BBSE 2 22 Cuala 0 18
The Long Fella Reports from PUM
Photos by John Kirwan
An early scoring blitz from Ballyboden paved the way for a comfortable win in the opening round of the new season league. By the first water-break the home side had notched up 1.08 to the visitors tally of just four points. The goal was well worked off the back of some effective play in the middle third. The final ball came from full forward Paul Doherty to the raiding Luke McDwyer who dispatched his shot wide of the reach of Cuala goalman Cormac Spain. McDwyer used his ‘loose’ role to good effect and also contributed a brace of points. That said, Boden had two other very fluent performers in corner-man Niall McMorrow and midfield speedser Aidan Mellett. McMorrow’s first touch and elusive movement proved a menace to the Cuala defence and over the hour he contributed 1.06 as well as laying on many useful passes to better placed team-mates. One of these led to Niall Ryan splitting the posts for one of the best scores of the game. Boden’s better workrate was best typified by Conor McKeon and he got his just reward when he pointed to make the score four to one.
The early possession was mainly controlled by Boden with Seanie McDonnell and Mellett pressing all the right buttons from mid-field. In defence Captain Shane Durkin teamed up well with Simon Lambert and Paddy Dunleavy to prevent ball from getting to Cuala’s front line and thereby set up plenty of opportunities for the Boden forwards. Over the hour all six starting attackers chalked their names onto the slate, with perhaps the best roars of support coming from team-mates when debutant Eoin Behan pointed in the second half. Cuala worked off limited scoring opportunities with perhaps Jack Lahart, Eoghan O’Callaghan (yes, another one of that clan), and Emmett Murphy showing best for them.
Into the second quarter it was obvious that Mellett was relishing his new role in the midfield and he used his pace to open up plenty of space in the scoring zone. His partner McDonnell was heavily involved in a five pass movement that eventually reached McMorrow. His shot to the onion-sack proved unstoppable. The score now stood at 2.13 to seven points and bar a collapse from Boden the game was as good as over as a contest. Boden’s scoring range eventually included all players from the half-back line up whereas Cuala were expending a huge amount of energy chasing down raiding Boden forwards as well as Mellett. In defence Boden’s goalman Conor O’Donoghue showed lightning fast reactions to thwart at least three goal-bound shots and found useful support from the full-back line of Stephen O’Connor, Dean Curran and Rob Leddy. The latter found himself in a forward role on one occasion, but realising that he was surrounded by scoring forwards, he released the pass to add further to Cuala’s woes.
In the dying embers of the game, Cuala went after goals and eventually were awarded a penalty, however with O’Donoghue having already advertised his stopping abilities, the Cuala shot was well wide of his reach, but too wide to be captured by the net. Both sides did well on placed balls with Paul Doherty a steady marksman for Boden.
Next up will be the fixture with Faughs on July 1st at 19.30, affording an opportunity for some late refreshments at the ‘Surgery’ under the management of Mick and his busy staff.
Conor O’Donoghue, Stephen O’Connor, Dean Curran, Rob Leddy, Shane Durkin, Simon Lambert, Paddy Dunleavy, Seanie McDonnell, Aidan Mellett, Eoin Behan, Conor McKeon, Niall Ryan, Niall McMorrow, Paul Doherty, Luke McDwyer, Conor Robinson, Pearse Christie, Darragh Kenny, Finn McGarry, Keith McCarron.