Ballyboden St Endas 2 20 St. Vincents 1 14
Long Fella Reports from PUM
HQ hosted the biggest support of the season on Saturday evening for Round 4 of the Adult hurling league division 1. Boden’s juvenile sections contributed hugely to the audience, even forming a guard of honour (under 10 boys) for the senior men to enter the field of play. The Marino men, St. Vincents, under the management of Pat Gilroy arrived full of promise given that the last meeting of the sides was decided by the width of the post (last years championship semi-final). Boden won that one with a patchy performance, but that is all in the past. The new Boden has the look of a team that wants to “mix it up”, with last years centre back Simon Lambert in the forwards, leaving the space open for Conor Dooley to retreat to cover this important position. These changes worked very well on Saturday, both contributing hugely to the win. Others who enjoyed a productive evening were Tipperary man David Gleeson, scorer of both Boden goals, and Paddy Dunleavy, who used his considerable athleticism to weave his way through tight channels to send balls into the scoring zone.
Lambert opened the scoring with a peach of a line cut from the rail side. Darragh Kenny and “Big John” (Hetherton) exchanged placed ball scores. And in between Vinnies Daragh McBride bagged a sweet point off his left. Dooley found Niall McMorrow on the rail and he flashed his shot over the black spot to send Boden one up. The scoring continued with McBride (another fine shot), Lambert (first to react to a dropping puck-out), Stephen O’Connor (out of defence), Dooley (from 100 metres and easterly wind support), Vinnies James Mulcahy (Big John Pass), Gleeson, McMorrow (Pearse Christie and Dunleavy combination). Score 8 to 4 for Boden. The visitors created a McBride goal chance, but O’Connor and goalman Conor O’Donoghue combined to thwart the sharpshooter. Hetherton and Kenny again exchanged placed ball scores to keep the gap at four, before Gleeson struck for his first goal, a dropping ball close in off a Dunleavy/Eoin Behan combination outfield. Vincents response came with some points from Stephen Williams and Big John. The half time score 1.10 to 0.9.
As in the first half, Lambert opened the scoring after McMorrow and Behan combined accurately. Vincents hit back immediately with a Williams goal, well taken after good build up through Mulcahy. Within a minute McMorrow had created space on the right of the attack and squared the ball which came to the cornerman Gleeson…..GOAL! Score now 2.11 to 1.10. Big John and Kenny (Gleeson pass) again exchanged points, before John McGuire pointed after busy Behan found him. Hetherton bagged a brace of frees, either side of a Niall Ryan trademark point. The Boden score-sheet continued with McMorrow again on the mark after Dunleavy started the move in defence. Score 2.16 was reached when Barry McGuire pointed after Luke McDwyer outpaced the Vinnies defence. The game petered out with some good Boden combination play and scores from Kenny, Ronan Twomey and Lambert, book-ending his own personal tally. McDwyer and Kenny seemed to find plenty of space in the close-out minutes.
This was a really steady performance, particularly when the style of play is considered. There is plenty to work on, especially in reducing the wide count. St Vincents gave it their best, especially in getting good ball to Hetherton. Boden’s Luke Corcoran had his hands full with him, but he emerged with his reputation enhanced.
The surgery was full of GAA speak, especially with the Derry men under the thumb of Donegal led Jim McGuinness. But of course, the Munster hurling games came in for some more serious scrutiny, particularly from the Premier supporters, even including a hungry PRO, existing on Denny ham and Brennans loaf over the previous week, his support abroad on Spanish grass over white balls. The “Emancipator” was not too far away either, keeping his counsel ahead of a trip to the Treaty City on Sunday week. Bring it on!!!!
Boden squad: Conor O’Donoghue, Sean McDonnell, Luke Corcoran, Stephen O’Connor, Barry McGuire, Conor Dooley, Paddy Dunleavy, John McGuire, Eoin Behan, Simon Lambert, Niall McMorrow, Niall Ryan, David Gleeson, Pearse Christie, Darragh Kenny, Luke McDwyer, Rob Leddy, Fergal Ryan, Ronan Twomey. (all played)
Thanks to John Kirwan for the photos. Click here