any attacks that Down created to get the win.

Leitrim 1 Pa Ryan 2 Dermot Keane (1-00)3 Stephen Brown 4 Lonan Maguire 5 John Goldrick (0-01)6 Ciaran Kelleher 7 Eoin O’Neill 8 Gary Driscoll 9 Pat Madden 10 Colm Cronin (0-01)11 Dan Doona (1-03)12 Mike Creegan 13 John O’Neill (0-02)14 Ken O’Connor (0-01) 15 Donal Kelleher (0-01)Subs Alan Foley Kieran Scanlon

Down 1 Mark Kelly 2 Brian Murray 3 John McCarthy 4 Dermot Hayes 5 Gary Cornyn 6 Brendan McGourty 7 Sean Kelly 8 Robbie Moran 9 Alan O’Hara 10 Mark Dobbin 11 Michael Sloan (0-03)12 Sean Munnelly 13 Eddie Reilly 14 Pakie Downey (1-01)15 Kevin O’Rourke (1-00) Subs Barry Annett, Brian Annett, Liam Farrell.

Man of the Match Gary Driscoll (Leitrim)

Referee John Fitzpatrick

Intermediate Football Final

Armagh 2-12 Mayo 0-18

These sides will have to do it ball again after a heart wrenching performance that had the good crowd on the edges of their seats. Mayo had an early 0-04 to 0-01 lead but Armagh used a goal from Seamus Toner when he robbed the defense and stormed forward to rattle the net, to get back into the contest. Alan Hearty had a point from a free while Mayo had a pair of scores from Sean Galvin and Emmitt Cooney to leave the Connaught men in front by the minimum at the break. It was so because Donal Hearty and Kieran Potter made brilliant saves at each end. Both sides had waves of pressure in the second half with Mayo grabbing four of the first six points before Armagh again used a goal to come back. This time it came from Shane Lyons when he was set free by Collie Fearan. A free by James Moynagh tied the game up at the very end with a free from forty yards out. Both sides had four points in added time but certainly a draw was a very fair result with the replay set for Tuesday evening.

Mayo 1 Kieran Potter 2 Mike Donnelly 3 Alan Looney 4 John Holloway 5 Ramie Keane 6 Conor O’Holloran 7 Dermot Keane (0-01) 8 Rory O’Neill (0-01)9 Brendan Finn 10 Emmitt Cooney (0-02)11 Sean Galvin (0-02)12 Mike Creegan (0-01)13 Ronan O’Boyle (0-10) 14 Michael Jennings 15 Ger O’Boyle (0-01) Subs Glen Galvin Liam McDonald

Armagh 1 Donal Hearty 2 Eddie Greenan 3 Patsy Martin 4 Collie Fearan 5 Aiden Morton 6 Sean Kelly (0-01)7 Shane McKeever 8 Kevin McGeeney (0-01)9 Seamus Toner (1-01) 10 Alan Hearty (0-03)11 Shane Lyons (1-00) 12 James Moynagh (0-03)13 Peter Hatzer (0-02) 14 Garth Kelly 15 Shane Moore Subs Brian Rodgers Michael Rodgers

By Mattie Lennon.

“My brother was telling me how one lovely Sunday morning he was taking a stroll outside San Francisco on the edge of the Pacific, when he saw, hurrying with little bundles under their oxters, men of rural Irish complex. Sometime later he came on a Gaelic football match in progress. Everything was as at home . . . not a man of them had ever left home and the mysterious Pacific was just a bog-hole gurgling with eels and frogs. Yet there was something queer and wonderful about the sight . . . or the thought” (Patrick Kavanagh)

Kavanagh was no great shakes as a goalie for Inniskeen Grattens and he even went so far as to argue that since Joyce only mentioned sport once in Ulysses, it couldn’t be very important. Yet he acknowledged that it was wonderful when Irish men brought their Gaelic games across the world. And they are doing it still.

In his, recently published book, Buses, Trains and Gaelic Games, John Cassidy tells us, “Like most young people growing up in Donegal in the early nineteen sixties, I dreamt of one day playing for my county in an All Ireland Football Final in Croke Park. I quickly realized, however, that I had neither the natural ability nor necessary talent for that dream to become a reality. But that did not stop me dreaming.

