Senior football league v St Sylvester’s on 1 April 2023 in Páirc Uí Mhurchú

Ballyboden St Endas 0 – 12

St Sylvesters 1 – 7

Despite the heavy rain over the previous 24 hours, the pitch was declared playable, but the goal areas were in a mucky condition. The game was played in association with a fundraising effort on behalf of Sarcoma Cancer Ireland with the Boden team wearing special jerseys bearing their logo, some of which were later auctioned as part of the fundraising effort.

Sylvester’s were first to score with a well-taken point in the first minute. Both sides played defensively early on and then on 9 minutes the visitors won a penalty. Despite Darragh Gogan’s best efforts, the ball hit the back of the net. Syls quickly went a further point ahead before Warren Egan got Boden’s first point a minute later. Daire Sweeney added a point from a free after a foul on himself, but Syls added three more points to leave them six points ahead with 20 minutes gone. The Boden players started to get their act together and scored the next three points without reply with two points from Daire Sweeney (1 free) and Alan Flood to leave the half-time score 1 – 5 to 0 – 5 in favour of Sylvester’s.

Boden were quickly off the mark in the 2nd half when Alan Flood scored in the first minute. Daire Sweeney popped over another point from a free before Warren Egan popped over a good point with less than 10 minutes gone. Daire Sweeney again scored when he called a mark close to goal and converted another free after Ciarán O’Reilly was fouled as he bore down on goal. This put the home side two points ahead with 20 minutes gone. Things might have been different if Darragh Gogan hadn’t made a crucial save minutes earlier after Boden failed to clear the ball. A minute later, Syls got their first score of the second half when they converted a free. Two minutes later, Daire Sweeney was the recipient of a heavy tackle for which the Syls player was shown a red card. Daire duly converted the free. Syls were not giving up and got the deficit back to one point with five minutes remaining. Boden’s backs were working overtime in trying to make sure that the two league points stayed at home and Daire Sweeney helped ease the pressure when he scored a point from distance as the game entered added time.

After the game, a large crowd visited the club lounge to support the fundraising effort. Anyone still wishing to make a donation can do so by clicking here.

TEAM: Darragh Gogan; Shane Clayton; Leo McHugh; Cathal Flaherty; Kieran Kennedy; Josh Hayes; Eoghan Gannon; Donogh McCabe; James Holland; Darren O’Reilly; Ciarán O’Reilly; Robbie O’Reilly; Alan Flood; Warren Egan; Daire Sweeney. SUBS USED: Luke O’Donoghue; Ryan Baines; Paddy Dunleavy; Jack Lambert.

Photos: John Kirwan

Match report: Paddy Walsh