The weekend was a story of joy and despair for our Camogie teams. Saturday began with our U16B’s taking on Erin go Bragh in their Shield Final, where they performed well but came up short.
Following this in a cold and wet Naomh Mearnog was the U16A Championship Final against St Brigids. The girls put in a fabulous performance and were well worth their 11 point winning margin. Every player on the panel has pulled their weight throughout the year, and Saturday saw them getting their reward. This was the first Camogie Championship success for this group of girls, and for the older girls was the perfect way to end their juvenile career.
On Sunday our Senior C’s played Castleknock in the Division 6 Championship Final in O’ Toole Park. An early goal settled the nerves, but Castleknock had a strong breeze at their backs in the first half and went in 3 points to the good. Boden dominated the second half but scores were difficult to come by. When the final whistle we came up 1 point short, but every girl gave 100% and they have performed well throughout the year.
U16A CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 2014
Ballyboden St Endas U16A 3-3 St Brigids 0-1
What a way to end your juvenile Camogie career! Up against League winners St Brigids, Boden entered the Premier Juvenile Final as underdogs despite a fine semi-final victory away to Lucan. Conditions were very difficult for both sides in a wet and cold Naomh Mearnog on Saturday afternoon.
Boden had the advantage of the elements in the first half, but it was Brigids who started quicker and got an early point from a free. Little did we know at this stage that this would be their only score. The Boden girls got into their stride and won a number of frees 40M from goal, and Emer O’ Leary and Jodie White popped over 1 point each. Then Aine O’Brien got on the end of a scramble in the goalmouth to finish to the net. Almost immediately the same player scored a fine point.
Boden were well on top at this stage, with the ball rarely entering their half of the pitch. Laura Nagle, Eve O’ Donoghue and Aoife Durkin(hard to believe still U14!) in the half-back line were dominant. Laura broke through from midfield late in the first half and played a long pass to Aine, who finished superbly to the roof of the net.
Emily Flanagan & Kelli McLoughlin were totally on top throughout the game in midfield, and this gave great confidence to their team-mates. They were greatly assisted in the middle third by Claire Kirwan, Ciara Barnes & Eimear Butler who all worked tirelessly throughout the game. At Half time Boden had a well deserved 8 point lead, 2-3 to 0-1.
At half time Boden adjourned to the changing room to escape the elements and prepare for an expected onslaught in the second half from Brigids. However, as soon as the ball was thrown in it became apparent that the work rate and intensity which the Boden girls brought to the field was making it nearly impossible for Brigids to threaten the Boden goal. Ciara O’ Neill was composed in goal and had a quiet afternoon, well protected once again by full-back line Sarah Lambert, Captain Fantastic Hannah Hyland & Orla Tevlin.
While Boden continued to dominate, a number of goal chances went begging. Then with 15 minutes remaining the ever dangerous Emer O’ Leary gained possession 30 yards from goal, beat a number of challenges and finished with precision into the bottom corner of the net. The Boden support hugely outnumber to opposition, and at this stage the shouts of encouragement assisted us in the final push. At this stage Aisling Gargan(another U14) had replaced injury victim Kelli, and then Sarah Mulevy, Aisling McCullough & Aoife Roche came into the full forward line to provide extra energy for the last 10 minutes.
When the final whistle went there were great scenes of jubilation. These girls know how to win on the big occasions, this victory coming just 2 weeks after winning the U16A Ladies Football Championship. They also took the Division 1 Camogie Feile two years ago.
We must also remember the injured trio of Cora Ryan, Ava O’ Shea & Aobheann Murray who unfortunately were not in a position to take part on Saturday but have played a huge role in the success of this team throughout the year.
