Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge

Group B

KERRY 1-23 CLARE SAFFRONS 2-15

By John Condon

Kerry maintained their winning start to this year's Celtic Challenge competition with a victory over Clare Saffrons in Knockaderry GAA Club on Wednesday night. Following on impressive wins over Limerick Sarsfield’s and West Cork in their opening two matches, the Kingdom were made to fight all the way in an entertaining match.

Clare Saffrons started well with Cormac Murphy notching 1-1 in the opening minutes. Three impressive points from Andrew Conheady along with pointed frees from team captain Jack Corry and Andrew Considine were countered by a brace of points each by Kerry's David Godley, Nathan Guerin and Colin Walsh.

A brilliantly finished goal to the Kerry net by Darragh Toomey threatened to see Clare pull away, but the next score was a goal from Kerry's Colm Healy. That goal, deflated the Clare team and saw Kerry finish the half strongly with five points from five different scorers. Andrew Conheady tagged on two further points for the Clare Saffrons to leave a point between the sides at half-time in favour of Kerry, 1-12 to 2-8.

The second half saw a display of excellent point taking on both sides. Kerry's Colin Walsh added to his personal tally with three good points while David Godley continued a strong display with two further points and was awarded the Best & Fairest award for his team. Jack Sheehan, Dillion Moriarty and Rory McAuliffe all impressed during the half for Kerry also.

For Clare, Padraic Geraghty defended heroically, while Adam Breen did his utmost to keep his team in touch with two fine scores from the half back line. Conor Flynn and Shane Punch who led the forwards well, from the time he came on, also raised white flags. Needing a goal to try and get something out of the match Clare pushed hard with Jack Corry and Sean Keane going close, but Kerry closed the game out well with goalkeeper Michael Horgan and Jack Foley prominent in defence.

**Scorers for Kerry: **David Godley 0-7, Colin Walsh 0-6, , Colm Healy 1-2, Nathan Guerin 0-3, Dillion Moriarty, Nathan O'Driscoll, Jack Sheehan 0-2 each, Eric Daly 0-1.

Scorers for Clare: Andrew Conheady 0-5, Cormac Murphy 1-1, Darragh Toomey 1-0, Jack Corry 0-3, Adam Been, Andrew Considine 0-2 each, Conor Flynn, Shane Punch 0-1 each.

Group C

OFFALY 1-12 WEXFORD 3-6

By Lynne Hutchinson

Offaly travelled to the National GAA Games Development Centre in Abbottstown on Wednesday the 16th of May for the third round of the Celtic Challenge competition against Wexford.  Ciaran Mannion was replaced by Joe Ryan in the only change made to the starting 15.

Both teams were struggling to get into the game resulting in a very low scoring first half. It took nearly eight minutes before the first score was put on the scoreboard courtesy of a free taken by Mark Cahill. Wexford decided to come back with a goal only a couple of minutes later. With 10 minutes left in the first half Offaly made some substitutions hoping to get a few more scores before the half-time whistle, but instead Wexford got another goal and two points leaving Offaly with a lot to think about at half-time.

Wexford got the first score of the second half after a minute in, but although eight points down Offaly never gave up and fought back hard and strong. Mark Cahill got Offaly’s first two points of the second half followed soon after by a superb point by Joe Ryan. With Offaly starting to dominate the second half and winning the opposition puck outs, it meant they were closing the gap quick and fast.

Wexford only got four points in the second half all of which came from play, while Mark Kennedy and Dan Murray both got two points each from play for Offaly. There was only six minutes left in the match when Offaly got a penalty.

Gearóid McCormack came up from his centre back position to take the penalty and ensure it was buried in the back of the net and that is exactly what he did making this anyone’s game. Offaly got another point from Mark Kennedy just before Wexford stuck back with a goal that could have been avoided by Offaly and putting Wexford ahead by two points. In injury time and Offaly received a 65 that Mark Cahill had no problem popping straight over the bar. Fortunately for Offaly they received a free which Mark Cahill did not hesitate putting over the bar resulting in a draw match. 

Well done to Niall Lyons on winning the Best and Fairest award for Offaly and a speedy recovery to Peter Cleary, who got a nasty injury during the match.

Best and Fairest Players: Niall Lyons (Offaly) and Jim Finn (Wexford).

Group E

CORK CITY 0-15 WATERFORD 0-15

By Eoin Breathnach

In a game that both teams feel they could and possibly should have won, a draw was probably a fair result as both sides gained their opening points of this year’s competition. Played in CIT Sports ground on a warm evening this game was a tight, tough game where - although the scoring rate was lower than previous games - the hurling was good and enjoyable to watch for those in attendance.

