Result: 3-16 to 0-11
Ballyboden’s senior footballers made it two wins from two in the league thanks to a 14-point demolition of Na Fianna at Pairc Ui Murchu on Sunday morning. Second half goals from James Madden, Sam Molony and Warren Egan sent Boden on their way to a handsome win that they thoroughly deserved. Featuring a handful of last year’s under 21 side, a youthful Boden were no match for their Northside rivals for the majority of Sunday’s encounter as manager Anthony Rainbow continues to enjoy a dream start to life in his new role. The home side were far quicker out of the blocks and raced into a three-point lead after only four minutes through well taken points from Ryan Basquel, Collie Dunne and Ross McGarry. Na Fianna did stem the tide with a free after seven minutes, but that was quickly cancelled out by a Ryan Basquel free. Neither team would score again for 10 minutes following Basquel’s free as defences firmly got on top and a goal continued to separate the sides until Ross McGarry fired over following a superb long-range pass from Basquel. Ciaran Kennedy and Ross McGarry both saw decent chances for goal well saved in a half that Boden dominated in terms of both possession and territory. James Madden and Collie Dunne further extended Boden’s lead, but two Na Fianna frees coupled with their first score from play in the 28th minute, meant that only a score separated the teams going in at the break.
Na Fianna had the ball over the bar within ten seconds of the restart, and for a split second it looked as though Boden would be made to pay for a lack of conviction in the first half, but that would be as good as it got for the Northsiders. Boden had the ball in the back of the net within a minute of that point; James Madden slamming home the loose ball after Ryan Basquel’s shot was well saved by the Na Fianna netminder. Boden dominated the restarts at both ends all morning, and that dominance bore fruit when Aran Waters soared to claim the next kick-out and curl over a lovely score from distance, extending Boden’s lead to six in the process. The sides then twice traded scores before Boden hit their opponents with another sucker punch. For the second time in 10 minutes Boden hit a quickfire 1-01 to put the game even further out of reach, this time in the form of a Ross McGarry point, followed almost immediately by Sam Molony’s goal.
Again, Boden’s dominance of the restart was pivotal. An uncontested claim in the middle of the field provided the platform and left Ross McGarry in acres of space on the 45. McGarry, showing an awareness and selflessness belying his years, slipped Molony in rather than kick an easy point and the full forward did rest, beating one defender before slamming the ball into the back of the net from close range. The second goal saw Boden’s lead stretch to 10 points and Na Fianna’s challenge wilted badly thereafter. Basquel and Darren O’Reilly extended the lead even further, before Warren Egan poked the ball into the net at the second attempt, after his initial effort had been well saved. With nothing but pride to play for, Na Fianna outscored Boden by two points to one in the remaining five minutes but their race was run and Boden saw out an impressive 14-point victory.
Two games played in this years league now for Boden, and two hugely impressive wins against Ballymun and Na Fianna. With more players to come back into the fold, and more time for this current crop to gel, they have laid down an ominous marker before the start of the Dublin Championship next month.
Squad: Aran Waters, Bob Dwan, Brian Bobbet, Cathal Flaherty, Cian Murray, Colm Dunne, Conor Dooley, Darragh Gogan, Darragh Nelson, Darren O’Reilly, Declan O’Mahony, James Holland, James Madden, Kieran Kennedy, Ross McGarry, Ryan Basquel, Sam Molony, Sean Gibbons, Stephen O’ Connor, Tom Hanifin, Warren Egan