Result: 1-08 to 0-09
Well, what more can I say about this fantastic group of Men? For once I am actually searching for any more words in the dictionary to describe this panel of players. At the start of the season we set out our objectives, win promotion and win Championship. Well, we’ve just won promotion and got to the semi final of Champo. The mood was light when we met in PUM before we set of for Lusk, yet I could see that steelness in their eyes. They were focused. Cars were loaded up, our journey was on yet again. The warm up was as intense as ever, the focus was on the job in hand. The Lusk pitch was very heavy underfoot, a good warm up was essential. The talk in the huddle before the throw in was calm, yet the message was clear. Controlled football, our forward line would have to be our first line of defence. The referee threw the ball up, game on. Vinnie Moran and Enda Daly were dominant from the off. Boden were working hard to feed the forward line. Keith McCaren at half forward was making inroads with his runs and fed Mikey Dunne some excellent ball. Young Mikeys turn of pace was a joy to watch. Having turned his marker he bore down on goal and split the posts with a calmness beyond his years. Laurence Murphy and Donal Mccarthy at corner forward were making all the diagonal runs into the Lusk area.Laurence was playing out of his skin and his hard work was rewarded when he got on the score sheet himself. Keith McCaren linked up well with Enda Daly and after some intricate passing Keith sent a ball high over the blue spot. Lusk got on the score sheet themselves with a well worked point. Boden defence were immense yet again abley led by that Mr Calm himself Ross Traynor. Liam McNamara at full back was excellent in the tackle. A great understanding has grown on that back line, with Brian Fitzgerald also in excellent form. Karl Weldon at wing back was another outstanding player. His reading of the game is excellent and this helped us massively in breaking down the Lusk attack. However we didn’t have it our own way Lusk came back into the game with four points of their own. Indeed they went ahead by two points at one stage. But there was no need to panic, this team knew how to keep a cool head. The half time whistle went with both sides at level pegging, five points a piece. Mark McNamee in goal kept us in it with three point blank saves in the first half, another excellent prospect for the club. The message was the simple from the management, 30 minutes will define our season. We have got to want it more than Lusk, that meant raising our game to another level. Controlled, aggressive football was needed. The second half was dictated by Enda Daly in the centre of the field. Young McNamees kickoff were outstanding in finding Daly. Mikey was at his best out in front looking for the ball. Laurence took the half time briefing to heart and went on the offensive, latching on two points. James McTiernan at half back was out in front time after time, an absolute titanic performance. Vinnie Moran gave an all round magical display in midfield and emptied the tank. Management thought a fresh pair of legs was needed. On came Jamie Kavanagh. And what an impact. Daly won the ball, fed Laurence who in turn let loose a thunderbolt of a shot. Lusks keeper got a hand to it but who was there with the followup? Jamie somehow managed to get the shot away on his unfancied left foot to send the ball into the back of the net. Boden were level yet again. This Band of Brothers don’t give up and my God they somehow raised the game to another level. Barry O Donnell came on for the injured Ross Traynor. It can be difficult at the best of times to get up to the speed of the game but Barry got on the front foot straight away and won ball after ball. Another prospect. Jay Long came on after Brian Fitzgerald went over on his ankle. He also started to break up the Lusk attack, laying his body on the line for the cause. The clock was ticking. The ever youthful Colum Reade was brought on to hold up play. We were two points up, the tension was high. Pocession was the roar from management, don’t kick the ball away. The referee was glancing at his watch. Still play went on. Yet again the Lusk attack was broken down. Mikey kept the ball in the corner, pass after pass….keep the ball. And then all hell broke loose….The referee blew that whistle, game over. Promotion secured. Scenes of absolute joy broke out, all the hard work paid off. The entire panel have been a pleasure to work with and promotion is our just rewards. To play our semi final away to Plunketts and then our final away to Lusk and come away with two hard fought wins speaks volumes about this teams mental strength. We will take this momentum into Division 8 and aim for the top of the table. I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people. First of all my brothers David and Keith who without their input and backing, this would not of been possible. Thanks Lads. To the Football Committee abley led by Eoin Dunne. They have been a source of great help and always a phone call away. To the Chairman and Executive Committee who have backed us to the hilt this season. No request too small or big. To the Minor managers and coaches, I can’t thank them enough. No request for players was ever refused and the quality of player we got from all the Minors was of exceptional standard. A credit to you all and their families. To all the supporters who came out all season, thank you. And last but not least, my wife Tracey and family. They know how passionate I am about gaelic sports and put up with my eccentric ways. To Tracey for the washing and ironing of jerseys, score keeping, medic, statiticion, orange cutter, looking after the team as her own family. Let’s kick on now and push for another promotion in Division 8 . Boden Abu! Report by; Martin O Donnell.
Team on the day; Mark McNamee, Ross Traynor, Liam McNamara, Brian Fitzgerald, Karl Weldon, James McTiernan, Anthony Manning, Vinnie Moran, Enda Daly, Alex Murphy, Keith McCaren, Laurence Murphy, Mikey Dunne, Neil Lynch, Donal Mccarthy.
Subs; Don Hayes, Colum Reade, Mick Mcdonald, Cathal Regan, Shane Kelliher, Gearoid Healy, Jay Long, Paddy O Connoll, Jamie Kavanagh, Barry O Donnell, Ciaran Healy.