Senior football league v Skerries Harps, Sancta Maria on 18 February 2024
BBSE 1-12
Skerries Harps 0-11
Report by Paddy Walsh.
With injuries, emigration and Dublin commitments, numbers were tight for this first game of
the new season. Boden were on the scoreboard after three minutes when Ciarán O’Reilly
tested the Skerries goalie with a good shot and he diverted the ball over the bar. Daire
Sweeney added two points from frees. The visitors had to re-arrange their team after their
goalie suffered an accidental injury and they eventually got off the mark on 12 minutes. By
the 22nd minute Skerries were leading by a point, but Daire Sweeney levelled matters again
with another free on 24 minutes. Then, a seemingly harsh straight red card was shown to
Michael McDonald and Boden were now down to 14 players. Two further points were
scored by Skerries (1 free) and this left the halftime score with Boden trailing 0 – 4 to 0 – 6
and fighting an uphill battle.
Skerries extended their lead in the first minute of the 2 nd half and could have extended the
lead further when they missed a good goal chance. A Cathal Flaherty pointed effort hit the
post, but Ciarán O’Reilly scored a good point on 7 minutes. After Skerries cancelled out this
score a minute later, points by Daire Sweeney (free) and Darren O’Reilly, following a good
catch by Conor Hanrahan, kept Boden in touch. Skerries responded with another point mid-
way through the 2 nd half but then Boden hit a purple patch. In the space of two minutes,
Daire Sweeney hit a good point from play and then, when he received a good pass from
Luke O’Donoghue, he showed great maturity by slotting the ball to the net to put Boden two
points ahead. Darren O’Reilly added another point. Ryan Basquel, who had come on as a
substitute, scored two great points to put Boden further ahead but unfortunately, Ryan had
to retire with an injury a few minutes later. Skerries were not giving up and hit the post
when shooting for a goal and then hit the post again when shooting for a point. Skerries
scored two more points before the end, but Daire Sweeney cancelled out one of these with
a long-range free to leave Boden with two hard-earned league points.
TEAM: Darragh Gogan; Conor Hanrahan; Harry Donaghy; Evan Nugent; Alex Gavin; Cathal
Flaherty; Eoghan Gannon; Donagh McCabe; Michael McDonald; Luke O’Donoghue; Ciarán
O’Reilly; John McGuire; Ryan Baynes; Darren O’Reilly; Daire Sweeney. SUBS USED: Ryan
Basquel; Ciarán Duggan; Davy Keogh.
Thanks to John Kirwan for photos.