Adult Cup Division One Ballyboden St Endas v Clontarf, Wednesday 26th July, in St Annes Park.
Our Senior A ladies footballers headed out the M50 last Wednesday night for their Cup game v Clontarf with many of the first teamers unavailable for a variety of reasons.
Clontarf were also short so it was a case of seeing how strong the panel of players on both teams were and giving those players game time before the Championship commences.
From the get go both teams tried to put down a marker, obviously the home team determined to perform better then they did in the league game earlier in the season when Boden won comfortably.
Conditions played a part also, as scores didn’t come easy to either team, with defences on top for long periods.
Clontarf scored their 3 pointer in the 29th minute which put them 4 points clear but a palmed goal just on the halftime whistle from Megan Dignam left a point between the teams at the break.
Heather Bolger, a Dublin minor this year, made her first start at midfield for the visitors and showed her confidence at this level by taking on and scoring one of the points of the game from 35 metres.
Alanna McGarry stroked over 2 quick fire points also as Ballyboden began to pull away from the Northsiders who were struggling to stay in the game.
Tara Fitzgibbon, their no.8, was an inspirational figure for Clontarf as she popped up everywhere on the pitch and had a “never say die” attitude which had to be admired.
Young defenders Sadie Codd, Alice Rudden and Hannah Byrne, now very much part of the senior setup, were outstanding while Megan Dignam added her and the teams second goal with another palmed goal after been set up by the industrious Aisling Byrne.
A 4 point win in the end, with many positives to take from the encounter.
Full-time score: Ballyboden St.Endas 2.9
Clontarf 1.8
Scorers: Megan Dignam 2.0, Alanna McGarry, Claire Kirwan and Aoife Gogan (2pts each), Hannah Hyland, Rebecca McDonald and Heather Bolger (1pt each)
Next match Wednesday 2nd August in PUM @ 7.30 v Thomas Davis.