Result: 1 – 9 to 0 – 9

Ballyboden St Endas 1 – 9  Lucan Sarsfields 0 – 9

The long awaited first round clash was only a kick away from a replay as a second half rally by Lucan against a Boden side which played for 30 minutes of the second half with 14 men almost brought the west county side level.

But the chance of the equaliser was spurned by Dublin corner back Stephen O’Shaughnessy in the 29th minute of the second period and Boden punished their opponents with two clinical scores from the excellent Colin Moran and Kenny Naughton.

The game should never have been as close as Boden were guilty of 15 wides in the game, eleven of them in the first half when the side was in complete control of the game.

Four of those wides came in the opening eight minutes thanks to an excellent start from midfielders Ian Clarke and Colin Moran with an excellent half back line of Niall Clarke, James O’Kane and Stephen Hiney preventing Lucan mounting any challenge.  In fact in the entire first half, Lucan scored only one point – the opening score of the game in the 10th minute and clocked up only one wide in the half such was the dominance of Boden.

But despite a quick leveller by Conal Keaney from an excellent lay-off by Andrew Kerin, Boden found it extremely difficult to convert possession into scores and eight different players were guilty of putting the final ball astray.

There were some fine passages of play nevertheless and on the quarter hour mark a brilliant pass by Conal Keaney to Stephen Hiney saw the left back draw a fine save from Alan Curtis in the Lucan goals.

Boden did have one man who was on target – the excellent Andrew Kerin who put Boden ahead in the 16th minute for a lead they never lost.  Two minutes later, the ever alert Colin Moran sent a quick free to Niall Clarke who rattled over a great score from just inside the 40m mark.  A Conal Keaney pointed free in the 24th minute stretched the advantage to three points after Andrew Kerin was fouled.

Immediately from this kick-out Boden secured the score that was to eventually separate the sides at the finish.

Ian Clarke rose highest at midfield to make a great catch and his quick transfer was sent to Colin Moran who without hesitation picked out Andrew Kerin with a pinpoint pass.  The corner forward took his chance expertly and Boden were six to the good.

Rory Hussey picked up a yellow card four minutes later but the wholehearted No. 10 battled furiously to win a ball before he set up Andrew Kerin for his second point and an interval lead of 1 – 5 to 0 – 1.

In this first floodlit senior football championship game, Boden faced into the second half knowing that Lucan would present a stiffer challenge in the second half.

Within 40 seconds of the restart corner forward James O’Neill had pointed and then two minutes later Rory Hussey was handed his second yellow for a challenge of Lucan’s Donal McConmara.  In fairness to the Lucan player he rose to his feet almost immediately but the referee reached for red and Rory was dismissed.

Stephen Hiney suffered a blood injury but while he was being treated Michael Daire McAuley came on and the 19 year old played a clever ball to Colin Moran who was fouled close to the Lucan goals.  Andrew Kerin made no mistake with the free on the 37th minute.

However the next Boden score did not come for another 13 minutes.  In between Lucan added points from Tommy Brennan (0 – 3), Mick Casey and Ciaran O’Neill to leave the scoreline 1 – 7 to 0 – 7 with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

The extra man began to make a difference for Lucan who added two more scores from James O’Neill and Tommy Brennan before Stephen O’Shaughnessy was just wide with a levelling opportunity on the 59th minute.

The let off was a signal for Boden to go for the clinching scores and with Andrew Kerin and James O’Kane doing great work, Colin Moran just had enough room to kick a great point.

From the kickout Paul Casey won the ball for Lucan only to see his kick superbly blocked by Niall Clarke who fed Kenny Naughton whose long run ended with a great point.

Debut boys David Ryan and Mark Fitzgerald acquitted themselves well at corner back and among the others to stand out were the Clarkes – Ian and Niall, Colin Moran, Kenny Naughton, Darragh Kiernan and the excellent Andrew Kerin who scored 1 -3 from play and had a hand in three more.  Cian Hiney also did some very useful things on his introduction.

The side now plays Naomh Jude next Tuesday in Parnell Park.

Sean Manley, David Ryan, Darragh Kiernan, Mark Fitzgerald, Niall Clarke (0 – 1), James O’Kane, Stephen Hiney, Ian Clarke, Colin Moran (0 – 1), Kenny Naughton (0 – 1), Cian Hore, Andrew Brennan, Conal Keaney (0 – 2), Andrew Kerin (1 – 4).

Subs:  Cian Hiney for Brennan; Michael Daire McAuley, blood replacement for Hiney and O’Kane.