Boden Secure Second Spot in Championship Group
Ballyboden St Endas 1 26 Craobh Chiarain 2 16
Long Fella Reports from O’ Toole Park
The final group game of the league section of the senior A hurling championship took place at a windy O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon last. Boden emerged from the game in second spot to group winners St Vincents, putting them into a quarter final game with Na Fianna. Spits of rain threatened to turn into showers, but the small scattering of spectators left the park undampened. Boden had the wind in the first half and duly chalked up a good lead by half time. The Northsiders hit back in the second thirty, but time ran out on their efforts, despite the ageless Francis Usanga flashing home a superb goal.
Boden’s Eoin Behan won the throw-in ball and scored the opening point from about forty metres. He was followed by Niall Ryan (McMorrow hand-pass), David Gleeson (James Madden pass), Luke McDwyer (McMorrow), and a McMorrow free, 5 to nil. Craobh’s Robbie Mahon opened for his side with a free, but Gleeson deftly gained possession while surrounded and flicked his second over the bar. Centre-back Simon Lambert hit a monster for Boden, quickly followed by Behan and McDwyer (a Dunleavy pass). Mahon and McMorrow then scored a brace each, Behan in the thick of the support. McMorrow became provider for Stephen O’Connor to bring the score to 12 to 3, and only twenty minutes played.
Mahon hit another free, but O’Connor cancelled the score after Ryan played him in. Craobh went after goals, but they found Boden’s goalman Matthew Nolan in top form at the expense of a 65. Craobh were not deterred and using a triangular movement flashed home a Mahon goal. Boden came back with a McMorrow free and a Timmy Hammersley goal, catching high after a Lambert delivery and a shot to the roof of the Craobh net. HT 1.15 to 1.04.
With the wind strengthening and down the spine of the pitch, Craobh employed “Route 1”, landing a series of puck-outs and deliveries to the edge of the Boden square. This begged the question, can a puck-out be legally scored without another touch? Seems Yes! The scoring continued from Craobhs Gary Kelly, followed by Timmy (McMorrow), Ryan (Dunleavy), McDwyer (his third after McMorrow found him), McMorrow (Jim Kennedy), and Ryan again, a solo effort. Mahon pointed twice for Chiarans to bring the score to 1.21 to 1.08.
The final ten minutes were dominated by the Craobh and Mahons scoring. Boden replied through four Paul Ryan frees and a sweet score from Niall Ryan. The final score of the game came from Nigerian born Usanga, still doing the business and he very much the guts of four decades. He got himself into a superb position to receive a pass from the wing and duly bagged a green flag.
Squad: Matthew Nolan, Luke Mulligan-Lynch, Barry McGuire, Stephen O’Connor, Paddy Dunleavy, Simon Lambert, Jack Lambert, Eoin Behan, James Madden, Luke McDwyer, Niall McMorrow, Niall Ryan, David Gleeson, Timmy Hammersley, Jim Kennedy, Finn McGarry, John McGuire, Darragh Kenny, Cillian Kirwan, Pearse Christie, Paul Ryan, Ronan Twomey.
All roads will lead to Parnell Park for the clash with champions, Na Fianna on Sunday week, September 29th at 4pm….. Bígí Linn
Thanks to John Kirwan for the photos. Click here for more