Result: 0 26 to 1 07

Vincent’s Van Burke is the top artist..The Long Fella Reports from PUM

St.Vincents centre forward Conor Burke was the star performer on show for this Under 21 Hurling Semi-final at a sunny Headquarters on Saturday afternoon. His scoring contribution of 13 points from play and frees was perhaps only half of the story of the game. His general play, assisted by a physical presence that allowed him to at times ‘ghost’ past Boden defenders, was of a quality that had the sizeable crowd nodding with approval and concern…..depending on which club you were from. Boden tried hard to stay with Vincents free-scoring forwards, but the task proved well beyond their efforts. The absence of upwards of half a team of likely first-fifteeners due to other championship commitments did not help Boden’s cause, but even with a full compliment, the visitors would have laid down a serious challenge.

Burke opened the scoring with a brace, a free and a fine point on a diagonal run. More Vincents points followed from full forward Moloney and corner man Sweeney. By the quarter hour Vincents led by 7pts to just a single point from Luke O’Donoghue. The next Boden attack brought the only goal of the game. A high ball into the inner sanctum was caught by Eoin Monahan and his turn and strike hit the onion-sack. Goalman Conor O’Donoghue followed up with a long-range free to bridge the gap to just a brace. Vincents had other sharpshooters on show and three of them, Sean Lamb, Johnny Walsh and James Mulcahy added further gloss to the visitors tally. Shane Kennedy and Sean McDonnell replied for Boden. The half ended with fine save by O’Donoghue from a low net-bound shot from Burke. The follow up 65 was pointed by the ubiquitous Burke. Boden 1.04 to Vincents on 0.14.

The second-half start that Boden needed eluded them and Vincents piled further pressure on with points from Burke (2), Mulcahy and Sweeney. Bodens Cashman raised his side’s total with a free. Boden tried hard for goals and twice were brought down within sight of their aims. Each resulting free was hit with venom by O’Donoghue, but the Vincents defence was equal to the challenge. Late poins from O’Donoghue from a 65 and one from play by McDonnell hardly dented Vincents lead and they finished the stronger with more superb points from Burke and Moloney.

Best of luck to St. Vincents for the final against Na Fianna or St. Brigids.

Boden used Conor O’Donoghue, Eoin Monahan, Luke Basquel, Sean McDonnell, Rob Leddy, Ruairi Kirwan, Ruairi Hestor, Tommy Glynn, Cillian Byrne, Karl Reddy, James Holland, Shane Kennedy, Michael Boland, Ciaran Cashman, Daniel O’Riordan, Luke O’Donoghue, Aaron Coffey