Result: 1 – 17 to 0 – 15
Ballyboden St Endas 1 – 17 Oulart the Ballagh (Wexford) 0- 15
Gary Maguire one of the Boden heroes (Courtesy: Sportsfile.com)
A performance to gladden the heart of any Boden fan as the Dublin champions come from five points down at the interval to win their first Leinster Club championship game in style in Parnell Park. Winning the first County title was historic and special. But this victory was just as significant proving in emphatic style that Ballyboden St Endas can match and surpass the best and whatever the rest of the year brings enormous ground has been made in 2007. Credit where credit is due to Liam Hogan and his management team and to all the players but this was also a day for all Boden mentors and officials down through the years who built this success brick by brick over the last 35 years.
Boden won the toss and elected to play with a slight breeze with in the opening four minutes recording as many wides as the pace of the ball seemed to carry too much weight. Nevertheless the side was still first to score a fine point from Enda Kinsella after seven minutes. However Oulart were hurling confidently and displaying good teamwork they were picking their scores with some ease including four on the trot between the 8th and 11th minutes from Stephen Doyle, William Whelan, Des Mythan and Darren Nolan.
The strategy of playing a two man full forward line wasn’t really working although Conal Keaney scored an exceptional point in the 11th minute. It would take another 9 minutes for the next Boden score, a sweet ended in another white flag. Oulart were still making good use of their possession and Rory Jacob, Des Mythen and Nicky Kirwan were causing some problems and shared five points between them before the interval. It would have been more only for a great piece of goalkeeping from Gary Maguire after a defensive error.
The Boden defence of Cathal Ryan, Stephen Perkins and Martin O’Sullivan enjoyed some good moments despite the fairly severe pressure.
At the break Oulart the Ballagh led by 0 – 9 to 0 – 4.
Boden reverted to a traditional format for the restart and within 14 seconds David Curtin drove over a magnificent point. Before the minute had expired Michael Griffin had added his second. This was a huge statement from Boden and the fans soon found their voice. Although Rory Jacob pointed in the 34th minute, Boden reformed lineout was begining to click. James Duffy responded to the challenge at wing-back but the introduction of Simon Lambert had a huge impact on the game.
Boden now took over at midfield and with David Curtin striking over some great 65s – bit by bit Boden were eating in the Oulart lead. Another great point from Enda Kinsella now at full-forward cut the lead to two points before his fellow county man Malachy Travers gave the Boden fans a huge lift with his first point of the day.
Paul Ryan and Shane Durkin had now answered the call and when Conal Keaney placed the latter with a perfect pass, the Dublin Under 21 struck the leveller with 17 minutes left on the clock.
Darren Stamp briefly restored Oulart’s lead but Boden were dictating the game. Conal Keaney’s switch to centre forward had nullifed the influence of Keith Rossiter and with Darragh Spain, Brian Kennedy and the superb Tim Sweeney hurling a storm Boden’s hunger grew and grew.
If there was a touch of good luck about the goal that turned the game – well so what. The team has paid its dues and deserved to see David Sweeney’s first time pull creep over the line in the 51st minute.
The next score would be vital and it duly came from the stick of David Curtin from a great free over 70m from goals. Darren Stamp was booked for that foul.
From the puck out, Simon Lambert rose above everyone else to make a great catch. After a 40m run he struck over one of the game’s highlights for a mighty score. Seconds later he was on the deck and Darren Stamp was seeing red.
Man of the Match David Sweeney receives his award from sponsor Fergus Reid (Qualvecom) in the presence of Club Sponsorship Manager Danny Griffin and Club Chairman Paddy Walsh
As often happens, the team with the man down raised its game and top scorer in the Wexford championship Nicky Kirwan pointed twice to reduce the margin to a dangerous two points but with Stephen Perskins playing as sweeper Boden defended stoutly and super sub Emmet Carroll drove over two great points. The first set up by David Sweeney who won a ball he had no right to. It wasn’t the first time David performed such heroics as his workrate throughout the game was phenomenal.
As Oulart threw everything into the final minutes Boden held firm and Conal Keaney put the icing on the cake with two quality points.
Gary Maguire, Cathal Ryan, Stephen Perkins, Martin O’Sullivan, Stephen Hiney, Tim Sweeny, Daragh Spain, Malachy Travers (0 – 1), Brian Kennedy, David Sweeney (1 – 0), Enda Kinsella (0 – 2), Michael Griffin (0 – 2), David Curtin (0 – 4), Conal Keaney (0 – 3), James Doody (0 – 1)
Subs: James Duffy for O’Sullivan; Simon Lambert (0 – 1) for Spain, Shane Durkin (0 – 1), Emmet Carroll (0 – 2) for Griffin, Paul Ryan for Kinsella.