Ulster Senior Football Club Championship 2010

[drici]

16-01-11 (Sunday)
All Ireland Senior Football Championship
Quarter Final
Neasden Gaels v Crossmaglen Rangers
1-30pm   Ruislip
Referee: Michael Duffy
Extra Time if required


Neasden Gaels can enjoy the Dinner Dance now with no match the next day.

[Slicker]

Great effort from Cross, Oisin flying along with all their young boys. Been impressed with morgan, mckenna, hanratty (suprisingly) , mckeown. Hopefully they do well in the All Ireland series.

[drici]

Fourth Cross visit to Ruislip


All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter Final

Neasden Gaels (Londain) v Crossmaglen Rangers (Ard Macha)
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligeach) (Extra Time if Necessary)


Having captured their eighth Ulster Club title in December Crossmaglen Rangers will visit Ruislip for the fourth time during those triumphs to take on the London champions in a quarter final match in the All-Ireland series. While the whole world, except those involved with Sunday's opponents Neasden Gaels, expect nothing but a win for the Ulster champions the gulf between the London champions and their Provincial opponents is narrowing year by year.

The Irish representatives are in a no win situation in that they are expected to win comfortably and if they do not questions are asked of them in other quarters. Rangers first two visits in 1998 and 2004 were pre-Christmas but their last one in 2008 was in January. Sunday's game was to be played last December but the snow put paid to that hence the upcoming visit on Sunday has added importance. The Leinster final between Kilmacud and Rhode also fell victim to the weather and with the winners of that match due to meet the winners of the Ruislip encounter, a meaningful match to fill the void before the semi-final will be welcomed by Cross.

By their own high standards Cross will be the first to admit that they have reached this stage of the competition without putting a complete full hour shift to compliment their ability. Still with patch performances and key players missing Rangers have disposed of some very useful opponents to earn their trip to London. Key attackers Oisin McConville and Jamie Clarke were at various stages of the Armagh and Ulster Championships unavailable through suspension but paired together for the Ulster Final their value was seen at it's potent best as they bagged a goal apiece in the defeat of Donegal Champions Naomh Conaill.

Cross warmed up for Sunday's match with a run out against Ollscoil Bhéal Feirsde but were without the services of the honeymooning Stephen Kernan. Stephen is expected to be available for the Ruislip game as is Oisin McConville who is getting married the following weekend.

Having lost the two previous London finals Neasden, under manager Fergal Cunningham (Waterford) and selectors Kevin Moore (Derry) and Enda Barrett (Mayo) with Johnny Wilson (Cork) as trainer, made the breakthrough in 2010 by beating Parnell's 1-7 to 0-6 to win the title. Based in Kingsbury, North London, Neasden Gaels under the chairmanship of Brian Mulry are regarded as a professional progressive tight knit club.

The team, which defeated Parnell's in the final had 4 Ulster men on their starting 15, defenders Keith Geraghty (Munterconnacht, Cavan), Phil McCone (Ballymacnab, Armagh), midfielder duo Conor McGoldrick (Naomh Treasa, Antrim) and Aidan Flanagan (An Riocht, Down).Substitutes Tomas Dougan (Pearse Og, Armagh) and Dannie O'Connor (Drumsurn, Derry) were used in the final.

Corner forward Stephen Lynch, a Carlow native, is their chief freetaker and topscored in the final with 5 points, all from frees.

An all Galway half forward line of Matthew and Paul Geraghty along with J Raftery work tirelessly for their team mates in both getting and setting up scores. The London champions are Captained by a Sligo man, Barry McDonagh, who will be hoping to put the shackles on Oisin.

Corner forward Stephen Lynch, a Carlow native, is their chief freetaker and topscored in the final with 5 points, all from frees.

An all Galway half forward line of Matthew and Paul Geraghty along with J Raftery work tirelessly for their team mates in both getting and setting up scores. The London champions are Captained by a Sligo man, Barry McDonagh, who will be hoping to put the shackles on Oisin.