My introduction to Croke Park began when I was about six years old. My late father would always listen to the games on the radio: the wireless as it was known then. Each week he would bring the wet battery into Donegal town and have it re-charged.
Electricity arrived in rural Donegal in 1959/60. Our wireless was used sparingly i.e. news bulletins and a few other important programs which included the big matches in Croke Park.

As every house did not have a wireless, many of our neighbors would gather in our kitchen and listen to the late, great, Michael O ‘Heir as he gave a blow by blow account of games one hundred and fifty miles away.

Once the match was over we would assemble in McGettigan’s field and replay the game. Two older boys wouldselect the opposing teams: every one present was included which meant we often played twenty a side. As our pitch consisted of the entire field this was no problem.

With the goalposts (four jackets) in place the game would begin. It would end for one of the following reasons: Hunger, darkness or a pitch invasion by McGettigan’s cattle.

John Cassidy knew from an early age that Gaelic football was the preserve of (for the most part, poor) Irish Catholics. Didn’t his fellow Ulsterman, author/journalist, Cormac MacConnell confess to altering the “Mc” on his birth certificate in order to show that he was born into the kind of “starving Papish family that plays Gaelic football, rather than the wealthy Presbyterians of that era who played rugby?

Four decades later, in Dublin, while working as a supervisor with Dublin Bus, John recalled the words of that great American reformer and political activist W.E.B. Du Bois, who said:

“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line- the relation of the darker to the lighter races of men in Asia and Africa, in America and the islands of the sea”.

Dublin Bus employs a workforce taken from more than 50 countries and when it comes to raising multicultural awareness not only among his colleagues but worldwide, there is none more innovative than John Cassidy. He came up with a unique idea, took it to his bosses in Dublin bus and got 100% support. Drivers, Supervisors, Divisional Managers et al did all in their power to ensure that the Donegalman’s dream would become a reality.

Thanks to the overwhelming support and John’s foresight, tenacity, drive, Ulster cunning and cohesion, thirty Gaelic players lined out on the Dublin Bus pitch at Coldcut in west Dublin at 3pm on Thursday 06th November 2004. But this was be a game with a difference.

Referee, Tom Kitt, was the only Irishman on the field! Each of the three CIE companies, Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann and Irish Rail now has a Gaelic Football team. And it was from these after much thought, observation and enquiry that John Cassidy picked his teams.

Now, on 13th October 2010, he is taking his panel of players, all Irish this time and picked from the four Provinces, to Boston. The first time Transport Gaels played in the USA was the 19th October 2007, when they played teams from the NYPC and the New York Fire Department in Gaelic Park.

The committee certainly wouldn’t fall into Fred Allen’s description which defined a committee as “a group of men who individually can do nothing but as a group decide that nothing can be done”.

Martin Kenny is Chairman. He was the prime organizer of the first CIE/Ulster Bus inter-depot competition in 1978. He has given much valuable advice and assistance during the planning and organizing of this historic trip.

Mick Feterston, from Roscommon, who was a key player on Clontarf hurling and football teams for many years, is our physio.

Tom Kitt, member of a well-known political dynasty, referee and ardent supporter of Galway football, Damian Donovan, a loyal Dublin supporter, and Transport Gaels’ much-dreaded forward Aiden Tierney are joint treasurers.

Stephen Hackett, who made a name for himself with Cork Minors, is Secretary.

Peter Kearns, former Dublin hurler, is Assistant Secretary.

John Cassidy, the man who started it all, is Public Relations Officer. He can be contacted at johncassidy92@yahoo.com

Tom Dooley from Irish Rail is Liason Officer.

Mattie Lennon from west Wicklow is Director of Communications and Media.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, CIE Sports and Social Officer, gave the committee the full benefit of his fundraising experience.

John Brady, from Knock, County Mayo is team manager.

Uncle Sam will witness the result of the combined efforts of the above when a planeload of players and supporters (107 in all) touches down in Boston on the 13th of October.

CIE Transport Gaels will play a team from NYPD for the Moira Smith Perpetual Cup. Moira Smith was the only female police officer to die at the World Trade Center on that tragic day. Her father came from Larkfield Gardens in Dublin.

They will also play a Boston selection and, like on all their foreign trips, they will raise funds for a local charity.

On the night before homecoming, all 107 visitors will assemble at a well known “Irish” venue in Boston, each wearing his or her county jersey.

