Na Fianna Overpower Ballyboden in Championship Quarter Final

Na Fianna 4 26 Ballyboden St Endas 2 14

Long Fella Reports from Parnell Park

Na Fianna confirmed their superiority over a determined Ballyboden in the quarter final of the senior hurling championship at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon. Just like last year’s final, the modest Boden support were mentally begging referee Sean Stack to blow the final whistle with the Mobhi Road side running riot on Finn McGarry’s goal. The option to switch channel was not available to them. The scores came from every angle, goals and points, and just about every player trying to get in on the act. The only difference with last years game was that Boden were within a point of their opponents with six minutes gone in the second half. A brace of goals from Currie and Stacey changed the game and set up the final scoring flourish. Boden only scored four second half points and a late goal to dent the county champions tally. Their final total rarely wins games these days, and the Boden management were left to rue the failure to build up a lead by the half with a gale at their backs.

Boden opened well with Niall Ryan hitting a brace from mid-field. Na Fianna’s Colin Currie replied with a free. Boden’s David Gleeson scored next, the first of his excellent four on the day. Boden had goals on their minds, but Paul Ryan and Pearce Christie found Jonathan Tracey too sharp in the Fianna goals. The next three scores came from the county champions, Stacey, AJ Murphy and Currie. Gleeson and Currie exchanged scores, Paddy Dunleavy the supplier for Boden. A determined Na Fianna Attack on the Boden goals led to Murphy firing past McGarry for the opening goal.  Simon Lambert undid some of the damage with a long-range free. 1.06 to 0.05 and twenty minutes gone.

Paul bagged another free and was followed by Boden’s Jack Lambert from outfield, the first of his three points from out in the country with the gale at his back. Gleeson hit another super score, a pass from Luke Mulligan-Lynch along the wing. Na Fianna kept up their scoring through Currie and King and with the half running out, Gleeson bagged the final score, a goal that he “spooned” over Tracey after the defence allowed the ball past them. Half-time 1.11 to 1.10 Na Fianna in charge.

Second half opened with Currie and Stacey opening a three point lead. But Paul Ryan and Gleeson replied superbly. Twenty five minutes left and it is “game on”! Na Fianna were not having any of it and proceeded to overpower Boden to game end. Goals came from Currie, a low ground stroke when the ball landed at his feet, Stacey, a bullet and Tracey, a penalty. The points came flying in from all angles, walloping the gathering net like missiles. Boden could only respond through Kevin Desmond, Hammersley and a late goal from Jim Kennedy. Boden did try to get Niall McMorrow into the game with head-high passes, but he was too tight to the terrace side-line and carried over in the slippery conditions.

The final whistle came as some relief and an acknowledgement that Boden gave it everything, but were outgunned by a superb Na Fianna, benefiting from the excellent players they developed from many successful minor campaigns. The best of luck to them in the rest of the championship.

Squad: Finn McGarry, Luke Mulligan-Lynch, James Madden, Stephen O’Connor, Paddy Dunleavy, Simon Lambert, Jack Lambert, John McGuire, Eoin Behan, Luke McDwyer, Niall McMorrow, Niall Ryan, David Gleeson, Paul Ryan, Pearce Christie, Matthew Nolan, Barry McGuire, Kevin Desmond, Jim Kennedy, Darragh Kenny, Timmy Hammersley, Cillian Kirwan, Ronan Twomey, Luke Corcoran, Conor Dooley, Sean McDonnell, Conor O’Donoghue.

Thanks to John Kirwan for photos. Click here for more