U21A Camogie Championship
Sunday 19th November
Ballyboden St. Enda’s 0-10
Lucan Sarsfields 2-07
After a free-flowing and great display away to Jude’s on the opening weekend of the U21A Championship, we welcomed Lucan Sarsfields to Pairc UÍ Mhurchú on a damp and breezy Sunday morning for our second and final group clash.
Playing against the wind in the first half, it was Lucan who started the far more determined team. They were first to the ball and hungrier in the rucks, but for all their dominance it was only a point a piece after nearly 10 minutes of play. Boden started to register scores as the half went on, four from Leonie Power (3 frees) and one from play from Áine Rafter, but the 2 point lead at half time felt insufficient with a second half against the breeze to come.
Not long into the second half, Lucan registered a well worked goal. Further points were exchanged but when Lucan got a second more fortuitous goal from long range, and pushed on to a 7 point lead, things looked ominous.
To the great credit of the team, from 15 minutes out, they never took a backward step. Bodies were committed to tackles all over the pitch and the work rate and intensity was upped. Boden registered the last four points of the game, one each for Katie McDonald, Leonie Power, Alice Rudden and Julie Vaughan and with nothing conceded at the other end, the final gap was just 3 points. The significance of that, was guaranteed qualification to a semi-final spot, awaiting the final game in the group to see whether we go through in first or second place.
No doubt a better performance will be needed in the semi-final, which we look forward to on December 3rd. Thanks to all who helped and supported on the day.
Many thanks to Miriam Christie for the photos.