Francis M. Cornfard said that nothing should ever be done for the first time. Well, “first” is John Cassidy’s middle name. The “multi-culture” match in Coldcut in 2004 was a definite first and on Saturday 2nd February 2008 he brought his team to Omagh to meet a team from Ulster Bus at the Tattireagh/Saint Patrick’s ground. It was the first time a CIE team had played north of the border. .

2008 was the first time the Gaels played in America, and who knows what “first” he has up his sleeve for next October?

Commenting on the historic trip, Dublin Bus Chief executive Joe Meaghar said:

“As a Kilkenny man, I am a staunch supporter of GAA I was very proud to play for Donnybrook and Dublin Bus in the Inter Depot and Inter Firms competitions in the 80s. It is great to see a revival of Gaelic games in Dublin Bus and CIE and I am delighted that for the first time a football team will represent us in Boston this October. All participating can be very proud to represent CIE in these games, and I wish the team every success.”

When jerseys are being exchanged and the post-mortem is getting under way in Canton Park in October (win lose or draw), as John Cassidy stands behind the fruits of his labor he’ll be secure in the knowledge that there is no danger of a pitch-invasion by Mc. Gettigan’s cattle!

14 September 2010

2010 NACB PLAYOFFS SUMMARY
By Eamonn Kelly

Several thousand hurling, football and camogie fans thronged to Chicago Gaelic Park over the Labor Day weekend for the 2010 North American County Board national playoffs. It was the biggest NACB playoffs in the history of the county with 87 games played over the 3-day weekend. Sixty eight teams representing 27 cities across the U.S. as well as a team from Vancouver, Canada played in this year’s championship playoffs. Played in perfect weather conditions, the huge tournament was a tremendous success thanks to an excellently coordinated program organized by the Chicago Central Divisional Board under the chairmanship of Gareth Fitzsimons, the playoff committee headed by Tom Dolan and Val McMahon, and the NACB under the chairmanship of Joe Lydon. With the participation of Vancouver in the junior A championship it was the first time in 36 years that a Canadian team was part of the NACB championship. In addition to the regular championships, 4 shield competitions were runoff in junior men’s football, ladies football, junior hurling and camogie. The staging of these shield competitions has proven to be a most popular venture among clubs and players, given that it provides a minimum of two games to teams knocked out in their first round championship games. The only disappointment of the weekend was the failure of several Boston teams to participate in this years playoffs. Of seven qualifying teams only two, Connemara Gaels men’s footballers and Shamrock ladies footballers, made the trip to Chicago.

On the field of play a major achievement was the winning of two of the four senior NACB championships by San Francisco teams, Sean Treacy’s in men’s football and Naomh Padraig in hurling. Three additional titles went to San Francisco, intermediate men’s football, junior B hurling and all-American men’s football. History was created with the following clubs capturing their first national title: San Francisco Treacy’s, Chicago Cusack’s, Baltimore Hibernians, Detroit St. Anne’s and Philadelphia Mairead Farrell’s.

In addition to San Francisco, six other cities shared the winning circle. Chicago teams had a very successful weekend, taking titles in junior C hurling, junior B men’s football, junior A ladies football and camogie A. Two championships were captured by Philadelphia teams in, senior ladies football and Intermediate ladies football. The following cities captured one title: Austin – junior D men’s football; Milwaukee – camogie B; Detroit – junior B ladies football; Vancouver – junior A hurling; Washington DC – camogie C.

Following is a summary of the various championships

HURLING
For the first time in several years no semi-finals were played in senior hurling resulting in a final between the Chicago and San Francisco champions. In a most entertaining game, San Francisco Naomh Padraig overcame a great challenge from Chicago Limerick winning by 5 points to take their second title, the first since 1997.

Naomh Padraig also competed for the junior A championship with their opponents being newcomers, Vancouver. In a marvelous final the Canadian team gave a top class performance to win with a 4 point margin, bringing the first NACB title to a Canadian city since 1978.

2009 junior C champions San Francisco Rovers continue to impress and with onesided victories over Seattle and Denver to captured the B title this year will now challenge for the A championship next year. Best game in this disvision was between the Denver Gaels and Atlanta Clan Na Gael with Gaels winning by a margin of 4 points.

