Under 21A vs Thomas Davis
Saturday, 18th November 2017

Result: 5-16 to 1-06

 

Ballyboden’s under-21 footballers are into the final of the Dublin Championship following a 22-point hammering of local rivals Thomas Davis’ at Páirc Uí Mhurchú on Saturday. Two goals apiece for Barra McGarry and Warren Egan, along with a goal from Ross McGarry, saw Boden ease home at a canter in a game that never looked like a contest. Boden worked like clockwork throughout, with slick passing and accuracy in the tackle coming to the fore and were, in truth, a mismatch for Davis’. Boden were on the front foot from the throw-in and should have been in for goal within 20 seconds, but Brian Bobbett’s pass evaded Ross McGarry and the hosts had to settle for a pointed free from Colm Basquel. They would not have to wait long before their first green flag of the encounter after a surging run from James Holland presented Warren Egan with a gilt-edged opportunity that he didn’t pass up; rifling into the bottom corner. Davis’, still showing some semblance of fight at this stage, rallied and reduced the arrears to three points with a free but that was as good as it got for the Tallaght side. Boden were dominant on the Davis’ kick out all afternoon and quickly pressed home that advantage, carving out 1-01 off the opposition’s restarts in the space of 60 seconds. First, Luke O’Donoghue curled over his first point of the afternoon, before Ross McGarry found the net in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. McGarry looked to be shooting for a point, but his effort dipped under the crossbar and into the back of the net. Whether he meant it or not was irrelevant; the goal put Boden into a deserved seven-point lead after just 13 minutes. The onslaught continued thereafter and Basquel, Egan and McGarry (2) had all added to their tallies with points by the time Egan poked home a rebound for his second goal of the game. With just five minutes remaining in the half Boden stretched their lead even further, outscoring Davis’ by four points to one to go in at the interval with a 17-point lead.

The second half started in much the same vain as the first and Luke O’Donoghue opened Boden’s account in the second half when he finished off a flowing move. It wasn’t long before Boden had their fourth goal of what was fast becoming a procession. Colm Basquel, influential throughout, evaded tackle after tackle before squaring to Barra McGarry who had the simplest of tasks of palming into an empty net. McGarry would not have to wait long to double his goal tally; finishing coolly to the net after a brilliant interception and run from substitute James Madden. Sandwiched between McGarry’s goals was a worrying injury to centre back Brian Bobbett, who was exceptional throughout. Bobbett appeared to go over on his ankle and hobbled off with 20 minutes remaining and his fitness will no doubt be a concern for management ahead of the final. With Boden emptying their bench, and their intensity understandably dropping, Davis’ managed to snatch a goal that offered scant consolation with just five minutes remaining. However, there was still time for Colm Basquel to add his fourth and fifth points of the afternoon before Davis’ were finally put out of their misery. It was a near perfect performance from start to finish, with Boden controlling possession, territory and dominating the kick out. Defensively, every player came out on top of their individual duels, while their forwards finished off chances with a ruthless efficiency that put the game out of sight within 20 minutes.

It’s easy to wax lyrical about player performances in such a one-sided affair, but to a man Boden were truly exceptional and earned all praise aimed at them.

Boden now advance to the Dublin Under 21 Championship final and await the winners of Cuala and Na Fianna. On Saturday’s showing, it will take a serious side to beat them in the showpiece event.

 

More pics by Cliona Mellett here