Adult League Division One Ballyboden St Endas v Kilmacud Crokes, Wednesday 12th July Pairc Uí Mhúrchú.

This was the game that everyone was looking forward to. Kilmacud Crokes and ourselves were unbeaten after 7 games in the League and something would have to give and it surely did! After a wonderful game of football, Ballyboden came out on top by three points!

Our visitors, 2022 Leinster Senior Champions, were unbeaten in Dublin throughout the whole of last season and this season to date in all Dublin competitions.

Both teams were short some regulars but there was enough quality on both teams for those present to expect a cracker and they weren’t disappointed as the game moved from end to end at a ferocious pace with both teams trying to establish an early advantage.

Kilmacud were first to score followed quickly by an equalising point from Ciara Ruddy. A misfired kick out by the Crokes keeper was intercepted by the alert Aisling Byrne and the ball ended up with Ruddy who had the easy task of slotting the ball into the unguarded net.

The game continued with neither team giving an inch and both defences stretched to their limits with Sadie Codd, Rachel Ruddy, Aisling Byrne and Hannah Murphy particularly prominent for Boden.

On the 18th minute Kilmacud won a turnover in the Boden defence and worked a goal which brought them right back into the game so at half-time playing with a stiff breeze we led by 5points on a score line of:

Half Time Score: Ballyboden St Endas 1.8 Kilmacud Crokes       1.3

The second half continued in the same vain with both teams continuing the relentless pace Our goalkeeper Sarah O’Brien was called upon early doors to make a fine save from point blank range after a good Kilmacud attack.

Shauna Feely struck a beautiful left footed point as both sides pushed on down the home straight, Kate Donaghy also contributing with her left coming in from a tight angle.

New girl Rebecca McDonald was introduced on 27minutes for her Ballyboden debut and immediately had an impact first putting fellow sub Aine Rafter in for a shot on goal which smashed against the upright and then on 30minutes, her neat handpass put Natalia Hyland through on goal and she made no mistake from close in.

Almost 8minutes of extra time was played and in that time Kilmacud were awarded a penalty which they converted and added a further goal from some slack defending giving a somewhat distorted look to the final score line.

Final Score: Ballyboden St. Endas   2.14 Kilmacud Crokes.    3.8

Scorers: Natalia Hyland 1.7, Ciara Ruddy 1.2, Hannah Hyland & Shauna Feely (0.2 each) and Kate Donaghy 0.1pt.

Many thanks to Miriam Doyle for the photos. For more, see here

Ballyboden are now top of the League table with one match in hand so are guaranteed a League final place, most probably a home venue.