The all-American born junior C hurling division provided one of the most compeitive and exciting championships of the playoffs with 7 cites competing for the title. The Chicago Cusack’s, just a couple of years in existence, won their first NACB championship with wins over Akron, Milwaukee, Portland and St. Louis. Perhaps, the most exciting game seen in some time was that between St. Louis and Milwaukee with St. Louis the winners, 7-6 to 6-7. St. Louis was also part of a most thrilling semi-final with Allentown PA winning by 2 points, 4-8 to 4-6. However, they lost to the Cusacks by a 11 point margin in the final.

MEN’S FOOTBALL
With Boston Champions Donegal not participating in this year’s playoffs only one sem-final was on the schedule, that between Philadelphia Kevin Barry’s and Chicago’s Parnells. It was a most enjoyable match with little between the teams throughout the contest. While the Philadelphia team deservedly won the game by the narrowest of margins, Parnells had every opportunity to win the game or at least force extra time with 3 close range frees in injury time, but failed to convert.
Five goals by San Francisco Sean Treacy’s in the opening quarter denied the potential of a great game between themselves and the Barry’s in the final as there was little between the sides throught the remaining three quarters of the game. Despite this 15 point deficit so early in the game the Philadelphia team fought hard for the rest of the contest going down to the score of 5-9 to 1-8, giving Sean Treacy’s their first NACB championship.

A San Francisco team was also triumphant in the intermediate championship with the Celts recording a 10 point win over their only opponents, Philadelphia Young Irelanders.

There was no winner in the junior A championship as an objection by Chicago McBrides over their victors San Francisco Ulster was followed by a counter objection by the Ulster club, resulting in both team being found in violation of summer sanction rules by the NACB.

Former junior C champions Chicago Patriots continue their progress with impressive displays to capture the junior B championship with a one point win over Detroit Wolfe Tones in a most competitive final.

While Philadelphia St. Patrick’s defeated Austin Celtic Cowboy’s in the junior C final by the score of 2-8 to 1-2 an objection by the Austin club was upheld by the NACB and their team was declared the winner of the C championship.

Teams representing 8 cities competed in the junior D championship with the Baltimore Bohemians being the eventual winners to take their first ever national championship. They had a reasonably easy passage to the title with big wins over St. Louis, Phoenix and Mason Dixon in the final. The most competitive game was that between Mason Dixon and Twin Cities with the Maryland team winning by the score of 3-10 to 3-6. This competition included for the first time a team from the Chicago Fire Department.

The All American men’s football championship continues it’s growth in popularitywith six teams from different regions of the country, including the Chicago Fire Department, competing this year. A Western divisional team defeated a Philadlphia divisional squad in the final to capture the beautiful Stephen Breen Memorial trophy.

LADIES FOOTBALL:
After a lapse of 13 years the ladies football senior cup goes back to Philadelphia as the Mariead Farrells club is gradually taking the place of the great Emerald Eagles team of the mid 90′s, who won 4 consecutive national titles. The Philadelphia team was very impressive in defeating 2009 winners Fog City Harps by a large margin in the final.

A Philadelphia team also captured the intermediate championship with the Notre Dame club defeating their only opponents, Washington DC Gaels, by a big margin in the final.

Teams from Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Charlotte and San Francisco competed for the junior “A” trophy. Most games were one-sided with the exception of the final in which Chicago St. Brigid’s overcame a fine challenge from San Francisco Clan Na Gael to regain the trophy they last won in 2007.

A similar pattern existed in the junior B championship where the final turned out to be the best game of the series in which Detroit St. Anne’s defeated San Diego Na Fianna by 3 point to win the club’s first ever national title

CAMOGIE
The camogie championships were run on a different format than in previous years. Applying a round robin system three finals were played to determine winners in A, B and C divisions.

The weekend activities came to an end with a reception on Sunday night at Gaelic Park. Guest speakers from Ireland were, Sean Walsh, Chairman of the Munster Council, Joe McDonagh, chairman of the GAA International Committee and former GAA President, Pat Quill, President of Ladies Football Association. They all paid tribuute to the wonderful Gaelic Park facilities, and congratulated the Chicago Central divisional board and its playoff committee along with the North American Board officers for their contribution to the success of a wonderful weekend.

