Senior football league v St Oliver Plunketts, Martin Savage Park, Cabra, 6 July 2019

Ballyboden st Endas 2 – 12

St Oliver Plunketts 1 – 10

A trip to Cabra is always a tricky assignment, but, when missing more than 10 players and facing a home team that is struggling for points to survive in Division 1, it is much more dangerous. And, so it proved. Boden were first off the mark with a point from Ciarán O’Reilly after a minute followed in the next five minutes by further points from Mikey Dunne (free) and two by Tom Hayes (1 free). During this period, Plunketts were pressing hard and were kept out by resolute defending by Bob Dwan, Cian Murray and Aran Waters in the full back line. The home team did get through for two points (1 free) but then, David Hayes, supporting the play from his half back position, found himself at the end of a good move and palmed the ball to the net to give the visitors a five point lead with 10 minutes to go to half time. Plunkett’s response was quick and they popped over a point from a free before carrying the ball through the Boden defence and finishing to the net to leave the minimum between the sides. Mikey Dunne and Darren O’Reilly scored from play each side of a point from Plunkett’s to leave the half time score at 1 – 6 to 1 – 4. Tensions had exploded five minutes before half time with a Plunkett’s corner forward getting a straight red card.

The second half started positively for the visitors with Declan O’Mahony popping over a point (with his right foot). This was cancelled out by a Plunkett’s pointed free. Tom Hayes then pointed a free for Boden which was cancelled out by a point from play by the home side. After 10 minutes, following a great move by Malachy Codd (he replaced Alan Flood on 35 minutes), he passed to Ciarán O’Reilly who, in turn found Darren O’Reilly and he duly rifled to the net. Ciarán O’Reilly popped over a point which was cancelled by Plunkett’s. Tempers flared again mid-way through the second half and Darragh Nelson saw red. Mikey Dunne from play and Tom Hayes (2 frees) finished the scoring for Boden while Plunkett’s finished with three in response (2 frees) and they also saw another player red carded after a second yellow with five minutes to go. So, another two points were well earned to maintain our five-point lead in the league table.

TEAM: Darragh Gogan; Cian Murray; Bob Dwan; Aran Waters; Sean Gibbons; Darragh Nelson; David Hayes (1 – 0); Declan O’Mahony (0 – 1); Donagh McCabe; Darren O’Reilly (1 – 1); Ciarán O’Reilly (0 – 2); Luke O’Donoghue; Mikey Dunne (0 – 3, 1 free) ; Tom Hayes (0 – 5, 4 frees); Alan Flood. SUBS USED: Lewis Cawley; Malachy Codd. SUBS NOT USED: Jake Turley; Ronan Cleary; Conor Hanrahan.