Ballyboden St Endas 1-5 St Vincents 2-11
On Sunday morning Boden senior Camogie welcomed St Vincents, winners of the championship for the last 2 years. The unavailability of Máiread Luttrell & Jane Edwards through injury, and Sarah Keenan abroad were significant losses to the Boden defence.
St Vincents were back-boned by 10 players from the Dublin Senior panel, so it was essential that Boden would start well. In response to the afore-mentioned losses, Martha O’ Donoghue was deployed at centre-back, and she went on to have a terrificgame. Vinnies started strongly, and spurned a few early goal chances. Boden then settled, and Sile Nic Coitir was as assured as always between the posts, and all of the Boden defenders put in a huge effort to keep the visitors at bay. Boden matched them for intensity and endeavour throughout the pitch and picked off some fine scores through Doireann Mullany and Sarah Nagle.
A successfully dispatched penalty for the visitors gave them a 1 goal lead at half time,1-4 to 0-4. The question was could the home side continue the level of intensity for another 30 minutes. An injury to Grace Walsh meant a Senior Championship debut for Aoife Durkin, and she performed well for the remainder of the game.
Vinnies came out of the traps strongly in the second half, and Boden found it difficult to get the ball to their inside forward line. As time went by Vinnies began to pull away, picking off some fine scores from play. A free from Darina Ryan kept Boden in touch, and unfortunately Doireann Mullany was harshly pulled up for barging when through on goal with 10 minutes remaining when Boden were in need of a goal. Both sides scored a late goal in the later minutes, and the final margin of 9 points was harsh on the Boden girls.
On a positive note this was a first game in 5 months for Jodie White, a full game on return from injury for Hannah Hyland, and late cameo’s for Laura Nagle & Laura Burns on their return from concussion which should be beneficial going forward.
Boden now travel to neighbours and rivals St Judes next Sunday morning for what is essentially a Championship Quarter Final. Throw in at Tymon Park is 11am, and a big support would be most welcome for the girls. A win would give us a 2 week break prior to the semi-finals, when hopefully our walking wounded will be in a position to return.
It would be great to get another crack off Vinnies in the Final!!
Boden: Sile Nic Coitir, Eve O’ Donoghue, Su Kennedy, Grace Walsh, Hannah Hyland, Martha O’ Donoghue, Aoife O’ Neill, Doireann Mullany, Sarah Nagle,
Claire Kirwan, Dearhla Brennan, Jodie White, Emer O’ Leary, Darina Ryan, Aoife Tobin, Aoife Durkin, Laura Burns, Laura Nagle