AHL 2
Ballyboden St Endas 2 26 Scoil Ui Chonaill 1 12
Long Fella reports from PUM
A second half tally of 2.15 for the home side, a total that would be sufficient to win many sixty minute games, was the significant statistic from the senior B hurling league game on Sunday morning at a sunny HQ. The opening half was hardly a portent of what the final thirty would deliver. Boden had raced into a lead of seven points to nix before the “Scholars” got on the scoreboard through fluid forward Ruairi Kennedy, a close-in free. What followed was a period of physical hurling that included some strenuous challenges and a few incidents of dangerous use of the hurley, to such an extent that an onlooker was heard to utter “ Jazzz you’d want the teeth for the chops”. Of course that could be a reference to the consumption of sinewy mountain hogget, but more likely to the shuddering challenges that could easily dislodge an expensive tooth-filling or even a Turkish implant. Scoil crept into the game by notching eight points over the last quarter of the half.
The game opened with Boden points, Mark Lambert from a free, centre forward and recent senior A debutant Fergal Ryan, Ryan again, Kieran Kennedy from the same line, Killian Kirwan on the run, midfield man Fionn Maguire (a Kennedy creation), and Finnian McDonagh, a pass from Kennedy, seven to nil. Scoils Kennedy opened their account, only for Darragh Kennedy to cancel it out, a pass from the nonchalant Shane Kennedy. The latter and Scoils Kennedy shared scores, before the visitors bagged their first score from play, a ninety metre bomber from out in the country by Alan Cronin. Lambert continued the home scoring with a free, followed by more frees, a result of the over-physical play. Lambert and Kennedy brought the score to 11 to 8 by the half. In the mix was a super score from Scoils Robert Kennedy.
On the turnaround the picture changed from competitive to largely one-way traffic in Boden’s favour. Kirwan opened the scoring after some good defending by Darragh Kennedy. “Eddie” (Lambert) showed his value to the team with a three in a row, a free and a brace from play, the middle point with the help of the increasingly influential Kirwan. The Scholars had a goal chance through Conor Coady but a skillful flick away by Boden fullback Naoise Maguire denied the opportunity. Shane and Kennedy shared points, before Kirwan added to his personal tally. The first goal followed after Shane chased down a ‘nothing’ chance only for the Scoil defence to ‘cough up’ the leather. Kennedy’s shot was brilliantly batted away by the visitors custodian, but Ryan was on hand to pounce on the left-overs. Scoil tried hard to counter, in particular a brilliant lift in a ruck from Eoin McKay, but without the reward of a score. Some crafty play from Hugh O’Sullivan opened the chance for Ryan, before a reverse handpass from Shane placed Kirwan for yet another score from a tight angle. 1.19 to 0.09. McDonagh struck again, a Darragh lay-off, followed by Ryan with a brace of frees.
Coady stopped the rot with a Scoil score, followed by Kennedy, but up stepped the speedy Tommy Glynn for his contribution. McDonagh bagged his third of the morning, followed by a Scoil response of same value. McDonagh scored the second goal by elusively finding space following the pass from Darragh. The final two scores were a free from Ryan followed by a clever strike and a consolation goal from Scoil introduction Kevin Farrell.
Good passing and finding the shooter in the best position fashioned this win for Boden. Throw in their closing down on opponents possession and interlinking with loose men, and the formula to win is there. Scoil fought hard, but the game went away from them when Boden upped their game. Nolan was stability personified in the goals, McCarron used his considerable physical presence to thwart Scoils attacks, Glynn and Maguire showed pace in abundance leaving opponents ‘strung out like the washing’, Darragh and Kirwan linked well with Ryan on the half line, and the inside forwards were in top form.
Squad: Matthew Nolan, Karl Reddy, Naoise Maguire Sean O’Donnell, Hugh O’Sullivan, Keith McCarron, Jack Lambert, Tommy Glynn, Fionn Maguire, Darragh Kennedy, Cillian Kirwan, Mark Lambert, Fergal Ryan, Josh Corcoran, Shane Kennedy, Finnian McDonagh, James Enright.
Thanks to Clíona for the photos.