Seniors beat Na Fianna in thriller

Well, what a game those lucky enough to be in Parnell Park (or watching on RTE) witnessed on Saturday evening. Two well matched sides going toe to toe in championship football in a game that was riveting from start to finish, a game that ebbed and flowed, a game that gave us superb goals and points, last ditch saves, thundering tackles and Cluxton like nerveless 45’s…Phew! It was worthy of even more superlatives and a full report by Paddy Walsh is below…or read the Dublin GAA report here. So we congratulate our players, management and supporters and look forward to a huge Derby semi final against our neighbours Judes in two weeks.

Senior football championship quarter final v Na Fianna in Parnell Park on 12 October 2019

Ballyboden St Endas 3 – 15

Na Fianna 1 – 15

What a game. What a finish.

This was always going to the stiffest test the senior team had encountered for some time. And, so it proved. Na Fianna is a team of young players, most with inter-county experience. With just a minute gone, Na Fianna had a point on the board. Collie Basquel cancelled this out quickly. Na Fianna then added two more points (1 free) but Ryan Basquel and Ross McGarry replied for Boden. Ross, actually, went for a goal but has rasper of a shot cleared the cross bar. So, with less than 10 minutes gone it was three points each and all indications were that this was going to go down to the wire. Na Fianna restored their advantage again with two points in quick succession, but Boden stayed in touch when Ross McGarry pointed. Then, we all held our breath as Darren O’Reilly bore down on goal, but the Na Fianna defender made a great save. Two more points by Na Fianna were cancelled out by Ryan Basquel but Na Fianna finished the half with another point to leave them two points clear as the half time whistle sounded with the score 0 – 6 to 0 – 8.

Boden got out of the blocks quickly in the second and had three points scored within eight minutes from the boots of Collie Basquel (free), Declan O’Mahony and Ross McGarry. Na Fianna equalised with a pointed 45. Collie Basquel restored the one-point lead for Boden but Na Fianna equalised again and then went a point ahead. Conal Keaney equalised for Boden and, after pressure was applied to the Na Fianna goalie, a free was awarded to Boden which Ryan Basquel converted. One point up again, halfway through the second half. The next five minutes saw Na Fianna push for glory when they scored two points and then a cracker of a goal to put them four points up with 8 minutes left. This would test the character of our team and the players responded in admirable style. Ryan Basquel pointed from a free, but Na Fianna responded with a point – still four points between the sides. Still no panic!!! Then, when a high ball came into the Na Fianna area, Tom Hayes rose highest to palm the ball into the path of Collie Basquel who finished to the net. So, with just a point between the sides and normal time up, hearts were pounding as the players still showed great patience in their attacks. With four minutes of added time played, a 45 was awarded to Boden. Up steps Darragh Gogan, and while most of the management and supporters held their breath, Darragh coolly popped over this pressure kick to leave the sides level and extra time needed to separate the sides.

Boden failed to score in the first period of extra time while Na Fianna scored one point. The game could have been put beyond Boden as half time approached when Na Fianna broke from defence and found two forwards against Boden’s one defender. However, as the Na Fianna forward shot for goal, Robbie McDaid appeared from nowhere to execute an excellent block down and save a certain goal.

Na Fianna failed to score in the second period of extra time, but, crucially, Boden, or should I say, Collie Basquel, scored 2 goals and a point. The point came in the first minute. The goals came later. Firstly, with four minutes gone, a ball was delivered into Tom Hayes who was challenged by the Na Fianna goalie. The ball broke loose and Tom managed to poke it through to Collie Basquel who finished to the net. Then with time almost up, James Holland carried the ball out of defence and passed to Michael Darragh Macauley who passed to Collie Basquel and he made no mistake and blasted to the net. Game over.

So, on we go to the semi final against our neighbours St Judes in two weeks.

TEAM: Darragh Gogan; Kieran Kennedy; Shane Clayton; Cathal Flaherty; Darragh Nelson; Robbie McDaid; Aran Waters; Declan O’Mahony; Michael Darragh Macauley; Darren O’Reilly; Collie Basquel; Sean Gibbons; Ross McGarry; Ryan Basquel; Warren Egan. SUBS USED: Alan Flood; Brian Bobbett; Conal Keaney; Tom Hayes; Bob Dwan; James Holland.

Elsewhere our Juniors made it a clean sweep with the A’s beating Round Towers by 1-13 to 1-12 and the C’s reaching the QF with a 6-09 to 1-14 win over Clann Mhuire. Congrats to both sets of players and management teams.