Sunday, 1st November 2009
Result: 1 – 16 to 0 – 12
Ballyboden St Endas 1 – 16 Craobh Chiaráin 0 – 12
Champions 2007-2008-2009
This wasn’t the greatest county final ever played but it was one of the sweetest victories of the three in a row. Conditions turned the game into a battle and at the finish Boden showed why they have been the best team in Dublin for the past three years.
A half time lead of 0 – 9 to 0 – 7 having played with the aid of the breeze was a slender advantage but Boden played the “Orange” card or was it “Orange Bottle” at half-time and dominated the second period.
While no single incident was decisive, the game turned crucially in Boden’s favour in the 42nd minute. With Boden leading by 0 – 12 to 0 – 9, Stephen McDonald of Craobh Chiaráin had a great goal scoring opportunity. However his shot for the corner went outside the post. From the resultant puckout, Boden won a free and from almost on the sideline, 65m out Paul Ryan got his 9th point of the game. Boden were now four to the good. (Super save from Gary Maguire)
Although Chiaráin’s pulled back two points of that tally by the 45th minute, Boden grabbed two of the game’s crucial scores in the next two minutes. The first came after Conal Keaney won the puck-out and passed to the unmarked Darragh Spain and from the middle of the field he drove over a great point. Boden won possession from the puck-out and thanks to the tigerish work of Niall McMorrow that ball spun inside the Craobh ‘keeper Stephen Chester for Paul Ryan to tap home to the empty net.
The champions were now in 5 points in front and although Alan McCrabbe pointed for the 7th time from placed balls, Boden were in complete command in the closing ten minutes. The defence was superb particularly Stephen Perkins, Darragh Spain and captain Malachy Travers. Alan Ryan, James Duffy and Tim Sweeney were also seen prominently throughout the game.
As Craobh went in search of scores, their composure came asunder and a number of chances were missed. David Sweeney (left) and Shane Durkin did some useful defending and two more points by Paul Ryan stretched Boden’s lead to 1-4.
There was absolute defiance in the performance in those closing stages typified by a brialliant stop by Gary Maguire from a McCrabbe penalty. Brian Kennedy put in a massive block and Emmet Carroll was within inches of a point that would surely have taken the roof of the stand had it gone over.
History was made – three senior hurling championships in a row and the senior hurling/football double for the first time since 1981. A huge day for the club on the exact 125th birthday of the GAA on 1 November and the 40th anniversary of the club.
For Paul Ryan (on left) it was a day to remember scoring 1 – 11 of the tally. His first coming after 40 seconds. But straight from the puck-out, Boden needlessly conceded a free which Alan McCrabbe pointed. Two excellent points from play by Conal Keaney – the first from a great clearance by Alan Ryan – the second the result of a pass by Simon Lambert and Boden were two to the good.
A free from 87m by Paul Ryan stretched the margin but Alan McCrabbe was unerring at this stage for Craobh. Two points by Kevin Warren and Alan McCrabbe (free) were sources of huge encouragement to the Donnycarney side whose first half tactics were to keep the game tight and interrupted. A high free count by the referee meant the game was far from free-flowing. Paul Ryan uncharateristically missed three frees but managed three from placed balls to bring Boden’s scorecount to 0 – 8 by the 29th minute. Stephen McDonald fired over a neat point to raise Chiaráin’s hopes but an excellent fetch by Simon Lambert fed David Curtin who pointed expertly. Again Alan McCrabbe was back to point from a free to leave Boden 0 – 9 to 0 – 7 at the break.
Hard words were spoken at the break but within 10 seconds of the restart Johnny McGuirk lifted and struck a superb score. But Boden refused to be rattled and within five minutes had pointed three times into the breeze – Paul Ryan (65), Shane Durkin (from a Keaney pass) and Paul Ryan again from a free. On no less than 8 occasions during the game – Boden replied with a point following a Craobh score – an excellent sign of a team. Michael Griffin, Marty O’Sullivan and James Doody also came on to play their part. Two early frees after half-time were won by hard-working David O’Connor when moved to the wing. Conal Keaney was immense in the second half winning several puck-outs and assisting in a number of scores.
As the game entered added time, Boden were in control and held Chiaráin’s scoreless for the closing 16 minutes.
A great victory for Malachy Travers, the entire panel, Manager Liam Hogan, Selectors – John Kirwan, Jim Kilty, Jerry Aherne, Vincent Teehan and the back-up team.
Gary Maguire, James Duffy, Stephen Perkins, Alan Ryan, Malachy Travers, Darragh Spain (0-1), Tim Sweeney, Shane Durkin (0-1), Dave O’Connor, David Sweeney, David Curtin (0-1), Conal Keaney (0-2), Paul Ryan (1-11, 0-10f), Simon Lambert, Niall McMorrow
Subs: Martin O’Sullivan for Alan Ryan; Emmet Carroll for McMorrow; Michael Griffin for O’Connor; James Doody for Tim Sweeney.
Ref: Eoin Mullarkey (Lucan Sarsfields)