Result: 1 – 9 to 1 – 8
Ballyboden St Endas 1 – 9 St Vincents 1 – 8
One point victories are always sweet but when they are accomplished by 14 men they are all the more memorable. Fifteen minutes from time Ciaran Dempsey was sidelined for his second yellow card – the first one a little on the harsh side.
The bustling centre forward was a big loss denying Boden not only the services of a player but his physical presence was having an impact on the game.
Boden were first off the mark at the Belcamp venue with a neat Gary Coughlan point inside two minutes. Three minutes later Ciaran Dempsey stretched the lead to two with a fine score. However Boden momentarily lost control of the game when a speculative lob was fielded by goalkeeper Ger Flaherty who ended up bundled to the back of the net. In the opinion of the referee, he was adjudged to have lost possession and so was fair game as they say.
Vincents tagged on a good point and despite playing second fiddle were in front 1 – 1 to 0 – 2 after 11 minutes.
A Graham Ward free steadied the Boden ship and the No 10 was to play an influential role in the game. As Boden’s midfield of Ronan O’Donoghue and Derek Saville enjoyed a good spell Boden went on the offensive and were rewarded with a number of frees which Graham Ward dispatched with some style between the posts.
Boden were hit with another set-back when Aaron O’Reilly who was having a fine game was injured in a tackle and was replaced by John Spain. The replacement slotted in well and with Andy Gardiner using all his experience at centre back, Boden regained control of the game.
Twenty-two minutes into the game Shane Hogan won a superb ball that started a six man move that led to John Corrigan giving Gary Coughlan a perfect pass. The corner forward rounded the ‘keeper to crack to the roof of the net. Six minutes later a superb Ger Flaherty clearance found its way to Ciaran Dempsey and he added his second white flag to complete a 1 – 4 to 0 – 1 spell for the Boden. At half time the score read Ballyboden St Endas 1 – 6 St. Vincents 1 – 2.
Half time talk from Tommy Flynn
Whether it was the heat or the improved performance by St Vincents but the Boden display dipped in the early part of the second half and the Marino men came storming back. Three points cut the gap to two. But a superb Graham Ward free showed there was still life in the Boden boys. The same player brought his tally to 0 – 5 when he drilled a 45 between the sticks to restore a three points advantage.
The departure of Dempsey in the 45th minute looked like it was going to spell ruin for side but the side rose to the challenge particularly the superb Brendan Young at full back and the hard-working Karol Cronin and John Fleming.
Niall Brennan came on the lend assistance in attack where Vinny Moran and Joey Marrinan finished strongly. Graham Ward grabbed his first score from play in the 57th minute and although Vincents cut the lead to a single point, Boden just about held out.
Ger Flaherty, Aaron O’Reilly, Brendan Young, Shane Hogan, Karol Cronin, Andy Gardiner, John Fleming, Ronan O’Donoghue, Derek Saville, Graham Ward (0 – 6), Ciaran Dempsey (0 – 2), John Corrigan, Joey Marrinan, Vinny Moran, Gary Coughlan (1 – 1)
Subs: John Spain for O’Reilly (inj); Niall Brennan for Corrigan; Stephen Coughlan for Coughlan
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