Result: 2-16 to 0-11
Start of another senior league campaign and we are still in the 2015 championship. What a feeling!!! As preparations crank up for the All-Ireland final, meeting our neighbours in the first league game of the new year was going to be interesting. We gave away home advantage and opted to play in the large pitch in the National Sports Campus Ireland. Both sides had early chances but Judes scored first with a point after 5 minutes. Scores were hard to come by and our first point did not arrive until 9 minutes by the ever reliable Andrew Kerin from play. A great point by Stephen Hiney and a point by Darren O’Reilly were followed by three points in a row by Judes to put them one point up. An excellent point by Collie Basquel brought the teams level again before Judes got their fifth point with 23 minutes gone. Judes did not score again before half time. As half time approached two points by Conal Keaney, a great goal by Stephen O’Connor and a point from a free by Kerinsey left Boden 5 points ahead at half time.
The second half began with the ball moved quickly forward and within the first minute we had a point by Collie Basquel. This half followed a similar pattern to the first with points by Darren O’Reilly, another by Collie Basquel, Bob Dwan and Daniel Davey being cancelled in turn by Judes. Then, once again, a very strong finish saw substitute Simon Lambert score a goal and two points, Michael Darragh Macauley bringing a great save from the Judes goalie who deflected the ball over the bar and Stephen O’Connor, again attacking strongly, was rewarded with a well taken point. In between, during this late rally, Judes managed just one point.
The final score was 2 – 16 to 0- 11 and a good start to the league. We would like a similar score in the forthcoming All-Ireland final but a one point win will do!
TEAM, in alphabetical order. Collie Basquel; Shane Clayton; Shane Durkin; Bob Dwan; Darragh Gogan; Stephen Hiney; Conal Keaney; Andrew Kerin; Michael Darragh Macauley; Robbie McDaid; Sam Molony; Darragh Nelson; Stephen O’Connor; Declan O’Mahony; Darren O’Reilly. SUBS: Donagh McCabe for Declan O’Mahony; Simon Lambert for Sam Molony; Daniel Davey for Conal Keaney.