Cork City had the better of the opening half and were ahead by more than 1 score on a couple of occasions with some very good point taking from distance giving them a 0-10 to 0-7 interval lead.

Credit to the Déise lads staring a third defeat in a row in the eye they responded really well in the second half and came very close to getting the full points for the much-needed win they were looking for. Waterford had drawn level and went ahead as the game as the game entered injury time. A last gasp point from Cork was followed by the final whistle from the Referee and a share of the spoils.

Best and Fairest player for Waterford on the night was Ciarán Power from Ballygunner, who made an excellent contribution in attack including some lovely scores and link up play.

Waterford play Kilkenny in Walsh Park next Wednesday 23rd May at 7.30pm where they will hope to continue the improvement shown last week. This is the final round robin game for the Déise and they will then have a knockout game to look forward to in early June. Cork City have two further games left against South Tipperary on Wednesday 23rd May and Kilkenny on Wednesday 6th June.

Group F

LEITRIM 4-15 MONAGHAN 3-14

A spirited Monaghan performance was not enough to deny a more classy and clinical Leitrim in the second round of the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge on Wednesday night.

Played in sun-drenched conditions in Ballyconnell, Leitrim and Monaghan shared seven goals in a high-tempo clash that produced some brilliant individual performances.

Monaghan raised the first green flag inside four minutes, with Ciaran Slevin tapping in from close range. However, Leitrim soon found their rhythm and outscored Monaghan by 1-3 to a point in the next 10 minutes.

It got even worse for Monaghan when Leitrim bagged their second goal on 18 minutes following some great build-up play.

The Farneymen did rally, however, with points from Ciaran Slevin and Niall McKenna, but were still five in arrears at half time, 2-9 to 1-7.

The second half started with both teams scoring a point each before Leitrim scored a fortuitous third goal, from a long range free that dropped straight into the net. Monaghan were not finished yet however, and a goal and a point from Ciaran Slevin brought the team back to within five points, 12 minutes into the second half.

Three minutes later, Monaghan scored their third goal through Shane Slevin, and the margin was reduced to the minimum with 15 minutes to play, 3-12 to 3-11. That was as good as it got for Monaghan though. Despite keeping the gap at one point until the 54th minute, Leitrim scored a fourth goal to end the match as a contest.

Group G

GALWAY TRIBESMEN 5-17 MAYO 0-7

By Tháigh Morley

On a perfect evening for hurling two teams met in Sylane in this year’s Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge. Galway started the game the stronger, hitting three quick points from play within the first five minutes - with scores from O Reilly, Mahon and Walsh - before Mayo’s Shane Morrisroe turned on a six pence to hit the Yew men’s first score. 

As the first half progressed, so did Galway’s strength in the game. All plays started from Galway’s centre-back Cian Naughton, who worked well to pick out passes in to Galway’s attacking forwards.  Through this clever play, Galway worked quick ball into their full-forward line and Phelim O’Reilly scored the opening goal of the game.

On the 14th minute of the game, the Tribesmen had a free on 21metre line, Galway’s full-forward went for goal with Mayo’s corner-back, Josh Howard, reacting quickest with a great save and clearance. Mayo lost possession from the clearance, and Galway’s Karl Healy took his point from 65 metres out.  

In the 20th minute Mayo’s Mathew Walsh won a breaking ball on the opposition 65m line and worked a fantastic score from 45m out on the run. The score served to bring more confidence to the Mayo team and they started to attack, pointing two scores before Mayo’s Best & Fairest player, Paddy Dozio, scored a point from a sideline cut. At half-time the scoreline was Galway Tribesmen 2-10, Mayo 0-5.

Straight from the second-half throw-in, Mayo went on the attack and their captain Luke Connor was fouled 25 metres from goal. Mayo’s shaper shooter Oisin Greally tapped over the score.  This score seem to spur Mayo on and while they dominated possession for the next 10 minutes they were only able to break the very strong Galway deference through an excellent score from Oisin Greally, which left his tally at four points for the day. As the second half progressed, the heat took its toll on both teams with benches being emptied.  Galway’s strength and depth in panel come through and they finished much the strong scoring 3-4 unanswered in the last 10 of the second half.

On the night there were two men, who were head and shoulders above the rest and this was Galway’s Karl Healy and Mayo’s Paddy Dozio. Both won the Best and Fairest awards as decided by the Match Officials.

Others showing great skills were Mayo’s Josh Howard, Danny Hill, Shane Morrisroe, Oisin Greally and Galway’s Darragh Mahon, Niall Kelly, Cian Naughton, Fintan Donnellan and Phelim O Reilly.

**Best and Fairest Players: **Karl Healy (Galway) and Paddy Dozio (Mayo).

See www.gaa.ie/celticchallenge for fixtures, results and the full list of Best & Fairest Recipients.