Result: 0-13 to 0-12

Senior football league V Thomas Davis, 13 November 2018, played in St Annes GAA Club

This was the last league game before the play-offs. Thomas Davis needed a win to gain fourth place and a semi final against St Vincents. Ballyboden were already through to a semi-final place against Kilmacud Crokes. The game was played under lights on a wet and windy evening in Bohernabreena. Ballyboden played against the strong wind in the first half and Ryan Basquel was a constant threat to the Davis defence. He finished the half with five points (4 frees) with Ross McGarry getting the only other score, a point also from a free. The home team finished with five points (1 free) but it could have been more. In the first minute, they hit the posts twice and then saw the ball cleared up the field for Ryan Basquel to get his first score from a free. In the 20th minute, following a good save by Darragh Gogan, a Thomas Davis forward hit the post from the rebound with an open goal in front of him. The half time score was 0 – 6 to 0 – 5 for Ballyboden.

The second half was equally competitive and again the team with the aid of the wind did not take full advantage. The sides were level after four minutes when Davis’s converted a free, but Ryan Basquel quickly restored the lead for Boden also from a free. Between the 10th and 17th minutes Thomas Davis scored four points with just one reply for Boden from Warren Egan to put Davis’s two points ahead. Points by Ryan Basquel, Aran Waters and Warren Egan again (he tried to chip the keeper for a goal, but his attempt was just over the bar), gave Boden a one-point lead with 10 minutes remaining. Davis’s levelled the game again from a free but another point from play by Aran Waters and a free by Ryan Basquel seemed to settle the matter with time running out. Thomas Davis now needed a goal to win the match and they piled on the pressure during five minutes of added time but sterling defending by the Boden backs meant that Davis’s managed just a point leaving Boden with a one-point win.

TEAM: Darragh Gogan; Shane Clayton; Cathal Flaherty; Bob Dwan; Sean Gibbons; Darragh Nelson; Tom Hanafin; Aran Waters; James Holland; Darren O’Reilly; Bobbie McDaid; Donagh McCabe; Ross McGarry; Ryan Basquel; Warren Egan. SUBS USED: Brian Bobbett for Shane Clayton; Alan Flood for Cathal Flaherty.