Following are all the scores from the 2010 NACB playoffs:

2010 North American County Board GAA Playoffs Results

Senior Hurling:
Final – San Francisco Naomh Padraig 3-14 Chicago Limerick 1-15

Junior A Hurling:

Quarter- final
Milwaukee 2-10 Los Angeles St. Pat’s 2-8

Semi-finals
Vancouver 7-27 Washington DC 0-4
San Francisco Naomh Padraig 3-9 Milwaukee 1-11

Final
Vancouver 3-14 San Francisco Naomh Padraig 2-13

Junior B Hurling:

Quarer-finals
Denver Gaels 2-11 Atlanta Clan Na Gael 1-10
Indianapolis 3-12 Philadelphia Shamrocks 0-3
San Francisco Rovers 2-19 Seattle 1-5

Semi-finals
Denver 2-12 Twin Cities 1-3
San Francisco Rovers 1-9 Indianapolis 0-11

Final
San Francisco Rovers 3-13 Denver 1-4

Junior C Hurling:
Preliminary Rounds
Seattle 0-1 Indianapolis 4-4
St. Louis 1-10 Madison 2-3
Akron 2-7 Chicago Cusacks 2-15

Quarter-finals
Indianapolis 2-2 Philadelphia Allentown 2-8
St. Louis 7-6 Milwaukee 6-7
Chicago Cusacks 4-12 Milwaukee 1-2
Portland 4-9 Denver 1-3

Semi-finals
St. Louis 4-8 Allentown 4-6
Chicago Cusacks 1-15 Portland 0-0

Final
Chicago Cusacks 4-17 St. Louis 4-6

Men’s Senior Football:
Semi-final
Chicago Parnells 1-10 Philadelphia Kevin Barry’s 1-11

Final
San Francisco Sean Treacy’s 5-9 Philadelphia Kevin Barry’s 0-8

Men’s Intermediate Football
Final
San Francisco Celtics 1-9 Philadelphia Young Irelanders 1-6

Men’s Junior A Football
Quarter-final
Chicago McBride’s 3-10 Philadelphia St. Patrick’s 2-5

Semi-finals
San Diego Setanta 0-8 Chicago McBride’s 0-15
San Francisco Ulster 5-18 Pittsburgh 0-7

Final
San Francisco Ulster 2-21 Chicago McBrides 0-11
(objections sustained – no winner)

Men’s Junior B Football
Quarter-finals
Boston Connemara Gaels 0-8 Chicago Patriots 3-13
Washington DC Gaels 1-3 Philadelphia Young Ireland’s 0-11
Detroit Wolfe Tones w.o. Los Angeles Wild Geese forfeit
Charlotte James Connelly 2-4 Cleveland St. Jarlath’s 1-13

Semi-finals
Detroit Wolfe Tones 3-12 Cleveland St. Jarleth’s 2-8
Chicago Patiots 2-8 Philadelphia Young Ireland’s 2-3

Final
Chicago Patriots 1-8 Detroit Wolfe Tones 2-4

Men’s Junior C Football
Quarter-finals
Austin Celtic Cowboys 4-15 Chicago Cusacks 0-2
San Diego Setanta 1-10 Denver 1-3

Semi-final
Philadelphia St. Patrick’s 1-5 San Diego Setanta 0-6
Final
Philadelphia St. Patrick’s 2-8 Austin Celtic Cowboys 1-2
(Austin declared winner following objection)

Men’s Junior D Football
Preliminary Rounds
Baltimore 2-10 St. Louis 1-5
Phoenix 6-4 Atlanta 2-3

Quarter-finals
Phoenix 5-11 Chicago Fire Dpt. 1-6
Buffalo 1-2 Mason Dixon 2-8
Kansas City 0-4 Twin Cities 3-8

Semi-finals
Baltimore 4-19 Phoenix 0-1
Mason Dixon 3-10 Twin Cities 3-6

Final
Baltimore 2-12 Mason Dixon 1-5

All-American Football

Quarter-finals
Philadelphia 2-15 Buffalo 3-7 (extra time)
Western 1-19 Mid-Atlantic 0-2

Semi-finals
Western 1-15 Cleveland St.Pat’s 1-1
Philadelphia 2-19 Chicago Fire Dpt. 1-2

Final
Western 3-16 Philadelphia 2-2
Over 40′s Men’s Football

Final
East 7-7 West 1-1

Ladies Senior Football

Final
Philadelphia Mairead Farrells 3-19 San Francisco Fog City Harps 1-4

Ladies Intermediate Football

Semi-finals
Philadelphia Notre Dame 4-12 Washington DC Gaels 0-3

Ladies Junior A Football

Quarter-final
Atlanta Clan Na nGael 2-1 San Francisco Clan NA nGael 2-14

Semi-Finals

San Francisco Clan Na Gael 2-12 Boston Shamrocks 0-1
Charlotte James Connelly 0-8 Chicago St. Brigids 3-7

