On Sunday our Senior B team faced Kilmacud Crokes first team in the Division 3 Championship Final. A terrific first half display with some terrific scores put us in a commanding position at half time. A backs to the wall second half got us over the lines to give these girls a fantastic Championship win. Roisin Walsh was our Captain and gleefully accepted the Cup, with Grace Walsh topping the day off by deservedly taking the Player of the Match award. They now go on to represent Dublin in the Leinster Intermediate semi-final this coming Sunday, where they travel to Tullaroan(Kilkenny) to face their hosts.
On Saturday the U14A’s took part in a titanic struggle against old foes Lucan in their Championship Final. A sluggish first half will soon be forgotten, with an exceptionally high standard second half from both sides. In the end a draw was probably a fair result, no date as of yet for the replay.
This coming Sunday the Senior C team are at home to Naomh Mearnog in their Championship semi-final. After a convincing passage through the group stage hopes are high that the girls can go on to make the final. Throw in is 11am at Cherryfield, please support these girls.
Best of luck to Doireann Mullany with her surgery this week on her cruciate injury, we look forward to your return.
Division 3 Championship Final Ballyboden St Endas B 4-5 Kilmacud Crokes 1-10
A terrific win for this bunch of girls, with the damage being done in the first half. Claire Kirwan goaled in the 3rd minute, but Crokes responded immediately with a goal of their own. Boden went again and a terrific point from Aisling O’ Leary was followed soon after by a second goal by Claire Kirwan. Orla Tevlin then struck soon after for a 3rd goal, and when Aoife Tobin poached with a great finish after a fine side-line cut by Aisling O’ Leary there was daylight between the sides.
Crokes dominated the next period with 4 points to close the gap. In the final 7 minutes of the first half Boden once again got on top. A fine 45 from Danielle White was soon followed by another point from Aoife Tobin. Next up was the score of the game, a terrific 60 yard run by Grace Walsh, ending in a hand-pass to Orla Tevlin who put it over the bar from outside the 45, a score to grace any occasion. Danielle soon followed with another fine point from play to leave the half-time score 4-5 to 1-5 in Bodens favour, after playing with a slight wind advantage. It should also be noted that many of the Boden attacks were starting from the huge puck-outs from 16yr old Emer O’ Leary in goal, many of the puck-outs going directly to our full forward line.
The half-time talk centred on denying Crokes any goals, and with that in mind Aoife Tobin played a fine sweeper role in the second half. Twice Crokes got through only to be denied by terrific saves from goal-keeper Emer O’ Leary. Grace Walsh was to the fore at full-back, with many fine catches one of the reasons she deservedly went on to be named Player of the Match.
Fiona Masterson, Roisin Walsh, Gráinne’kit-kat’ Corcoran (private joke, you’d have to see the photo!!) & Jane Nolan showed all of their experience throughout the second half to keep Crokes at bay, well assisted by Rebeka Kamvar. Laura Burns & Aoife Tobin worked tirelessly throughout the game, and the half forward line of Aoife O’ Brien, Aisling O’ Leary & Aoife O’ Neill got through a huge amount of work. The full-forward line of Orla Tevlin, Claire Kirwan & Danielle White looked like they’d score every time the ball went in, but those occasions were rare in the second half to say the least! The attitude was ‘what we have we hold!!’.
Subs Leanne Barrett & Eimear Butler won a lot of ball when they entered the fray, and a special mention to Sarah Lambert who picked up a late back injury, hopefully she’ll be OK for this coming Sunday. Ciara O’ Neill, Iseult Kelleher & Cora Ryan have all played a major part throughout the year and no doubt all have done a great job if required last Sunday. Also Aoife O’ Leary who unfortunately picked up a cruciate injury in August was a huge loss.
Crokes popped over a few late points and Boden ran out well deserved 4 point winners.
Roisin Walsh delightfully accepted the Cup and in her speech gave special mention to our late mentor Trish Cantwell, who was very much part of this team for many years until her untimely passing earlier this year. It was terrific to see her daughter Aoife at the match, and Aoife and Gerry joined the girls in the celebrations in the Club later that evening which was greatly appreciated. Trish will live long in our memory, and we have no doubt that she was smiling down on all of the girls on Sunday, this win being a fitting tribute by these girls. No doubt the C team will do their best to replicate this in the coming weeks.
