U14B Division 5 Feile Peil Report

Our Ballyboden Féile Division 5 team hosted the Féile on Saturday. The boys Mammys and Daddys started to arrive for 9:30 at the club and stretched the legs. We had a bad news during the week with Jared Murray out with a broken arm then Keelin Smith broke a thumb. There was also some very sad news with Dylan French’s grandfather passing away.

Players, Mentors and Parents from Good Council, St Brigids and Clanna Gael Fontenoy were greeted and treated with the utmost professionalism throughout the day from Venue Co-Coordinators Brendan Young and Mark Brady. What a day was in store the sun was shining and the tension was starting to build. Message was fun, pride and hard work and lets to the Boden Crest Proud!!!

Game 1: Ballyboden 5:01 v St Brigids 4:07

It was across to Cherryfield for the first match against St Brigids. Captain Andrew McGough won the toss and we were with the wind for the first half and the lads had an explosive start with Andrew leading the way. Sam Doyle and Brendan Creegan were dominating the midfield with Darragh Brooks a colossus in a full forward. Jack Hutchinson and Ryan Doyle were very solid in the back line. Boden had good lead by half time. Drinks and Oranges that were badly needed were had under the shade of the Gazebo provided by some of our parents and the instruction was to keep up the brilliant football.

Second half started and Brigids started to work their way back into the game and only for some magnificent work by Jack Finn between the sticks and they would have got into a commanding lead. The lads fought their way back into the match with some great work from Aodhan O’Reilly and Sean O’Shea and Lee McConnell. Unfortunately for the lads Hawkeye wasn’t available on Saturday in Cherryfield. That didn’t deter the lads and there was some great work being done by Robbie O’Reilly all around the middle of the park. Shane Flood was as tenacious as ever and nothing was getting past him. Unfortunately for the lads even after getting the last goal and point Brigids managed to keep them from scoring the last goal that was needed. The lads however had done themselves proud.

Panel: Andrew McGough, Darragh Brooks, Jack Hutchinson, John Farrington, Keelin Smith, Sam Doyle, Scott Cramer Walsh, Sean O’Shea, Stephen Pullan, Aodhan O’Reilly, Brendan Creegan, Dylan French, Michael McShane, Shane Flood, Niall Reddy, Robbie O’Reilly, Stephen Ormsby, Jared Murray, Ryan Doyle, Ryan Doyle, Jack Finn, Lee McConnell, Oisin Quinn

Game 2: Ballyboden St Endas 4-10 v Clanna Gael Fontenoy 2-5

The boys were determined to make sure there was no mistake this time. We were back on the road side pitch in Cherryfield with Jack Hutchinson as Captain and after the ref threw up the ball it was clear the lads meant business. Stephen Ormsby and John Farrington were pulling the strings in the forward line and the scores were starting to rack up. Keelin Smith was doing his bit with the cast on making sure lads weren’t getting dehydrated and giving good advice!!

Quick meeting of minds at half time and the lads were making sure the foot was taken off the gas for the second half. Michael McShane was dynamic with his movement around the half forward line and Oisin Quinn was making sure he was getting in on the act as well some great play. Stephen Pullan was running at goal and had every chance when he took a hard knock just as he was pulling the trigger!! ( we were left hoping he would be fit enough for the last match!) Niall Reddy and Scott Creamer Walsh were making sure momentum wasn’t lost and seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. The lads made sure that we saw out the match and no mistakes were made. Job done we still had a chance.

Game 3: Ballyboden St Endas 6-6 v Good Council 4-3

Right it was over to the dressing room we were on Pairc Uí Mhurchú. This was it, we had to win no other result would do. Message was let’s give it everything ….this was all about the Boden Crest and doing it proud. We were going out on to our main pitch and we were going to show what this Boden team was made of! Robbie and Sam Doyle set the tone in the middle of the park and it wasn’t long till they were combining with Daragh Brooks in full forward. Niall Reddy and Ryan Doyle, Scott Creamer Walsh and Michael McShane were causing the mayhem with there movement. Council were also trying to play their way back into the match but with Brendan Creegan and Sean O’Shea bossing the middle of the park, they weren’t for breaking. The team was very determined and they played head up style football, seeking each other out with runners all over the park like Collie had asked for at training on Thursday. Boden were with the wind and it was important to build a lead. Half time and it was time to get the fluid in and the message was clear same again second half we would have to dig deep.

Second half started and boys didn’t shy away from the task at hand if anything they had stepped up a gear. With John Farrington and Stephen Ormsby leading from the front amd Andrew McGough and Jack Hutchinson and Aodhan O’Reilly showing such a professional approach from the back nothing was going to be got easy with them marshalling defence. Lee McDonnell was brilliant and marked his man no matter where he went like a shadow. Stephen Ormsby nearly lost his fingers with the commitment being shown and Shane Flood showed an act of bravery fielding a ball that Conor McGregor would have been proud of. Stephen Pullan pulled himself off the injured bench to go on and score some fine scores. Jack Finn was making sure no goals were bing got easy and pulled off some momentous saves while Oisin Quinn was making his presence felt with his movement around the park. The panel was professional to the last and despite a few late scores from Council the Boden lads saw out the game for what can only be described as the best performance and result of the year.

Semi Final: Ballyboden St Endas 2-5 v St Marys Saggart 4-8

Due to other results we were on the road and we travelled to Na Fianna’s pitch in Collinstown Road. We started the warm up and it could be seen the lads were out on their feet, they were shattered. There were lads carrying injuries but were willing to play through this to try and get the panel over the line. The lads battled hard through the first half but Marys appeared to have the fresher legs and there were still only a few points in it by half time.

Lads were gathered in for half time team talk and the message was try and dig deep and get ourselves back into the game. The second half started and the lads were moving the ball were but as the half progressed it could been seen the minds were willing to keep going but the bodies weren’t. Even a late goal wasn’t enough and Mary’s pushed on to be deservant winners.

This is a very special bunch of players and this showed on the day of the Féile when they played the best football they have played all year. The hope would be that the memory taken from the day will be that of positive ones. Speaking for their coaches Ned Flood, Conleth O’Reilly, Collie Dunne and James Brooks over the last few years, we have never been so proud as the third match they played on the Pairc Ui Mhurchú where a true spectacle of football was shown by them. It was one of those special sporting moments you hope will stay with lads long into their Ballyboden Football career.

The players, mentors and parents would also like to say a special thanks to Brendan Young and Mark Brady and all their helpers for orgainsing the hosting of the Division 5 at the club at short notice. Mick Farrell and his staff in the bar and to the Club for allowing the lads to play their final group game on Pairc Ui Mhurchú.

Many thanks to Audrey Cramer for the photos. For more, see here