Until now it has become common practice to start the report of the annual Ladies Football blitz with a commentary on the glorious weather…….! Well that would be too predictable and boring so instead we are delighted to report on the huge success of the annual Boden Ladies water sports/football blitz in the torrential rain at Sancta Maria on Friday 10th June!

Despite horrendous conditions, at 5.45pm our leader Donagh made the brave (and lonely!) decision to start the blitz in the sure and certain hope it would “blow over”. Alas that wasn’t to be as the rain was incessant until the final whistle of the last game (and typically stopped right there and then!) but who cares as the girls forgot completely about the conditions and over the course of 55 games (trivia – only 51 games to be played in Euros 2016!) showed their skills to the fullest. Enjoyment was the order of the day (alongside Dave Mellon’s legendary “restaurant quality burgers”!).

                                 Fire is no longer the enemy of this BBQ!

From ages U/9 to U/14 the 250 girls were divided into 25 teams with matches played on eight pitches set up on the all-weather and prunty pitches.

Despite the later start (due to wishfully holding off for the rain to “blow over”) our efficient bean counter leader ensured we caught up on time so that parents and supporters watching only had to get wet for the scheduled 3 hours instead of 3 ½ hours!

Irrespective of the weather the ladies section believes it can report that every girl thoroughly enjoyed the evening and with a minimum of 4 matches for each team they were certainly kept busy. Combined with the burgers, Ice Cream Van, Coffee Van, Tuck shop and oh yeah the water, they certainly weren’t bored.

There is something really special about the way Boden coaches its juvenile players and it was evident to see the high standard of coaching in how girls are developing in their skills and team play. But it was just as impressive to see coaches and team managers on the evening making sure of the main priority for the girls – enjoyment. This tournament would not be worth continuing if the girls simply did not enjoy it.

Overall another great Ladies blitz and with such attendance despite the weather it looks like June is now the preferred date in the diary from now on

The Ladies Football committee would like to pass on its sincere thanks to the following supporters and volunteers:-

Main Sponsor

Again our thanks go to Supervalu Knocklyon a long time supporter of Boden for providing all of the BBQ supplies to feed 250+ hungry girls and supporters. We are extremely grateful for their continued support .

Team Managers

Eoin Reid, Deborah Heavey, Carol Donaghy, Des Murphy, Kathleen O’Leary, Donal Griffin, Karen McGibney, Daragh McMahon, Philip Larkin, Mike Doyle, Derek Lawlor, Marcus Cosgrave, Alex Murphy, Lynn Mulready, Mary Hyland, Seamus Brennan, Tony Duffy, Karl Burden, Emer Meath, Maria Sweeney, Tom Brennan, Pat Reynolds, Mary Flanagan, John Flanagan, Ian Horan, Damien Coleman

Referees – we would particularly like to recognize the following lady referees who gave of their time voluntarily and took a break from the junior cert to answer the call

Hannah Bolger, Grace Campbell, Grace Campbell (eile!),  Katie Coyne, Elizabeth Manning, Ann Dalton,  Kate Hutchinson, Sarah McGrath, Amy Young, Lisa Basquel,

The following “older” refs also tried their best!

Dave McMyler, Tommy Keogh, Cathal O’Toole, and finally a special call out to U/14 boys player Micheal Manning who refereed numerous games to give the “aul fellas” a rest!

Catering – a new designation of culinary standards was agreed upon after Friday – Boden Stars! – the Boden two star rosette goes to:

Dave Mellon,  Liz Mellon, Cormac O’Farrell, Brendan Coyne, Niall Tuite, Martin McGrath, Brendan Coyne

A huge thank you also to the following people who also gave so generously of their time

ROLE VOLUNTEER
First aid and supervision Tara Griffin, Liz O’Farrell, Mary Kirwin, Sinead Hynes, Alyson Rudden, Emer Meath, Roseanne Basquel,  Maria Coyne
Pitch Co-Ordinators Ken Regan, Dave McMyler, Stephen Cambell, Kieran Rudden, Colm Bolger
Scoreboard Ronan Feely
Car park Mick Aylmar
MC Pat (“Dude looks like a lady” – see photos) Conway

Last but not least – the “fantastic four” who were terrific on the day and in the lead up to the event

Donagh O’Farrell, Kieran Rudden, Colm  Bolger, Stephen Campbell. Well done to this group who were on site early on Friday to get everything ready and were some of the last to leave after the clean up.

Ladies Committee

Click here for more photos https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMusk00H23aFfuAhl6K8jCD2VVgknk4ATR3kLAhpsxUt_SzsKhF0HUoDuANTUxgKg?key=MXZ3TUlLUzcwaDZoXzE2TVJNbmVaTGZNUWxaRHlR