Final

San Francisco Clan Na Gael 2-5 Chicago St. Brigid’s 4-9

Ladies Junior B Football:

Quarter-finals
Denver 0-3 Chicago Rovers 1-5

Semi-finals
San Diego Na Fianna 11-15 Baltimore 0-0
Detroit St. Anne’s 3-5 Chicago Rovers 1-2

Final
San Diego Na Fianna 1-5 Detroit St. Anne’s 1-8

Camogie (round robin)
Washington DC Gaels 3-1 Denver/Seattle 2-2

A Final
Chicago St. Mary’s 4-11 San Francisco Shamrocks 3-3

B Final
Milwaukee 1-2 Denver 1-0

C Final
Washington DC Gaels 5-2 St. Louis 0-1

Shield Competitions

Jr. B Hurling
Final
Seattle 3-7 Twin Cities 2-5

Jr. C Hurling
Milwaukee 2-9 Indianapolis 0-4
Madison 0-6 Denver 0-1
Akron 3-14 Seattle 1-9

Final
Akron 4-8 Milwaukee 4-4

Men’s Jr. B Football
Charlotte 1-11 Washington DC 1-8
Boston Connemara Gaels 2-20 L.A. Wild Geese 2-2

Final
Boston Connemara Gaels 0-21 Charlotte 1-1

Men’s Jr. C/D Football
Buffalo 2-6 Kansas City 0-11
St. Louis 4-8 Atlanta 2-5
Denver 7-7 Buffalo 1-3
St. Louis 7-12 Chicago Fire Dpt. 0-1

Final
Denver 1-6 St. Louis 0-4

Ladies Jr. Football
San Francisco Fog City 2-12 Atlanta 1-7

Final
San Francisco Fog City 2-6 Denver 1-5

Eamonn Kelly – PRO NACB

Limerick hurlers will again represent the Central division in this years playoffs following a one point victory, 1-17 to 0-19, over Harry Bolands in a thrilling final at Gaelic Park last Sunday. No more than 2 points separated the teams for most of this t exciting encounter. A pointed free from almost 80 yards from Corkman Peter O’Brien in the final moment broke the deadlock to give Limerick their narrow victory.

Another thrilling game was the ladies junior A football final between St. Bridgets and Aishling Gaels. Thanks to a last minute goal by their star forward, Ailish Rispen, the Bridget’s defeated the Gaels by 2 points, 4-6 to 3-7, to qualify for the NACB playoffs.

In two onesided finals, Parnells had an easy win over Padraig Pearse to take the men’s senior football title while the Patriots had little difficulty in defeating Padraig Pearse in the men’s junior B football final.

The following teams will represent Chicago Central Division in the playoffs:

Senior Football – Parnells

Junior A Football – McBrides

Junior B Football – Patriots

Junior D Football – Twin Cities, Kansas City, St. Louis

Senior Hurling – Limerick

Junior A Hurling – Milwaukee

Junior B Hurling – Twin Cities

Junior C Hurling – Cusacks, Indianapolis, St Louis

Ladies Junior A Football – St. Bridgets

Camogie – St. Mary’s

2010 North American County Board GAA Playoffs

For the first time since 2007 Chicago Gaelic Park will host this year’s North American County Board championship playoffs over the Labor Day weekend (Sept 3-5). Based on team affiliations and the number of divisional teams that have qualified for national championships it is emerging to be the biggest NACB playoffs ever staged.

Seventy eight teams representing twenty two cities will be participating in this Gaelic sports extravaganza which gets under way on Friday, September 3rd at 9:00 a.m. Teams from towns and cities such as Allentown PA, Portland MN, Westminster MD, Kansas City MI, and Alexandria MD that did not participate in the last playoffs at Gaelic park will be competing this year. Over 90 games are scheduled to be played in this years tournament. For the first time im many years a team from Canada will participate in the NACB playoff with the entry of Vancouver in the junior A hurling division.

A special playoff committee headed by Val McMahon, Tom Dolan former American County Board Chairman and current Youth Officer, and the Chicago Central division under the chairmanship of Garrett Fitzsimmons are completing arrangements for the playoffs, which is expected to attract about 6,000 fans over the course of the holiday weekend. It is anticipated that about two thousand people from out-of-town will be attending the games.

