Report

Ballyboden St Endas v Oulart the Ballagh

Oulart the Ballagh 3 - 6  Ballyboden St Endas 1 - 4

A brave showing and at times inspiring but at the end of the day, the superior class of the Wexford girls was the difference.  When you have three of the greatest players - Mary Leacy, Una Leacy, Ursula Jacob - ever to play the game in your lineout you are well on the way to victory.  And that's the type of quality Oulart can call on with others like the Atkinson and Kehoe sisters also belonging to that intercounty bracket.  It's Boden's misfortune that the team has come up against such a side for the past three years because in another era, the team would surely have captured at least another Leinster title and maybe more.

Boden began sprightly and should have scored twice in the opening 3 minutes with Emer Lucey and Denise McGrath going close.  To underline the importance of taking your chances, Oulart in their first raid struck for goal.  A long delivery from Ursula Jacob broke nicely for Aishling Moran and her neat flick beat Sile nic Coitir for the game's first score.

Boden battled back and 5 minutes later won a free.  Anne Griffin's well struck shot tailed off at the last second but strangely the umpire signaled a point. 

The Boden gameplan for the first half saw them employ Paula McGrath in a very deep midfield position.  While the tactic did limit the possession falling to the Oulart girls, the delivery from the Boden players lacked precision and meaning with the result that the team's best goalpoacher Emer Lucey was left battling with two Oulart defenders.  With intercounty class of the likes of Karen and Colleen Atkinson in the full-backline they were never troubled and with Boden a player short in that sector it was very difficult to put pressure on the clearances.

The defensive rearguard was superb throughout the match was superb particularly in the first half where Joanne O'Sullivan was immense.  The other five defenders of Jane Nolan, Sarah Nagle, Rachel Ruddy, Orla Smith, Fiona Ní Chorcoráin and Elaine Hickey were working extremely hard but unfortunately Boden's forwards were all well controlled.  It was also a day when free-taking was less than perfect and three different players failed to find the target on occasions.  In the context of a zero return from play in the first half, these misses were important.

Ursula Jacob on the other hand was bang on form as great players usually are and three points including one from play pushed her side 1-3 to 0-1 clear by the 25th minute.   The damage could have been more a minute later only for a great piece of handling by Sile nic Coitir who dealt superbly with a long range Mary Leacy free.  However as so often happens a bounce of the ball can make all the difference and on this occasion the break went in Oulart's direction.

A 45 from Ursula Jacob seemed on its way over the bar when it came back off the upright to the waiting Diane Ryan and she finished decisively to the net - a bit of luck maybe but good forwards always have their eye ready for those kind of chances.

An Anne Griffin free reduced the lead just before half-time as Ciara Lucey came for the injured Denise McGrath.

With Manager Richie Sweetnam on his honeymoon, the Boden Management introduced Martha O'Donoghue and Maria McGrath at half-time. Within 45 seconds of the restart 16 year old Martha showed great initiative to drive forward to score a fine point.  A few centimeters lower and it might have been a goal.  Martha's forebear Johnny O'Donoghue was a founding member of the club.

But the experience of Oulart and their intercounty contingent shone through and from goalkeeper Helena Jacob to corner forward Aishling Moran they never put a foot wrong.  Boden fought tigerishly none more so than 'keeper Sile nic Coitir who on one occasion 35m from her goals recovered possession to great applause.  But a slack clearance later fell to Ursula Jacob and she made the score 2-5 to 0-3 in her side's favour.  A minute earlier Sile nic Coitir had once again denied Oulart this time Una Leacy with a great save.

With time ebbing away - Boden threw caution to the wind and recalled Orla Smith who had retired injury to go between the sticks to release Sile nic Coitir for forward duty.  But won a 25m free which Ciara Lucey superbly hammered home.  Stung by this Oulart bounced back to top off their deserved victory with a fine third goal.

Well done to all the players and management of Richie Sweetnam, John Ryan, Bernard Curtin, Brian O'Regan and Nuala O'Sullivan.

Boden: Sile nic Coitir, Jane Nolan, Rachel Ruddy, Orla Smith, Joanne O'Sullivan, Fiona Ní Chorcoráin, Elaine Hickey,Sarah Nagle, Natalia Hyland, Ciara Ruddy, Anne Griffin ((0-2f), Dearbhla Brennan, Paula McGrath, Denise McGrath, Emer Lucey

Subs: Martha O'Donoghue (0-1), Ciara Lucey (1-1f), Denis McGrath

Referee:  Alan Lagrue

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