On their first visit to London Cross beat Tir Chonaill Gaels 1-18 to 0-8. The second visit saw Kingdom Kerry Gaels beaten 2-10 to 1-9 and 2 years ago Tir Chonaill Gaels only lost out 0-10 to 0-6. As previously mentioned this is a non winner for Cross. Rangers management will be looking for only two things on Sunday a win and a clean bill of health and they will consider this a job well done regardless of what sort of game it is in Ruislip. Over the course of the last three games played by Cross in Ruislip there are many reasons to treat this match with trepidation, none least than the physicality of the hosts which, at times, can be over exhuberant.



MATCH STATISTICS

Dec 13 1998 -Crossmaglen Rangers 1-18 Tir Chonaill Gaels (London) 0-08-M Collins- Ruislip

Dec 5 2004 -Crossmaglen Rangers 2-10 Kingdom Kerry Gaels (London) 1-09-P Fox-Ruislip

Jan 27 2008 -Crossmaglen Rangers 0-10 Tir Chonaill Gaels (London) 0-06-S McCormick-Ruislip



Neasden Gaels 2-8 Tara 0-9

Parnells 2-8 Neasden Gaels 2-8

Neasden Gaels 1-11 Fulham Irish 0-3

Semi Finals

Neasden Gaels 4-8 St Kiernans 0-10

Parnells 0-8 Tir Chonaill Gaels 0-7

Final

Neasden Gaels 1-07 Parnells 0-6

Scorers — Neasden Gaels: S Lynch 0-5 (0-5f), P Geraghty 1-0, B Comer, T Gaughan 0-1 each. Parnells: D O'Sullivan 0-6 (0-5f); D O'Donovan 0-1.

Neasden Gaels Panel– Joe McNamara (Corofin, Galway) Cal O'Flynn (Moyvane, Kerry), Keith Geraghty (Munterconnacht, Cavan), Barry McDonagh Capt (Curry, Sligo); Phil McCone Ballymacnab, Armagh), Tony Gaughan (Kiltane, Mayo), Barry Comer (Dunboyne, Meath); Conor McGoldrick (Naomh Treasa, Antrim), AidanFlanagan (An Riocht, Down); Matthew Geraghty (Ballygar, Galway), Paul Geraghty (Glenamaddy, Galway) J Raftery (Oranmore-Maree, Galway); David Carty (Blackhall Gaels, Meath), Peadar Friel (Barna, Galway), Stephen Lynch (Rathvilly, Carlow). Subs: Tomas Dougan (Pearse Og, Armagh) Ciaran McGann (Kenagh, Longford) Dannie O'Connor (Drumsurn, Derry).

[DrinkingHarp]

Is the Cross/Neasden match online live?

[DrinkingHarp]

Is the Cross/Neasden match online live?

I have the audio on five fm - is there a live video anywhere?

[armaghniac]

Cross 0-5 Gaels 0-2 HT

[armaghniac]

Well done Cross. Neasden sound like a collection of blow-ins.

[supersub]

Final score?

[armaghniac]

Cross 1-08 Neasden 0-05

[drici]

Ruislip relief

Crossmaglen Rangers 1-08   Neasden Gaels 0-05


With marriage nuptials very much to the forefront in Crossmaglen Rangers preparations for their trip to Ruislip, the actual match proved no honeymoon for the Ulster champions who struggled to find any semblance of form as they laboured to a 1-08 to 0-05 victory.

Cross management made a number of changes to the team which started the Ulster final. The returning from honeymoon Stephen Kernan was left on the bench replaced by John McEntee, Martin Aherne started ahead of Francis Hanratty and Brendan McKeown came into defence for Stephen Finnegan for his first competitive start since his leg break.

On a very heavy surface, which had hosted an earlier hurling match, Cross had the wind advantage in the first half but it was Neasden who settled the better in the opening stages but shot a couple of wides. Tenacity and tight marking were a feature for the home side whose physicality also caused Rangers some bother. Had the hosts got forwards who could score, the Armagh champions could have been in a lot of trouble given their sluggish performance as all but one of the Neasden tally of 5 points came from frees.

