Under 21A football championship quarter-final at Páirc Uí Mhurchú on 29 October 2022

Ballyboden St Endas 1 – 8

Na Fianna 0 – 10

The team did just enough to see them through to the semi-finals of the competition. It took both teams a long time to settle and Boden were first to score with a converted free by Daire Sweeney on 9 minutes. Na Fianna responded with two points (1 free) halfway through the first half. Then after a good move, Malachy Codd passed to Conor Lowe who palmed the ball to the net. Eoin Behan, raiding from the back, popped over a point that was cancelled out by Na Fianna after 20 minutes. David Keane scored again for Boden but Na Fianna then scored three in a row to bring the sides level with time running out. There was enough time for another attack. Ryan Baynes did the hard work and got the ball to Daire Sweeney who pointed, leaving the home side a point up at halftime.

As the second half commenced, Boden piled the pressure on Na Fianna with the first three points. Daire Sweeney scored from play after five minutes and then after Malachy Codd was fouled, he converted the free. On 10 minutes, Conor Lowe found Luke Byrne in a good position and he pointed to put Boden four points ahead. Na Fianna responded with a point but Daire Sweeney restored the four-point margin, from a free. Na Fianna continued to pile on the pressure and managed to score two more points in normal time. Boden had a chance to put the game beyond Na Fianna as we entered added time when Ciaran Kiely carried the ball towards the Na Fianna goal. With backs and forwards racing goal-wards, Ciaran tried to find a Boden forward but the visiting goalkeeper got his fingers to the ball and cleared the danger. In added time, Na Fianna managed one more point, from a free, to leave Boden going through to the semi-final with just a point to spare.

TEAM: Hugh O’Sullivan; Evan Nugent; Jack Lambert; Eoin Behan; Eoghan Gannon; Harry Donaghy; Ryan Baynes; Robert Cullen; Michael McDonald; Conor Lowe; Malachy Codd; John McGuire; Luke Byrne; Daire Sweeney; David Keane. SUBS USED: Adam Kelleher; Pearse Christie; Ciarán Kiely; Alex Gavin.

Match report by Paddy Walsh.