Congrats to Kenny and his new management team after the Seniors opened their account in AFL 1 with a good win over Naomh Mearnog in Páirc Uí Mhurchú.
Paddy Walsh reports on the match below, pics by John Kirwan.
Senior football league v Naomh Mearnóg, 6 March 2022 at Páirc Uí Mhurchú
Ballyboden St Endas 0 – 18
Naomh Mearnóg 1 – 9
It was a long wait for this first competitive match of the year for the new management team and it started with a win. As well as a new management team, there were three new players making their senior debuts, namely, Evan Nugent, Michael McDonald and Luke Byrne and they all made their contribution to the win.
Both sides showed a lot of rustiness in the early stages, and it took 8 minutes for the first score, which went to the visitors. This seemed to stir the home team into action and Warren Egan replied from play within a minute. By the 16th minute he had knocked over two more, from frees. Mearnóg scored three points (1 from a free) over the next 10 minutes. During that period Boden had a great chance to score a goal, following a good passing move, but Luke O’Donoghue’s palmed effort was intercepted on the line by a Mearnóg defender. As half time approached, Warren Egan converted another free and Donogh McCabe put the home side a point ahead with a good point from play before the break.
Mearnóg was first to score again in the second half (free) but from there onwards Boden were pretty much in control of the game. An early goal chance was saved by the visiting goalkeeper but three points in the next three minutes from Ciarán O’Reilly (free), Robbie McDaid and Warren Egan (free) made up for that disappointment. Mearnóg responded with a pointed free, but the home forward line was now clicking and further points by Luke Byrne, Robbie McDaid and two by Warren Egan (1 free) put Boden six points ahead midway through the 2nd half. But Mearnóg were not giving up and a goal and point within two minutes brought the home lead back to two points. Another Luke Byrne point was added to by Colm Basquel before Mearnóg converted another free. Ciarán O’Reilly had the ball in the Mearnóg net, but it was ruled out by the referee as a ’square ball’. In the final minutes, Ciarán O’Reilly, Robbie McDaid, Colm Basquel and Darren O’Reilly added further points with Mearnóg scoring their final point, well into added time.
So, overall, this was a very satisfying win for the team and new management, and they now look forward to the next game, which is against Lucan Sarsfields, away, on Wednesday 16th March.
TEAM: Darragh Gogan, Evan Nugent, Shane Clayton, Cathal Flaherty, James Holland, Darragh Nelson, Aran Waters, Robbie McDaid, Michael McDonald, Luke O’Donoghue, Warren Egan, Donogh McCabe, Ciarán O’Reilly, Darren O’Reilly, Luke Byrne. SUBS USED: Kieran Kennedy, Alan Flood, Colm Basquel.