Ballymun Kickhams 0-9
Ballyboden St. Enda’s 3-13
After a weekend of spectacular thrilling Boden performances the intermediates can only claim that a polished workmanlike performance took the team over the line in Páirc Ciceam on Saturday afternoon. This was a squad that was re-visiting the scene of last year’s championship exit at the the same stage against the same opponents. In contrast to last year Boden were coming off a credible league campaign whereas Kickhams were toiling in the lower reaches of Division 3. With such a backdrop the expectation was high but was tempered with a degree of caution as Kickhams have been a bogey team over the years.
With an almost complete panel to select from the omens were positive. The only real changes were the introduction of Naoise Maguire for his brother Fionn and the return of Mikey Dunne to a starting position in the place of John McGinn. Otherwise the team remained similar to that which played in the latter part of the season. The pitch was soft but in great condition after a night of heavy rain.
The home team opened the scoring in the second minute and it Boden a further 5 minutes to equalise from the boot of Ruairi Kirwan. In between Boden had a number of wides and had dropped the ball short also.
Davy Hayes tagged on a second point which was responded to by Kickhams in the 11th minute. Boden then reeled off three points in a row from Archie (2) and from Ciaran. Mun again responded with a point. A Mikey point pushed Boden further ahead but this was answered by 2 points for the home team. It was neck and neck with neither team managing to exert any dominance. Before the half ended Liamo and Archie secured another couple only for Mun to notch two of their own. At the break it was 8 – 7 to Boden. Memories of the first half include some excellent goalkeeping by Mark as well as pin-point accurate kick-outs to Archie.
The second half opened with both teams trading points before Mikey and Ruairi widened the margin to three points. Boden were now beginning to exert some dominance and were duly rewarded in the 13th minute with a goal from Cian Bates after a great pass from Liamo to Ciaran who rounded his defender to set-up Cian. Mun found themselves 6 points in arrears and committed themselves to all out attack. This left space for the Boden attack who seized the opportunity and converted goals from the boots of Davy and Luke as well as a couple of points from impressive Ronan and Ruairi. The home team had no answer other than a late free as Boden ran out comfortable winners.
Thanks to Pat Conway and Harry Reddy for umpiring and to Spud Murphy for maintaining order on the sideline.
Best wishes to Sam Lally who will be out of action for the next few weeks.
Teaser: spot Mark McNamee in the team photo!
Team: Mark McNamee Karl Reddy Naoise Maguire Fergal Haran  John Murphy (45′ James O’Hara) Scott Cullen Keith Sweeney (55′ Oisin Carolan) Luke O’Donoghue (1-1) Davey Hayes (1-1) (45′ Neil Hester) Ciaran Archbold (0-3) (35′ Evan Flanagan) Ciaran O’Reilly (0-1) Liam Flaherty (0-2) (50′ Dara Shovlin) Cian Bates (1-0)(40′ Ronan Cleary 0-1) Ruairi Kirwan (0-3) Mikey Dunne (0-1)
Not used: David Leach Tommy Burke John McGinn
Injured: Eoghan Monahan Dylan Walsh Ste McGrath
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