Junior A Impress in Sancta Maria

BBSE 3 16 Ballinteer St. John’s 3 08

Limrick Layder Reports 

7 days after Brendan Moran went straight up to Heaven a minutes silence was held in his honour – just minutes before the sliotar was thrown in on the Junior A hurling championship clash between BBSE Junior A’s and Ballinteer St John’s. It was an honest, dignified and understated tribute to a true gentleman.

It was a glorious morning for a match and a crowd – just shy of 200 – turned up to see a great contest.

Unusual for Boden – we had a lively start with Chris Lambert going for goal early on (after a good pass by Owen Wigglesworth) when a point was maybe the better option but it showed his intent and Chris went on to have an strong influence on proceedings – especially under the high ball.

There was a youthful look to the team as some of the old guard were either cocooning or injured but in fairness they were prominent on the line in supporting their comrades.

The forwards en bloc were on song with Ciaran Cashman scoring from frees committed by under pressure BSJ backs. Dan Nugent scored a fine point from out on the wing but the best of the day was a goal scored by Ben Kelly following a majestic pass delivered into his hand by Morgan Ryan.

Not to be outdone Fergal Ryan, another son of the famed Brendan began to gather a lot of ball around the half back line and hit good low balls into our full forward line of Cashman, Wigglesworth and Nugent who were showing well for the ball.

The more seasoned players, Des O’ Sullivan, Andy Hand, Alan O’Connor, Darren Lennox were all playing well and well up to the challenge of the relatively younger and pacey BSJ’s forwards. Boden were dominating the play but St John’s slipped in for a fairly soft goal from an acute angle. Slightly worrying was that the few times St John’s were in the Boden half they scored, mostly from frees.

Chris Lambert caught 2 great balls and Neal Farrell put in a great run and a challenge to draw a free which Cashman put over. The Ryan’s combined to put Wigglesworth through and he scored a good goal. Nugent scored a point, Des made a great high catch, Ben Kelly threw a nice dummy and drew a free, Alan O’Connor was fouled (hard to believe) and Cashman duly obliged with both frees.

Score at half time was BBSE 2 – 10 / BSJ 1 – 6. The 1^st half was absolutely class hurling of a very high standard.

The 2^nd half after a lively start ….with Cashman, Morgan Ryan, Lambert and Kelly scoring early faded somewhat and we began to defend too deep and lost our shape around the middle. We got careless in our tackling and gave away some needless frees which St John’s put over the bar.

Daniel O’Riordan came on for the injured Ben Kelly and got an immediate point, followed shortly after with a goal after good pass from Austen Lynch, Daniel Nugent scored from a sideline. Ruairi MacMathuna, Jack Kenny and John McCormack were introduced and freshened things up a bit. However St John’s slipped in for another 2 handy enough goals to put a more respectable score on the board, final score BBSE 3 – 18 / 3 – 8  BSJ’S

Considering the long ‘lock-in’ and 1^st match of the championship ….the performance particularly in the 1^st half was very good and shows what this team is capable of but against a better opposition we have to curtail the frees conceded and hold our concentration and shape for the duration of the match.

p.s. Well done to Enda Cashman (left full back) on his debut at this level, he was part of a very good full back line and a good back division overall.

Team; Matthew Nolan, Enda Cashman, Des O’Sullivan, Andy Hand (captain), Alan O’Connor, Fergal Ryan, Darren Lennox, Neal Farrell, Eoin McKenna, Ben Kelly, Morgan Ryan, Chris Lambert, Dan iel Nugent, Owen wigglesworth, Ciaran Cashman.

Subs; Daniel O’Riordan, Austen Lynch, Ruairi MacMathuna, Jack Kenny, John McCormack – Ronan Sharkey, Aidan Dundon, Alan McGrath, Ciaran McDonnell, David Gilheany, Ruairi Hestor