By Paul Schneider
It’s not time to load the bus to Chicago, but you can’t blame the Brian Boru hurling club if they’re looking ahead.
Two years after winning the North American Gaelic Athletic Association Junior A hurling finals – and less than a year after finishing out of the money in the wind and rain of Ernesto last September – the Brian Boru hurlers are pointing once again toward the North American league’s Labor Day playoff marathon.
“They’ve come on since the start of the season,” said head coach and sponsor Colm McNally, whose “C. McNally Construction” plug is emblazoned across the front of the team’s jerseys. “We started the season with a strong base of players; the guys who’ve come over from Ireland have strengthened the squad. As the season has gone on, they’ve been getting used to playing with each other.”
Bolstered by the addition of recent arrivals Arron Hater, Eamonn Keley and Cahill O’Keane, and with strong performances by Barry Hasson (three goals), Derek Glennon and Luke Coyle (one goal each), the Upper Darby-based squad boosted its season record to 3-1 last Sunday with a 5-18 to 2-5 romp over the Washington, DC Gaels. The Brian Boru side also got strong performances by brother Brendan and Paul McCarthy, Noel Doherty and Patrick McAnn in net.
Next up: The hurling final on Sunday, August 19, at Cardinal Dougherty High School. “Our guys want to get back into the championships,” said McNally. “That’s our ultimate goal: To win Philadelphia and then to get out to Chicago and win the American League finals.”