It was seven minutes in before the opening score of the match arrived via the boot of Galwayman Peadar Friel from a free and it was 6 minutes later following a trio of wides that Cross drew level. Rangers best performer on the day, Aaron Kernan, equalised from play and on the midpoint of the half Oisin McConville converted a free to give Cross a lead that would never be relinquished. Meathman David Carty with a free from his hands restored parity for the second time. The hosts had the better of the play but could not convert possession into points and inside the final 10 minutes of the half they were made to pay as Cross stepped on the gas a little. Oisin got clear of the shackles of Neasden captain Barry McDonagh from Sligo to pilfer a point from play. Four minutes later at his fifth attempt at a point, Martin Aherne found his range to make it double scores 4-2. Two minutes from the short whistle Aaron Kernan put a goal between the teams following good work by his captain, Paul McKeown. Goalkeeper Paul Hearty was very alert to save smartly from Friel to prevent a levelling score before Sligo referee Michael Duffy blew for half-time with Cross leading 0-5 to 0-2.

Wind assisted Gaels began the second half like the first gaining an early advantage with Cross picking up a couple of yellow cards inside a minute. A foul on Carty gave him the opportunity to reduce the deficit and he duly obliged. The teams traded wides before Cross made a triple substitution with Stephen Kernan, Francie Bellew and Francis Hanratty coming in for Martin Aherne, Tony Kernan and hamstring victim Mickey McNamee. But this did not prevent the hosts from getting a grip on proceedings, even though an Oisin free had made it 6-3. Ten minutes into the second half another converted McConville free stretched the lead to four points and Rangers were expected to push on from there. Not so as Neasden responded with back to back points within a minute to put the outcome back in the melting pot. Carty pointed his third free before a first from play from Meathman Barry Comer to leave it 7-5, thirteen minutes into the second half. However, a first point from play was to prove to be the last score of the match for the eager hosts whose challenge evaporated over the closing ten minutes in each half. Not that it took a superb catch by Hearty as the ball sailed over the bar to deny three points in a row which would have cut the deficit to the minimum and surely spurred a tiring home team to find further inspiration.

With the goal at his mercy Johnny Hanratty was harshly deemed by Referee Duffy to have picked the ball off the ground and the opportunity went a begging. With the clock winding down a fifth point of the game for the majestic McConville, this time from play, gave the Rangers a goal cushion and extinguished the winning goal threat from Neasden as time evaporated. It was Rangers through substitute Francis Hanratty who should have notched the match winning goal but credit to goalkeeper Joe McNamara, another Galwayman, who effected a very good save. With the clock in overtime the same duo came face to face following a sweeping Cross move from one end of the field to the other. This time Franny left McNamara helpless as he bagged the insurance score for his team who were well relieved to put this game to bed and out of the way.

As outlined in the preview this was a no brainer for the Ulster champions, a comprehensive win would be of no benefit but the overall performance from Cross will leave management very angry. While Ruislip match winner Oisin will be focusing on his wedding on Friday, one thing is for sure that Tony and Gareth will be planning anything but a honeymoon for their charges as they prepare for a Feb 26 All-Ireland semi-final against Leinster winners Kilmacud or Rhode. Following their worst performance of the campaign to date there is an awful lot of work to be done if a St Patrick's Day trip to Croke Park is to be won.

Crossmaglen Rangers -P Hearty, B McKeown, P Kernan, J Morgan, P McKeown, D O Callaghan, A Kernan (0-2), D McKenna , J Hanratty, M Aherne (0-1), J McEntee , J Clarke, T Kernan, M McNamee, O McConville (0-5) Subs- S Kernan for Martin Aherne, F Bellew for T Kernan, F Hanratty (1-0) for M McNamee, S Finnegan for B McKeown.

Neasden Gaels — Joe McNamara, Cal O'Flynn , Keith Geraghty , Barry McDonagh Capt ; Phil McCone, Tony Gaughan , Barry Comer (0-1); Conor McGoldrick , Aidan Flanagan, John Scanlan, Paul Geraghty, J Raftery; David Carty (0-3), Peadar Friel (0-1), Stephen Lynch .

Ref-M Duffy (Sligo)