Hannah Hyland received the Cup on behalf of the Boden girls and gave a fine speech, paying a special mention to the great Boden crowd who made the journey across the city. Great credit for this success to the 3 ladies looking after this team since they came out of the Academy, Denise O’ Neill, Edel Tevlin & Catherine Nagle (The Golden Girls!). They were well assisted by fellow mentors Terry O’ Neill, Gerry White, George O’ Shea & Barry Murray, and not to forget Charlie White who was in charge of tactics, video analysis & picking which pizza’s to buy!
The grub went down well back in the Clubhouse, and the girls proceeded to party late into the night at Knocklyon’s new hotspot, ‘The White House’, where more fine cuisine and low fat Coke were consumed. Hannah Hyland proved that she is more than a match for her mother Mary in the tea-making stakes!
In summary, these girls have represented themselves, their families and the Club with distinction and should be very proud of their achievements to date. Now many of them progress into the Adult ranks where they will be welcomed with open arms and we look forward to them progressing in the coming years. The younger girls will proceed to lead the 2015 U16’s into battle and have the tough task of emulating this success.
On behalf of the team mentors we thank them sincerely for their efforts throughout the years and for the great memories which we share!
Team: Ciara O’ Neill, Sarah Lambert, Hannah Hyland, Orla Tevlin, Eve O’ Donoghue, Laura Nagle, Aoife Durkin, Emily Flanagan, Kelli McLoughlin, Ciara Barnes, Eimear Butler, Claire Kirwan, Aine O’ Brien, Emer O’ Leary, Jodie White, Aisling Gargan, Aisling McCullough, Aoife Roche, Sarah Mulvey, Cora Ryan, Ava O’ Shea, Aobheann Murray
DIVISION 6 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Castleknock 1-7 Ballyboden St Endas C 2-3
Castleknock took another step on the camogie ladder with an exciting win over Ballyboden St Endas who pulled the game back to the minimum with the second last puck of the match before time ran out.
Bronagh Quinn, left half forward on the Castleknock had a powerful influence on the game and was the most dangerous forward on the field. She gave her side the lead after 2 minutes with a well-struck free. But Boden went one better and Ciara Lambert first-timed to the net after good work by Ciara Scallan in the 6th minute.
But Bronagh Quinn had the appearance of a player who could do damage. While her side struggled for much of the first half to break down a sound Ballyboden defence where Cliodhna McNamara, Aisling Hayes and Emma Seery were doing well, Quinn kept her side in touch with two placed balls and had the sides level by the 22nd minute.
Ballyboden would have been satisfied with with matters at this stage with the aid of the breeze to come in the second half. However Castleknock put in a storming closing 6 minutes and notched three superb points from play from Bronagh Quinn after a great pass from Julie Rodgers, Eilish Andrews and Louise Mahony courtesy of an excellent line ball by Bronagh Quinn.
Three points was by no means a safe lead but Castleknock’s spirits rose two minutes after the restart when Bronagh Quinn pointed a difficult free to give her side a psychologically important lead. The defence in the first half looked capable of containing the Boden attack and for the first 20 minutes of the second half limited the Firhouse Road crew to a fine point from their most dangerous forward Ciara Lambert.
The game’s crucial score came in the 48th minute when Castleknock were awarded a free from 30m. A safe point seemed in the offing but Bronagh Quinn showed tremendous self-belief and hammered to the net. Boden were now in serious trouble and needed to respond but the Castleknock defence was excellent from the very composed ‘keeper Hannah Hanlon, full back Eimear Stynes aided by the tireless work of Louise Mahony and Claire Murray.
Ciara Scallan fought defiantly for Boden as did Ceara Daly and they were rewarded with a point from a free by Anne Hogan to reduce the deficit to four points. A great clearance by Emma Seery found Cliodhna McNamara and her delivery was superbly pointed by Ciara Lambert. Ciara Scallan was narrowly wide before Boden were awarded a free in the 61st minute. Anne Hogan’s low shot hit the net to leave only a solitary point between the sides but on the puck out referee Pat Denieffe blew the final whistle to end a thoroughly enjoyable game.