The Boston GAA championships are heating up with the arrival of the knockout stages this weekend. The senior football quarter finals pairings feature Donegal and Kerry, and Wolfe Tones and Connemara Gaels. Last night the junior A football quarter finalists were decided. It will be Connemara Gaels facing Shannon Blues and Wolfe Tones play Aidan McAnespies.

After finishing the "regular" season in a 3 way tie for first place, the Donegal senior footballers got the third seed in the draw to decide who would get the bye into the semi-finals.. Aidan McAnespies and the Blues have the good fortune of the first and second seeds and will have an extra week of rest before the semi-finals.

Donegal are coming off a massive win over Shannon Blues, while Kerry have not earned a point since a draw against the Connemara Gaels a month ago. Donegal's vaunted forward line with Stephen Griffin, Daniel McLaughlin, and Ryan Murray will be a handful for Kerry to deal with. Kerry have relied on Niall Sheehy, Robert Croft, and Graham Glenn all season. If the kingdom side are to reach the semi-final it will require a sustained 60 minute effort.

The other quarter final will involve last seasons champions, Connemara Gaels and Wolfe Tones. The Gaels have blown hot and cold, and defeated the Tones earlier in the season. The Tones, however, pulled off two wins in their last 2 games, though there is the challenge of breaking their playoff duck. The Tones rely on a combination of the experience of Gary Brilly, Mike O'Brien, and Marty Farrell as well as the youth of Lee Carr and Darragh McVeety. The Gaels have looked impressive dispensing with Christopher's in their last outing. The team is built on speed with Ruairi Corrigan, Calum McCormack, Ian Burke and Collie Harkin spearheading the forward line. It will be an interesting contest between the two on Sunday.

With the North American finals being played on home turf the playoffs will have the extra edge of a chance to represent the division in the familiar surroundings of the Irish Cultural Center. The Boston GAA is hosting the national championships on Labor Day weekend at the ICC. Over 120 teams and 2,500 players from across the United States and Canado will converge on the ICC for the 3 day finals tournament to compete for North American County titles in junior and senior football, huring and camogie. For information about the Boston GAA and the NACB finals check www.bostongaa.com.

Boston GAA Weekend Schedule
Saturday August 9
4:00 Senior Hurling: Fr. Tom Burke's v Wexford
5:30 Junior A Q/F: Connemara Gaels v Shannon Blues
Sunday August 10
12:00 Junior A Q/F: Wolfe Tones v Aidan McAnespies
1:15 Ladies Senior Football: Connacht Ladies v Boston Shamrocks
2:30 Senior Football Q/F: Kerry v Donegal
3:45 Senior Hurling: Galway v Tipperary
5:00 Senior Football Q/F: Wolfe Tones v Connemara Gaels Tweet

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