Ballyboden St. Endas 0 20 Na Fianna 0 13

El Rojo reports from PUM. Photos by Clíona Mellett

Minor A team Show their respect for Club President, John O’ Neill before Sunday’s game

It was a winner take all game in Páirc Uí Mhurchú last Sunday. The first half showed all the signs of such a high stakes game. Both teams showed plenty of nerves, particularly with some poor shooting. It was Na Fianna who showed more hunger winning most of the breaks around the middle third, the home side struggling to get a foothold in the game. Thankfully for Boden, goalkeeper Eoin Deuigan, who has yet to concede a goal in the championship, and the full back line of Conor Casey, Richie O’Halloran and Luke Mulligan Lynch kept the visitors’ attack goalless. Na Fianna were the better team in the first half and led 0-8 to 0-6 at half time.

This was a chance for the home team to take stock, make some positional and personnel changes, and come out in the second half with renewed enthusiasm and the bit between the teeth. In the halftime reshuffle Connell McGlynn went to 3, Richie O’Halloran to 4, Hugh O’Sullivan to 6, Luke Mulligan Lynch to midfield and Darragh Kenny to 11. Rian Power and Ryan O’Dwyer were introduced at wing back and full forward respectively.These switches made a difference. As did the tactical change of leaving two in the full forward line, with Dara Sweeney coming out the field to provide an extra body. But, it was the renewed energy and desire to win the ball in the middle third that was the real difference. From the start of the 2nd half Boden dominated around the middle of the field. Ryan O’Dwyer, who finished with 5 points from play, and Reese McDonald made hay in the Boden full forward line with the space in front of them and the top class deliveries going in. By the midway point in the 2nd half the home side had made a 8 point turnaround. 0-14 to 0-8 at the water break.

It was tit for tat till the final whistle and Boden kept Na Fianna at arms length for the remainder of the game. After a poor first half, manager Johnny Kenny will take great encouragement from the dominant 2nd half display moving forward.

Next up, the in-form St. Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh in the quarter final.

Panel

Eoin Deuignan. Conor Casey, Richie O’Halloran, Luke Mulligan Lynch, Josh Corcoran, Darragh Kenny, Harry Donaghy, Eoin Behan, Connell McGlynn, Reese McDonald, Davy Keogh, Cian Hassett, Dara Sweeney, Hugh O’Sullivan, Oisín King, Rian Power, Ryan O’Dwyer, Reed Barry, Cian Kelly

Posted by BodenGAA on Monday, 17 August 2020