Senior football league v Kilmcaud Crokes at Páirc Uí Mhurchú on 8 May 2024
Ballyboden St Endas 1 – 15
Kilmacud Crokes 2 – 8
Games between these sides are always going to be tense affairs and this was no different. After some cagey early movement, Ryan O’Dwyer (returning from injury) popped over the first point after two minutes. Crokes replied with a point, from a mark, a minute later. Daire Sweeney converted a free on 7 minutes, but Crokes responded with two frees to go a point ahead. Ciarán O’Reilly brought the sides level again. Kilmacud and Ryan O’Dwyer exchanged points keeping the sides level with 20 minutes gone. As half time approached, Crokes converted a free and Daire Sweeney replied in kind before Daire put Boden a point ahead in added time to leave the half time score at 0 – 6 to 0 – 5.
James Holland, also returning from injury, came on as a sub at the start of the second half and had an immediate impact by pointing in the first minute. Crokes responded but Alex Gavin cancelled this out after a good run by Ryan Baynes. Daire Sweeney pointed a free on five minutes and then Darragh Gogan made a good save, knocking the ball out for a 45, which Crokes converted. Ryan O’Dwyer knocked over a point which was then followed by a goal fest. On 12 minutes, Crokes broke through the home defence and palmed the ball to the net to bring the sides level. Mick McDonald had a goal chance after a good attack along the end line but then, after the Crokes goalie was disposed well away from his goal, James Holland made good progress towards the empty goal area. He tried to lob the ball over the retreating goalkeeper only to see his shot hit the post. However, John McGuire was quickest to react and coolly finished past the goalkeeper who had by now returned to the goal. The home euphoria did not last long as Crokes scored another goal, similar their earlier one. They added a point to go a point ahead with 20 minutes gone. However, that turned out to be their last score. Boden’s defence, at times living dangerously, continued to tackle strongly and also support their forward colleagues. Daire Sweeney and Michael O’Gara pointed from play and Ciarán Duggan scored from a mark as normal time was ending. In added time, Daire Sweeney converted two frees to leave the home side with a four-point victory.
TEAM: Darragh Gogan; Evan Nugent; Harry Donaghy; Ryan Baynes; Alex Gavin; Cathal Flaherty; Eoghan Gannon; Donogh McCabe; Michael McDonald; Luke O’Donoghue; Ciaran O’Reilly; John McGuire; Ryan O’Dwyer; Darren O’Reilly; Daire Sweeney. SUBS USED: James Holland; Ciarán Duggan; Mark Walsh; Michael O’Gara; Daniel McCarthy.
Senior Football League v St. Sylvester’s at Broomfield on 11 May
Ballyboden St. Enda’s 1-10
St. Sylvester’s 1-10
A hard-fought draw, clinched with a late injury-time point, helped Boden emerge from a formidable venue with a point on Saturday evening.
Boden now sit sixth in AFL Division 1, one point behind St. Sylvester’s and four points off early pace-setter Ballinteer St. Johns.