Result: 0 13 to 1 16
Plunketts too strong for Boden in Senior B Championship
Perfect weather conditions on a firm surface greeted the adult hurlers of Plunkets and Ballyboden for this Round 1 tie in the Senior B championship on Saturday evening. Both sides gave the modest crowd a sporting contest, with some skilful individual displays. From the throw-in, it was obvious that the more physically strong visitors would prove difficult to overcome.
That said, it was Boden who were quickest out of the traps; they led by three points to a single after five minutes. Austin (Ozzie) Lynch opened up for Boden with a fine catch and strike, was followed by a free and up steps Jamie Desmond with a long range shot, another beauty. Plunketts response was a point from Mikey Walsh. Naoise Maguire operating on the Boden forty, landed a few good balls towards Donal Butler at the point of the attack. One of these led to one of the best scores of the game; Ozzie again the scorer. For Plunkets, Brian O’Sullivan, a giant of a man, started getting to grips with the tight marking of Mike Clifford, and profited with a fine effort (4-3).
The next ten minutes were dominated by the visitors, and they bagged some fine scores from the most influential man on the field-Ronan O’Brian. After twenty minutes play Plunketts led by four points (10-6). But back came Boden with their best period of play. Adam Jermyn from near the side-line, Butler after Chris Lambert assisted and Ozzie from frees, all added to Boden’s tally and brought the half time score to ten to eight for the visitors.
The second thirty opened brightly for Boden with Jermyn and Ozzie bagging two great scores to tie the contest. However that prompted the visitors into action and Boden’s goalman Gavin Corrigan came in for some serious scrutiny. Being a man who relishes a challenge, Gavin brought off a series of quality saves, but he was left almost completely exposed for the Plunketts goal; a mix-up in defence which left Dylan Burke with the simplest of tasks. The gap was now five points. The last fifteen minutes play was mainly under the control of the visitors with O’Brian showing some good touches and O’Sullivan offering his considerable frame as a target for in-coming balls. Butler and Finn McDonagh had goal opportunities for the home side but both came to nothing. Butler did point a fine effort, but this was quickly cancelled out by O’Brian.
Overall, the Boden management team under Brendan Ryan will be reasonably happy and look forward to building on this fine effort against a side who have serious aspirations to capturing this title, a feat they completed a few years ago at Boden’s expense.
Boden Squad; Gavin Corrigan, Niall Keegan, Mike Clifford, Fergal Murray, Jamie Desmond, Naoise Maguire, Ross Cullen, Eoin McKenna, Fionn Maguire, Chris Lambert, Austin Lynch, Adam Jermyn, Morgan Ryan, Donal Butler, Aaron Coffey, Joe Mernagh, Ronan Dooley, Jonathan O’Driscoll, Keith McCarron. Finn McDonagh.