AHL Division 6

Erin’s Isle 2-10                      

Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-16

A visit to Finglas on a breezy Sunday morning is akin to a visit to the dentist.  It is necessary but uncomfortable as you know that the reception you will get will be welcoming but you will have to fight for everything after the initial salutations.  Having suffered a defeat to the Northsiders in the group stages of last year’s championship was an indication that this was never going to be an easy game.

And so it transpired.  Both sides will be satisfied with a point a piece but a lingering sense of leaving it behind will be in mind as both sides had opportunities to take all 2 points.

Erin’s Isle were quick to establish an upper hand and had a healthy 1-3 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes.  The goal came in the 5th minute after Marc MacLiam pulled off a fine save but was unable to get to the rebound.  It looked ominous for the visitors at this stage but to their credit they settled nicely into the game and from this juncture to half time they were totally dominant.  Ciarán Twomey thundered into the game at centre forward.  He scored 3 fine points and he was ably assisted by full forward, Brian Cummins, who was unerring from his frees, and wing back Micheal Manning who continued on his fine scoring streak to shoot 2 points.  Boden went to the half time sos leading 0-11 to 1-5.

The second half was a real arm wrestle with both sides trading points throughout.  The most significant events were squeezed into the last frantic 10 minutes.  Leading by 2 points Boden had a great goal chance but Isles managed to scramble the sliothar off the line.  In the next attack full back Oisin Cannon was “poleaxed” with a late shoulder charge and the Isles man saw the line.  This did not deter the home side and a long range free from the right wing was doubled to the net to put the hosts a point ahead with minutes to go.  However, Boden pressure paid off as Brian Cummins pointed a simple free with the last puck of the game to establish parity.

Team; Marc MacLiam, Kevin Brady, Oisin Cannon, Mark McGovern, Alan McGovern, Darren Lennox, Michael Manning 0-2, Jonathan O’Donoghue, Liam Duffy 0-1, Jack Kenny, Ciarán Twomey 0-5, 2 frees, Hugh Nolan 0-1, Adam Fischer 0-1, Brian Cummins 0-6, 5 frees, Andy Lyons, Cathal Creed, Dave Barrett, Ross McCormack.

 

AHL Division 8

Whitehall Colmcilles 0-6                   Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-18

Ballyboden made the trip to the North side on Friday night last without a number of their more established players due to different circumstances.  Adding to the list of absentees was manager, Mick Glynn, who is currently on a scouting trip to South Africa.

This was a low scoring affair throughout with Boden always that bit ahead.  However, Boden went on a scoring burst in the last 10 minutes to put clear daylight between them and their opponents.  The scoring spree began with a goal from Alex Murphy in the 50th minute which effectively settled the game as the visitors now enjoyed a 7-point lead.  They added substantially to that in the remaining minutes with some brilliant scores from Lorcan O Maoileannaigh, Fionn Keating McDermott, Adam Fischer and Alex Murphy adding to his goal.  Jack Kenny was steady throughout with his frees and ended the game with 10 points.  Oisin Cannon, Brian Kennedy and Tomas McAuliffe provided the guile and experience at the back which allowed the young lads to go wild in those last 10 minutes.

Team:  Ross McCormack, Tomás McAuliffe, Oisin Cannon, Cathal Creed, Kevin O’Donoghue, Brian Kennedy 0-1, 1 free, Fionn Keating McDermott 0-1, Alex Murphy 1-1, Benjamin Hurley, Adam Fischer 0-2, Jack Kenny 0-10, 9 frees, James O’Reilly, Timmy Cleary, Lorcán O Maoileannaigh 0-3, Kevin Hearty, John Murray.