Besides the main Gaelic Park field, five additional fields adjacent to the main complex have been prepared to facilitate the huge tournament.

Following is the schedule for the 2010 NACB playoffs:

Senior Hurling:
Semi-finals
Boston Tipperary Vs Chicago Limerick
Chicago Harry Bolands Vs San Francisco Naomh Padraig

Junior A Hurling:
Quarter- finals
Vancouver Vs Washington DC
Milwaukee Vs Los Angeles St. Pat’s
Semi-finals
Boston Fr. Tom’s Vs Vancouver or Washington DC
San Francisco Naomh Padraig Vs Milwaukee or Los Angelas

Junior B Hurling:
Quarer-finals
Twin Cities Vs Celtic Cowboys
Denver Gaels Vs Atlanta Clan Na Gael
Indianapolis Vs Philadelphia Shamrocks
San Francisco Rovers Vs Seattle

Junior C Hurling:
Preliminary Rounds
Seattle Vs Indianapolis
St. Louis Vs Madison
Akron Vs Chicago Cusacks

Quarter-finals
Seattle or Indianapolis Vs Philadelphia Allentown
St. Louis or Madison Vs Milwaukee
Akron or Chicago Vs New Hampshire
Portland Vs Denver

Men’s Senior Football:
Semi-finals
Chicago Parnells Vs Philadelphia Kevin Barry’s
Boson Donegal Vs San Francisco Sean Treacy’s

Men’s Intermediate Football
Final
Philadelphia Young Ireland’s Vs San Francisco

Men’s Junior A Football
Quarter-final
Chicago McBrides Vs Philadelphia St. Patrick’s
Semi-finals
San Diego Setanta Vs Chicago or Philadelphia
Boston McAnespies Vs San Francisco Ulster

Men’s Junior B Football
Quarter-finals
Boston Connemara Gaels Vs Chicago Patriots
Washington DC Gaels Vs Philadelphia Young Ireland’s
Detroit Wolfe Tones Vs Los Angeles Wild Geese
Charlotte James Connelly Vs Cleveland St. Jarlaths

Men’s Junior C Football
Quarter-final
Northeast Vs Philadelphia St. Patrick’s
Semi-finals
Austin Vs Central
Northeast or Philadelphia Vs San Diego Setanta
Men’s Junior D Football
Preliminary Rounds
Baltimore Vs St. Louis
Phoenix Vs Atlanta
Quarter-finals
Baltimore or St. Louis Vs Denver
Phoenix or Atlanta Vs Chicago Fire Dpt.
Buffalo Fenians Vs Mason Dixon
Kansas City Vs Twin Cities

All-American Football
Preliminary Round
Philadelphia Vs Pittsburgh Celtics
Quarter-finals
Northeast Vs Western
Mid-Atlantic Vs St Louis
Chicago Patriots Vs Cleveland St. Pats
Philadelphia or Pittsburgh Vs Chicago Fire Dpt.

Over 40′s Men’s Football
Final
East Vs West

Ladies Senior Football
Final
Boston Vs San Francisco Fog City Harps

Ladies Intermediate Football
Semi-finals
San Francisco Vs Washington DC

Ladies Junior A Football
Quarter-final
Atlanta Clan Na nGael Vs San Francisco Clan NA nGael
Semi-Final
Atlanta or San Francisco Vs Boston Shamrocks
Charlotte James Connelly Vs Chicago St. Brigids

Ladies Junior B Football:
Quarter-finals
Atlanta Na Fianna Vs Baltimore Bohemians
Denver Vs Central
San Diego Vs Detriot St. Anne’s

Note: Camogie schedule not yet confirmed.

Aug. 28
S. F. Cork 0-13 v Down 0-08

Aug.29
J. F. St. Barnabas 1-10 v Cavan 1-05
I. F. Astoria Gaels 2-11 v Roscommon 1-06
S. F. Tyrone 1-17 v Donegal 1-11
J. F. Celtics 1-12 v St. Raymonds 1-09

1:00 J. F. Play-off game #46 v Barnabas v Raymonds
2:30 J. F. Play-off game #47 v Cavan v Celtics
4:00 I. F. Play-off game #29 v Astoria v Bklyn./LI
5:30 I. F. Play-off game #30 v Dublin v Kerry