Ballyboden St Endas 2 22 Kilmacud Crokes 0 14

Long Fella Reports from PUM 

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Coming in from convincing opening wins in the competition, two of the top guns in Dublin hurling met on Thursday evening on a carpet of perfect turf with a balmy temperature of 20C. What should have been a competitive contest eventually petered out to an easy win for the home side. Referee Tom Tansey blew his first whistle for a solemn minute of silence in memory of dedicated clubman Noel Madden. His memory was very much in the thoughts of the assembled support.

Tom Mullins Keeps Eye on Sliotar

Boden set out their game-plan from the second whistle and opened up a lead that they were not to lose. Four quick-fire points came from Gavin Corrigan, Corkman Tom Mullins (Rob Leddy and Naoise Maguire providing the links), Corrigan again after Leddy found him, and Jonno Driscoll after Maguire laid on the pass. Crokes replied with a fine point from their top marksman Michael Roche. Boden kept the pressure on with Fionn Maguire on the mark followed by Finn McDonagh after Kenny Wigglesworth laid on a long pass. Crokes were not without chances and may have been unlucky not to goal from a brace of chances. But perhaps that was their undoing over the hour, with their consistent pressure for green flags. They did close the margin between the sides to just a brace by the water-break with Alex Carroll, Conor Galvin and Roche raising white flags. Boden’s solitary addition came from Mullins. 07 to 05.

With the referee letting the game flow, Mullins created his own space for his third point. O’Driscoll raided into Crokes rearguard but he found goalman Sean Garvey in top form and the goal opportunity went abegging. Naoise was in top form in defence and he flashed a great point over the black-spot, double scores 10 to 05. Roche and Naoise then exchanged long-range points. Corrigan confirmed Boden’s dominance with a classy point from outfield, Leddy heavily involved in the creation. Half-time score 12 to 07.

Conor O’ Donoghue makes a long relieving clearance

The third quarter was somewhat scrappy, but that did not bother Boden’s goalman Conor O’Donoghue with a double save from Crokes raiders. Mid-field man Eoghan O’Neill for Boden was showing up well in the engine-room and he completed some good play with a fine point. Carroll replied for Crokes, but the end-game was well in sight for Boden and O’Driscoll set about closing the game out with the first of a plethora of fine scores over the remaining third of the game. O’Neill and introduction Mattie Weldon became providers to Corrigan and McDonagh who both contributed to 17 to 10 lead going into the final quarter.

O’Driscoll showed some economic touches to create a bullet of a goal and he was followed by Aaron Coffey with his own green flag. Crokes tried hard to close the gap but points from Roche were well matched by O’Driscoll and Shane Kennedy.

Over the hour Boden never looked in trouble with their better touch and overall game-plan. Crokes tried hard for goals but they found the Boden last line of defence of Reddy, McCarron and Wiigglesworth hard to breach with Adam Jermin also in particularly solid form. Naoise, Corrigan and O’Driscoll competed well for the game’s MVP, but perhaps the fairest summation was that this was an efficient team performance.

Boden: Conor O’Donoghue, Karl Reddy, Keith McCarron, Kenny Wigglesworth, Rob Leddy, Naoise Maguire, Adam Jermin, Eoghan O’Neill, Fionn Maguire, Jonathan O’Driscoll, Gavin Corrigan, Shane Kennedy, Tom Mullins, Eoin Small, Finnian McDonagh, Mattie Weldon, Aaron Coffey, Donal Butler, Cian Mellett.

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