Senior and Intermediate Championship
The Senior and intermediate championships resume this weekend with local derbys for both teams in O’Toole Park on Saturday and Sunday with Balinteer and Judes respectively. Junior A’s and B’s are also in AFL action this week, your support, as ever, is crucial. See full details below.
Minor Championship
Our minor teams got the perfect start to their respective Championships with victories in all three games. The A’s took on league winners Ballymun in PUM and didn’t disappoint the large crowd in attendance coming out on top by 1-14 to 0-10. Our B’s travelled to Rolestown to play Fingal Ravens and put in a fine performance winning by a score of 2-11 to 2-07 while our C’s travelled to the Iveagh Grounds to face Sean Heuston gaels and made it a terrific 3 out of 3 winning by 1-19 to 2-04. Well done to all concerned, see reports and pictures below.
Minor A 1-14 Ballymun 0-10
The Ballyboden Minor A team got their championship campaign off to a good start with a nice win over Ballymun in Páirc Uí Mhurchú on Sunday last. The first half was evenly balanced as Ballyboden found it difficult to settle into a pattern until Adam Carney was alert to a ball off the upright to slip in for a well-taken goal. Ballymun were dependent on frees, converting 6 frees in the first half to leave the score at half time Ballymun 0-8, Ballyboden 1-4.
Ballyboden brought a new focus to the second half and aided by a slight breeze, they scored eight 8 points from play, along with two frees from Adam Carney. Ballymun were restricted to 2 points from frees. Ballyboden had fine performances from all six backs and goalie Jack Mahon. Cathal O’Dea did exceptionally well on his championship debut while team captain Brian Bobbett covered every blade of grass in his usual all-action performance. At mid-field Brian Kirwan was strong under the kick out and fully justified his selection at this level. While the forwards produced some fine individual performances, the team work will need to improve considerably if they are going to make progress in this group. Adam Carney was the pick of the forwards and impressed with his scoring and workrate. Conor Deane brought his usual high energy to proceedings while Stephen Ward, Ciaran O’Brien, Garret Crowley and Rian Cannon all made a good contribution on their introduction.
Final Score: BBSE 1-14; Ballymun 0-10
Scorers: A Carney 1-6 (-0-2 Frees); Warren Egan 0-3; Darragh Langan 0-3; Conor Deane 0-1; Colm Basquel 0-1
Team: Jack Mahon, Oisín Ó Dúill, Shane Clayton, Cathal O’Dea, Brian Bobbett (Capt) , Cian Mellett, Niall Hestor, Brian Kirwan, Darragh Maguire, Dara Langan, Harry Coffey, Barra McGarry, Adam Carney, Warren Egan and Colm Basquel.
Ballyboden Minor B 2-11 – Fingal Ravens 2-7
Ballyboden St Enda’s Minor B team had a tough enough start in their first Championship match. Weather conditions were quite blustery, but it was a fine and bright morning over in Rolestown. Ballyboden had a good start as Ross McGrath scored a point within the first minute. Fingal Ravens tried to even the score straight away but shot wide. Ballyboden got 3 great points in quick succession, first by Ruairí Kirwan from a free, followed swiftly by 2 from Philip McCormack. Fingal Ravens keeper had trouble making sure of his kick outs and Ballyboden had a couple of chances on goal, one being saved and the second knocked wide. Next kick out was won by Luke and he brought it straight back down passing it to Philip, who got his second point which was followed a few minutes later with a point by Liam. Fingal had a dangerous attack which ended with a threatening ball dropping on top of Josh. Fingal Ravens called for a penalty with a crowd of bodies in the box. The ref decided on a hop ball. Ravens managed to get it back and took their first point of the match. Luke O’Donoghue won the kick out and linked up with Philip McCormack, with Philip playing the ball back into Luke for his goal. This was swiftly followed by a point by Liam O’Flaherty. Fingal Ravens came back with a goal, that originated from a free outside the penalty area, which hit off the post, back into play and they nicely chipped it over Josh. Boden went straight back down and scored a point, only to have Fingal Ravens come back and score another goal. Boden kept their composure and scored another four points before the half time whistle. Two by Ruairí Kirwan, and one from Liam Flaherty and Cian Kelly. Cian Kelly was substituted for Rob Leddy just before half time.
Half time score 1-10 to 2-2
Fingal Ravens did their best to continue their momentum from the first half. Wind also picked up a bit and Josh Kane was having a tough time picking out a blue and white striped shirt. Boden had some nice play but Fingal’s defence proved too strong for Boden’s attack. Ravens got the first point of the second half, followed quickly by Mark getting a point for us.Ballyboden kept chipping away and eventually we were awarded a penalty, as Rob Leddy was taken down in front of goal. Ruairí Kirwan took the penalty shot and scored a goal. Ruadhán Fanning and Seán McDonnell were replaced by Kevin Lynch and Conor Kennedy. For the next 15 mins it was a very tight match, with both teams robbing the ball from one another. Josh made a great save in goal and managed to get the ball back up the pitch, only to have Ravens on the counter-attack again. Wind played havoc with Josh’s kick outs and many of them landed in Raven’s favour. Boden tried to get a few more points on the board, with tactical substitutions of James O’ Connor and Evan McDonnell coming on for Luke O’ Donoghue and Ruairí Kirwan. Raven’s had the majority of the play, but thankfully Boden held out and kept Fingal’s score tally for the second half to five points. The men of the match were Ruairí Kirwan for his accuracy in front of goal, Luke O’Donoghue for his high work rate, Cian Murray for his strong defending throughout the match at centre-back and Oisín Carolan for keeping the full back line safe, as they were bombarded with ball throughout the match.
Team – Josh Kane, James McDonnell, Oisín Carolan, Robbie O’ Connell, Seán McDonnell, Cian Murray, Liam Mullen, Ruadhán Fanning, Ross McGrath (0-01), Mark Mcgee (0-01), Liam Flaherty (0-03), Luke O’ Donoghue (1-01), Cian Kelly (0-01), Ruairí Kirwan (1-03), Philip McCormack (0-02), Conor Kennedy, Kevin Lynch, Evan McDonnell, Robert Leddy, James O’ Connor.
Minor C Football Match Report
Boden 1.19 Sean Heuston Gaels 2.04
The Minor C footballers had a convincing win over Sean Heuston Gaels in their championship opener in the Iveagh Grounds on Sunday. Playing on an immaculate surface, and in ideal weather conditions, the Boden lads wasted no time in getting down to business. With Jamie Ryder and David Leech dictating matters at midfield, and Tommy Burke and Charlie Mc Partland making incisive runs from their wing back positions, the forwards received ample possession and turned it to good use. Points from Eoin Cashman, Niall Creegan, and Sean Durkin followed in quick succession before Man- of- the Match Cashman found the net from an expertly-taken penalty. Further points from Burke, Mc Partland, Ryder, Laurence Murphy and Cashman again left the half – time score 1.09 to 1.02 in Boden’s favour.
The second half continued in the same vein with Eoin Cashman continuing to keep the scoreboard ticking over both from frees and from play, and with David Leech, Jamie Ryder and Jamie Hutchinson adding further points, Boden ran out convincing winners. While the forwards racked up a big score at one end, at the other end the defence dealt capably with a dangerous Gaels’ forward line. Goalkeeper Stephen Mc Grath made some fine saves and received excellent cover from the full back line of Anthony Manning, Keith Sweeney and Niall Bobbett. Meanwhile, centre- forward Peadar Mac Mathúna dropped back to provide assistance when required. But most of all this victory was due to a tremendous team effort from every panel member.