Result: 2 19 to 2 09
AHL3 – Well-deserved win for Senior Bs (Denis Kelleher reports)
BBSE 2-19 St. Brigids 2-8
On Saturday April 8 on a warm, sunny, evening in Ballycullen, Ballyboden Senior B hurlers had a well-deserved win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Excellent examples of good back play were on display, under the watchful eye and supervision of goal-keeper Keith Robertson. In the second quarter, after a nervy start, they got control of their opponents. They were out in front of their men and their quick distribution set up many attacks. The half back line led by Naoise Maguire and supported by Liam McCarthy and Jamie Desmond held the first line of defence and, with intelligent delivery into the hard working forwards, set up many a score. A lot of extra fitness training must have been put in because the fitness levels of many players, especially Eoin McKenna and Fionn Maguire at mid-field were superior. If they didn’t secure primary possession they hassled, hooked and blocked many a St Brigid’s attack.
The forwards were quick off the mark with a well-taken goal from a close-in free by centre-forward Austen Lynch but this was quickly cancelled by Stephen Moore and Ciaran O’Sullivan of St. Brigids with a goal and a point from play. From then on, however, Boden showed their superiority and by half-time lead by 4 points (1-9/1-5).
In the second half, St Brigids again started quickly with two points from play but Boden responded with 8 points (6 by Lynch, 1 by O’Neill and 1 by Ryan) without reply, leaving Boden ahead by 10 points (1-17/1-7) with 10 minutes remaining. In the run-down, Boden scored 1-2 to St Brigids 1-1 leaving the final score 2-19 to 2-8.
Team: Keith Robinson; Cathal Bergin, Mike Clifford, Owen Small; Liam McCarthy, Naoise McGuire, Jamie Desmond; Fionn McGuire, Eoin McKenna; Eoin O’Neill, Austen Lynch, Tom Hanifin; Morgan Ryan, Donal Butler, Aaron Coffey.
Subs: Cian Mellet (for Liam Mc Carthy), Adam Jermyn (for Jamie Desmond). Jonathon O’Driscoll (for Donal Butler), Niall Keegan (for Cathal Bergin), Fergal Murray (for Aaron Coffey).