Ballyboden St Endas 0-13   Kilmacud Crokes 0-10

After a good win last time out over Na Fianna, Crokes came to PUM on Sunday morning for a game which Boden knew they had to win in order to book a semi-final slot. The weather forecast proved accurate and the rain arrived just before throw in and stayed for the course of the game.

Crokes settled well and got the opening point, and Sarah Nagle then pointed a free for Boden after good work by Julie Vaughan. From a long free dropped around the square, Ella McNair picked up possession and pointed. Crokes soon equalised from a free and following a fine puck out from Sile to Julie, Áine Rafter popped a fine point.

Crokes and Katie McDonald exchanged points, before Crokes got another 2 to put them ahead by a point. A pointed free from Sarah, followed by 2 fine points from Laura Nagle from difficult angles meant that Boden had a lead of 2 points at half time, 0-7 to 0-5.

Julie won the restart and laid off to Sarah for a 3 point lead. 2 more pointed frees followed for Crokes before the ref harshly penalised Julie for steps when she had released Áine through on goal.

Lucy O’Shea & Olivia Meagher entered the fray just before another free for Crokes levelled the tie on 8 points apiece. Points from Sarah & Laura gave breathing space before another pointed free for Crokes. Claire Kirwan made her comeback from a hamstring injury, and she carried ball well during the last 15 minutes and was a good outlet.

Crokes missed a free to level the game, and this seemed to give the Boden girls the boost they needed and Ella McNair fire over 2 points in quick succession to put the gap out to 3. Hannah Byrne entered the fray for Boden. Another free for Crokes narrowed the gap but when the pressure was growing on the home side Máiread Luttrell won a vital free out.  Sarah pointed late on to give Boden a 3 point win.

This was a difficult game to analyse due to the extremely difficult conditions, the main thing was to get the victory and advance to the semi-final. The effort of all players couldn’t be faulted but there’s plenty to work on. As expected Na Fianna got the better of Castleknock, and while a narrow result in that game would have given Boden a home semi final we are instead for the third consecutive year on the road once again to St Vincents at semi-final stage.

2 years ago an understrength Boden team failed to perform, but last year’s game was a tight encounter with nothing between the sides at the second water break, before Vinnies pulled away late on. Our girls should take a lot from that game and approach next Sunday’s game without any fear and we anticipate a tight game – all support will be greatly appreciated.

Team – Síle Nic Coitir, Máiread Luttrell, Hannah Leddy, Sadie Codd, Danielle White, Martha O’Donoghue, Grace Walsh, Katie McDonald, Julie Vaughan, Jodie White, Sarah Nagle, Ella McNair, Leonie Power, Laure Nagle, Áine Rafter, Lucy O’Shea, Olivia Meagher, Claire Kirwan, Hannah Byrne, Abbie Fitzgerald, Enya Kennedy, Laura Burns, Emma Comerford

Match report: Gerry White

Photos: Adriano Elisei