Boden take under 14A championship title in superb replay performance
Sport is so unpredictable. There was nothing between these two excellent teams during the league campaign. When they met in the championship final Boden needed the last score of the game to draw level and force a replay. Yet today at O’Toole Park in wet and windy conditions Boden had a dream start and ran out worthy winners when scoring 9-02 to Lucan’s 1-01. Tough on the Lucan girls. But they’ll be back. They’re still an excellent side.
From the throw-in it was Boden, playing with wind and the hill, who made all the running, attacking in waves, putting Lucan defence under fierce pressure. Lucan defended courageously and well. With such sustained pressure the signs for Lucan were ominous. Boden had a goal disallowed on 10 minutes. But 2 goals from Holyn Kennedy and Ciara Woodcock within 2 minutes put Boden girls in the driving seat. It took until the 15th minute for Lucan to mount their first serious attack of the game. The Boden defence withstood the pressure and replied with points from Olivia Meagher and Erica Tobin and a goal from Alanna McGarry to put them in firm control of this game. Half time score Boden 4-02 Lucan 0-00.
Heavy rain sleeted down at the start of the second half. These young players from both teams have to complimented on their levels of skill, concentration, fitness and determination as they battled against the difficult conditions. We wondered would the wind and hill advantage be enough for the Lucan girls to get back into the game! Lucan started as we guessed they would and were quickly into the attack. But the Boden defence lifted the siege, drove the ball forward and finally Boden’s Holyn Kennedy had her second goal of the game putting her team in the driving seat once again. Midway through the half Laura Quinn lifted the spirits of the Lucan girls with thoughts of a revival when she scored 1-01. Lucan piled on the pressure at this stage but heroic defending from Boden girls prevented the Lucan revival. Later in the half goals from Erica Tobin, substitute Blaithin Slater, Aisling Byrne and captain Kate McDonald ensured that the under 14A championship title for 2015 was going to the southside team. Final score Ballyboden St. Endas 9-02 Lucan Sarsfields 1-01.
Congratulations.
Referee: Caitriona Hayes
Photos from today's game