After the disappointment of losing the opening Championship match away to Kilmacud Crokes on the previous Wednesday, the venue was Pairc Uí Mhúrchú a week later when we took on St Sylvesters in the second round, with nothing less than a victory required to keep our chances of success this year alive. We had beaten the Malahide outfit comfortably in the League earlier in the season but with Dublin players Kate Sullivan, Sinead Aherne and Danielle Lawless as well as ex Dub star Niamh McEvoy in their ranks we knew this time it would be a different proposition.

We started nonetheless on the front foot and even though Kate Sullivan opened the scoring with a nice right footed point, it was Boden who looked the more threatening in the opening quarter with Natalia Hyland, Ciara Ruddy and Claire Kirwan in particular, outstanding. Ballyboden’s defence were on ‘high alert’ with Aherne and particularly Sullivan looking dangerous. With Hannah Leddy on Aherne, and Alice Rudden marking Sullivan, however our girls had their measure to a large extent.

Half time score: Ballyboden St.Endas 0.11 St Sylvesters 0.4

With a point from a free from Natalia Hyland closely followed by a goal from her sister Hannah within the opening 2 minutes of the second period, there looked like there was no way back for the seasiders with a 11 points deficit. That wasn’t the case however as goal after goal began to liven up the game, with Rebecca McDonnell and Kate Donaghy goaling for Boden and Syls awarded a penalty which Sinead Aherne slotted home and Kate Sullivan adding a brace towards the end of the game which meant that the margin for the last couple of minutes was down to 3 points.
It has to be said nevertheless that the home side should have won more comfortably than they did which will be a lesson that has to be taken on board ……at no stage can a team ‘take their foot off the pedal’ particularly at this level.

Final score: Ballyboden St.Endas 3.15 St Sylvesters 4.9 

Scorers: Natalia Hyland 0.7, Hannah Hyland 1.1, Rebecca McDonnell 1.1, Kate Donaghy 1.0, Claire Kirwan & Ciara Ruddy (2pts) and Julie Vaughan & Alanna McGarry(1pt).

Many thanks to Cliona Mellett for the photos. For more, see here