Result: 2-12 to 1-12
The Minor A Football Championship campaign continued on Sunday morning with a trip to Malahide to play St. Sylvesters in the final group game with a semi-final place at stake for the winners. Conditions were ideal for football with the pitch in very good condition. An early free from Sylvesters was soon cancelled out by a John McGinn free as both teams took a while to settle into the game with so much at stake. Both defences were on top in the early stages with Sylvesters taking a 2 point lead which was short lived as Peter Gannon and Luke McDwyer replying with 2 well taken points from play. A well taken goal by Peter Gannon after good work by the Ballyboden forwards gave the visiting team a slight edge. Jake Turley was in commanding form in goals with some superb saves and distribution as Sylvesters attacked in response to the goal. The Ballyboden defence stood firm with the home team restricted to 2 points from frees to narrow the gap. Ciaran O’Reilly and Mark Walsh then scored 2 excellent points from play with Sylvesters replying with a well taken point. A John McGinn free left Ballyboden ahead 1.6 to 0.6 as the referee blew the half-time whistle.
The second half began with early Sylvesters pressure yielding two points but Mark Walsh and Conor Lowe at midfield were securing good possession for the Ballyboden forwards and this resulted in well taken points by Conor Lowe, Kevin Desmond and a free from the accurate boot of John McGinn edged Ballyboden in front again. A well worked move resulted in a goal for the home team followed by a point to put them in the lead. The entire Ballyboden defence stood up to the pressure exerted by Sylvesters with the full back line of Kevin Desmond, Cillian Kirwan and Sean O’Donnell ably assisted by the hard work of Conor Hanrahan, Patrick Dunleavy and Cian Maher in the half back line. Another John McGinn free levelled the match with 15 minutes to go. Malachy Codd was then introduced following his recovery from injury and he quickly worked a point from play which was quickly countered by a point from Sylvesters.
Pearce Christie and Luke McDwyer were using their great pace to limit any breaks by the home team from defence. Enda Cashman was now securing good possession and a fine move resulted in a superbly taken goal by Malachy Codd to give Ballyboden a 3 point lead. Jack Kenny, David Ward and Dean Ralph worked extremely hard on their introduction as Sylvesters scored a point reduced the arrears to 2 points. Great defence resulted in a move upfield which finished with a well taken point by Luke McDwyer to close out the scoring and a 3 point win for Ballyboden against a very good St. Sylvesters team. Well done to all the Ballyboden players for a tremendous team effort in the game.
Congratulations to both teams for the spirit in which the match was played. Thanks to the parents and the large travelling Boden support who gave great encouragement to the team throughout the match. The win means the team has qualified for the championship semi-final which should be away to Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday 18th November. We wish our injured squad members a speedy return to full fitness. Our very best wishes to the Minor A hurling squad in the championship final against Kilmacud on next Sunday.
Minor A Squad: Enda Cashman, Pearce Christie, Malachy Codd, Jacques Dalton, Kevin Desmond, Joey Donohue, Patrick Dunleavy, Peter Gannon, Conor Hanrahan, Jack Kenny, Cillian Kirwan, Conor Lowe, Ruairi MacMathuna, Cian Maher, Luke McDwyer, John McGinn, John McGuire, Sean O’Donnell, Ciaran O’Reilly, Dean Ralph, Jake Turley, Cillian Wall, Mark Walsh, David Ward.
Pic by John Kirwan. More here