Great credit also must go to Richie & Peter for all of their work on the training field throughout the year. The girls were well looked after by Denise O’ Neill, and of course with all great success stories there was a Cork input from Declan O’ Brien & Gerry White!!
We now face a difficult trip on Sunday to face Tullaroan of Kilkenny in the Leinster Intermediate semi-final. With Roisin, Jane & Cora away there will be opportunities for others and we look forward to the challenge.
Team: Emer O’ Leary, Fiona Masterson, Grace Walsh, Roisin Walsh, Rebeka Kamvar, Jane Nolan, Gráinne Corcoran, Laura Burns, Aoife Tobin, Aoife O’ Neill, Aisling O’ Leary, Aoife O’ Brien, Orla Tevlin, Claire Kirwan, Danielle White, Leanne Barrett, Eimear Butler, Sarah Lambert, Ciara O’ Neill, Iseult Kelleher, Cora Ryan, Aoife O’ Leary
U14A Championship Final Ballyboden St Endas A 3-6 Lucan 3-6
Naomh Peregrines was the setting for Saturday’s u-14A camogie championship final and the conditions were perfect – fresh breeze, firm sod, dry overhead and an expectant crowd. Lucan provided the opposition – undoubtedly the two best teams in the grade in the county locking horns with the championship at stake.
The two teams know each other well and it was no surprise to anyone that the early exchanges were tightly contested, with no quarter asked for or given by either side. Boden were backed by a stiff breeze in the first half, and the huge travelling band of supporters really got behind the team. We were having slightly the better of the play, but were finding it hard to convert possession into scores, in spite of an impressive work rate from all over the field. On the other side of the coin, Lucan were always dangerous on the break, and one of their sorties into our half reaped dividends for them as the ball shook the net behind Ally. Back we came. A Katie free dropped short and was pounced on by Hollyn for a point, who soon followed up with another, to leave the minimum between the sides approaching half time. Then all of Aisling’s brilliant work paid off as she drove through the Lucan rearguard and smashed the sliotar to the net. The short whistle sounded and we went off with a 2-point lead at the break.
Lucan began the second half like an express train and flashed over two quick points. Then a goal, and even the most die-hard Boden supporters began to fear the worst. We needn’t have worried. This team will not surrender and doesn’t do panic. Aisling to the rescue again with another brilliant goal and parity is restored. Holyn then gave us the lead again with a classy point, and Katie followed this by pointing a free. But then back cam Lucan with a goal of their own to retake the lead. The game then swung from end to end, before we made the crucial breakthrough (or so we thought), as the ball once nestled in the back of the Lucan net. However, much to the dismay of all in blue and white, the referee disallowed the goal for a square infringement. The team made little of this setback and Aisling drew the teams level again with a point, only to have Lucan reel off the next three points, as the game entered its closing stages. Things were looking decidedly bleak, but up stepped Hollyn and levelled with a goal and the roof of the stand almost lifted with the cheer.
The game ticked into stoppage time and people began to think about a replay, but the drama was not finished yet. Play continued, even when Olivia went down injured in front of the stand. Lucan attacked and in spite of staunch defence, they forced a “45”. Lucan’s accuracy was unerring, and it seemed as if this match had finally been settled in Lucan’s favour. Surely there was nothing more that we could expect from this brilliant team? We got a free and Ally found Katie. Who began to make tracks, but she was being shunted down what appeared a blind alley near the sideline by a posse of Lucan defenders, who must have thought they had their work done as Katie attempted to drive the ball towards the goal from what looked an impossible angle. We held our breath in stunned disbelief as both umpires signalled the levelling point. A piece of skill the would not have been out of place in Croke Park on All Ireland day, and to produce it to level a county final with the last puck speaks volumes for the courage and never-say-die attitude of Katie and this entire team.
Don’t miss the replay. It promises to be another cracker.