The last week saw a competitive return to action for all our adult football teams. And a good start it was too with 3 wins from 4 in the cup competitions and 2 from 3 in the Minor leagues. First up were the Inters on Wednesday 11th Feb in the Joy Cup against neighbours St.Judes. Despite the fact that it was their first fixture of the year the game had an impressive pace about it and the team played well to record a deserved 3-14 to 1-07 victory. Next up were the the Seniors on Sunday 15th in the St.Vincent De Paul Cup against Thomas Davis in Pairc Ui Mhurchu. They didn’t disappoint either and goals from Ronan Cleary and a cracker from 20 yards from Deco O’Mahony helped the lads to a six point win, 2-14 to 1-11, under new captain Darragh Nelson. The Junior A’s went down to Na Fianna by 2-17 to 1-07 while the Junior B’s got their season up and running under new Manager Martin O’Donnell coming from behind to beat Castleknock by 3-10 to 2-10.

The Minors began their League campaigns with wins for the A’s who impressively beat St.Brigids by 2-17 to 1-07 in PUM and the sharp shootin’ C’s who dispatched Crumlin in deadly fashion. See reports for both matches below. Unfortunately the B’s game was abandoned due to an injury to a Na Fianna player and we wish the lad a speedy recovery.

Minor A Football Division 1  Ballyboden 2-17 St Brigids 1-7

Ballybodens Minor footballer got their league campaign of to a good start when the disposed of a strong St Bridgits side at Pairc U Murchu on Sunday morning. Both side were short 3 to 4 of their squad, but I don’t think the result would have changed much. Boden opened the stronger and it was obvious from the throw in that the Blanchardstown side  were never going to be able to match Bodens power and pace. McGarry and O Donoghue in the centre of the field were simply too strong for the team in red, McGarry powered forward like an express train from the off and lofted over the opening score to set the trend, with Boden knocking over points from all positions. Boden lost their talisman at full forward, Kirwan to a black card. This seemed to upset them for a while, before they soon got their game back on track. Boden wasted quite a few chances including two good goal opportunities to put daylight between the two teams and at half time there was the minimum between them, Boden squeezing it by a point after  O Donnell ghosted in to goal for the visitors shortly before the break. Boden reacted well and tacked on two more points before the half time whistle, to go in at the break 1 point ahead.

Half time Boden 0-07, St Brigids 1-03

The home side started the second half with some determination. The halftime team talk seemed to have galvanized the home side and they simply tore in to the visitors. Two quick points and then a great goal from Kelly, the smallest man on the field, who rose highest to punch the ball to the oppositions net. Boden were now ahead by six. Bodens game was built on a rock solid defence and a great ball winning midfield. With a plentiful supply coming in from the midfield, Bodens forwards kept the scoreboard ticking over. Ross McMcGrath goaled again half way through the half to put ten between the sides and effectively ended the game as a contest. O’Donoghue rattled the crossbar with a rocket as the home side piled on the pressure. Hestor had to leave the action with ten to go after shipping a tough tackle. He had his work done before he left the fray. Kane was rock solid in goals, while in front of him his full back line of O’Connell, Carolan and the excellent Cronin kept the visitors well marshalled. At centre back Hestor was a colossus. Either side of him O’Dea and Keller (injured in the second half) were magnificent. In the midfield McGarry was unstoppable while his partner O’Donoghue had a great hour, getting in on the scoring regularly. The half forward line of Flaherty, McGrath and the industrious McGee had the opposition in trouble from the start.Up front Kirwin (until his dismissal) Kelly and Byrne ran the visitors ragged.Mahon came in for Kane and looked assured under the posts. Mikey Dunne and Ross McGarry brought a freshness in to the forward line when introduced and helped to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The Management will be happy with this performance, but they know that there will be a big improvement needed for the next engagement in two weeks.

Scorers

Barra McGarry 0-06 (3 frees) Ross McGarry 0-03, Luke O’Donoghue 0-03. Cian Kelly 1-02, Ross McGrath 1-0, Liam Flaherty 0-01, Mark McGee 0-01, Ruari Kirwin 0-01

A St.Valentine’s Day Massacre!

Ballyboden’s Minor C’s 8-13 – 3-6 Crumlin

In Chicago in 1929, Al Capone orchestrated a hit on the Bugsy Moran gang in what became known as the St Valentines Day Massacre.  Our Minor C team were as ruthless on Sunday morning as Capone et al when they met Crumlin in a Ballycullen showdown.

The game had a feel of a phoney war initially as Crumlin were low on numbers and both teams took time to settle. Boden were first to draw blood after 10 minutes or so when Eoin ‘Tiny’ Monaghan got the ball rolling.  Both teams then went to the mattresses as the game opened up with ‘Boden being the more accurate and subsequently hitting 2 -7 in the first half.  Most notable scores  came when in true Scarface style, as Crumlin were asked to say ‘Hello to our little friend!’and Peter O’Toole stepped up to put two over.  Any threats from the men in all blue were ably dealth with by the enforcer between the posts that was Emmet ‘Steady’ Fields.  Centre field was owned by ‘Boden in the guise of ‘TheNail’ O’Reilly and Jamie ‘No Nonsense’Kavanagh.

After the break, ‘Boden kept it strictly business and continued as they left off in the first half with numerous surging runs from Luke ‘Babyface’ Bolger and Paddy ‘Rock’ Munnelly.  Although not directly involved in many scores, like Brando in One, Matthew Lawlor pulled all the strings around the 40 to keep the score board ticking over.  Every good organisation needs a cleaner and ‘Boden had none better in the scond half than Robbie ‘Killer’ Keegan with a performance so clinical, it would stand beside that of Mr Wolf in Pulp Fiction.

By the final whistle, the massacre was completed with a score line of 8-13 to 3-6 to Boden.  The Firhouse gang were ‘Bada Bing’ while the Dublin 12 posse were Bada Boop!

Respect must go to Cormac ‘Corleone’ O’Farrell, the Godfather, ably assisted by his Capo de capo, Dermot ‘Runner’ O’Reilly and Consigliere in Chief, Colm ‘Lugs’ Bolger for yesterday’s victory.  Tribute must also go to the head of the Minor D Family, Cathal ‘The Tool’ O’Toole for his contribution in the shoot out.

Upcoming Fixtures

This weekend sees the Adult Football League get underway with all 4 adult teams in action in AFL 1,4,5 & 9. See poster below for full details and always check the website for any changes.