Result: 3-13 to 2-07

Junior A Football Division Championship

Ballinteer St Johns 3-11 St Vincents 2-07

Ballyboden got their Junior Championship off to a flying start by disposing of a sticky St Vincents side that led by one point at the half time break. Bodens start didn’t excite anyone in the  crowd and it didn’t really catch fire until early in the second period  when their superior fitness, team play and greater work rate  took over. Playing in to the houses end in the first half the visitors opened brightly and although a neat McPartland point drew them level, Vincents hit back with a well taken goal and a brace of points. At this stage Boden knew they were in a dog fight. But they home side knuckled down and kept the visitors at bay while picking off some nice scores themselves, the pick of these being a long range effort from the excellent O Brien. But the visitors were not to be out done and were it not for a wayward pass at the last moment they could have doubled their advantage. Boden responded having got off lightly and scored three on the trot to be one in arrears at the half time whistle.

The second half belonged to the home side. A half time reshuffle of the resources and Boden started to find roads in to the Vincents defence that had been roadblocks in the first period. Shovlins passes started to open the visitors up and a string of opportunities were offered. But not until Carney got on the end of a cross and finished neatly to the net, did Boden see daylight. The visitors were chasing a quickening home side while they tired. O’Brien and O’Donoghue in the middle of the park fielded magnificently throughout and became the platform to launch the attack. At centre back Carolan had a fine game while on both sides of him Burke and Mulligan ran themselves in to the ground for the cause. In the full back line McPartland was the free man as Vincents played with a sweeper. His point from play in the first half was magnificent. Maguire was teak tough at the back and gave nothing away while Jordan while having his hands full with the towering Morris at full forward won the dual. At wing forward, Leach got through an immense amount of work. Weldon pulled the strings from centre forward and on his right Murphy had a solid game. But the full forward line stole the show, Carney O’Dea and Kirwin were elusive, quick and hard to pin down. Given the right supply these three were a nightmare for the visitors.

Shovlin, Barton, Mahon, Cronin and O Donnell were introduced and had an immediate impact on the game. Every team needs a strong bench and Bodens was stronger by far. Boden move on to the first round proper and it looks like an interesting summer for these young men, but they show a massive appetite for work and they are willing to roll up their sleeves to get the job done. No one hides on this team. Great leaders all over the park.

We look forward to the next day