BODEN PROGRESS
On-form McGarrys help ‘Boden to final
DUBLIN MFC ‘A’ SEMI-FINAL
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S…………………………………. 2-13
NA FIANNA…………………………………………………… 3-4
Daire Walsh
FULL-FORWARD Ross McGarry was in outstanding form at O’Toole Park on Sunday morning, when Ballyboden St Enda’s booked their place in the 2015 Dublin Minor ‘A’ Football Championship final by dethroning defending champions Na Fianna.
Their Glasnevin counterparts had set their stall out by grabbing three goals prior to the 20-minute mark, but with Ross McGarry, Rob Leddy and centre-forward Barra McGarry all in fine form throughout it was Ballyboden who ultimately progressed.
Both sides had impressed during their respective journeys to the penultimate round, and although county panellist James Holland was anchoring the ‘Boden defence from centre-back, his Dublin team-mate, Paul O’Hanlon, was handed a similar role by the Na Fianna management.
Boden deployed corner-forward Cathal O’Dea as a sweeper in front of their full-back line, and in an attempt to counteract this tactical manoeuvre, Na Fianna decided to keep Niall Loftus as a spare player in their own half.
In theory, this should have offered the northsiders a numerical advantage when ‘Boden broke forward, but he couldn’t stop their opponents from raising a green flag inside the opening minute of the tie. An excellent run by Liam O’Flaherty placed the Firhouse Road side on the front-foot, and after collecting the ball at a left-hand angle, Leddy fired beyond the outstretched arms of netminder Sam Burton.
This was an early set-back for Na Fianna, but following swap scores from James Doran and Barra McGarry (free), they restored parity with just eight minutes gone on the clock, when the pacey Doran found the back of Josh Kane’s net in considerable style.
Na Fianna had signalled their intent with this three-pointer, and even though ‘Boden settled back into the proceedings with a point from corner-forward Mikey Dunne, Jack Carey coolly slotted home a penalty 12 minutes in, after Kane had hauled down Andrew Flannery as he was lining up for a shot at the posts.
SECURED
Boden were left reeling for a third time seven minutes later, as Doran secured his second goal of the game in response to a brace of Ross McGarry points, but they once again replied with fine scores courtesy of Leddy and the excellent Ross McGarry. Carey added to his own personal tally with a point from the right-wing, before ‘Boden regained the lead with just five minutes remaining in the half.
The raiding Holland fired home from close-range following excellent approach work from Dunne, Barra McGarry and Ross McGarry, and despite conceding a pointed free to Sean Caffrey, four points without reply from Barra McGarry, Neil Hester, Leddy and Ross McGarry provided ‘Boden with a 2-10 to 3-3 interval advantage.
In comparison to the open and attacking nature of the first-half, the action after the restart was a lot more patchy, with both teams finding it difficult to convert the opportunities.
Doran did reduce the Na Fianna deficit with a well-worked point three minutes after the restart, but despite their best efforts, they couldn’t build momentum during this crucial juncture.
‘Boden enjoyed good spells of possession, but after a first-half when they displayed unerring accuracy in front of the posts, they were proving to be wasteful in the third-quarter. Ross McGarry hit the woodwork on the run 42 minutes in, however, and from the rebound that followed, Dunne hit the crossbar with a powerful shot.
Ross McGarry was keeping the Na Fianna defence on their toes as the half wore on, and he finally added to ‘Boden’s total with a point 13 minutes from the end. This offered plenty of breathing space to ‘Boden, and with the finishing line now in sight, they were doing their utmost to deny space to the Na Fianna forwards.
Midfielder Cathal Doran and substitute David Lacey did have goal chances for the St Mobhi Road brigade in the 50th and 52nd minutes respectively, but although they forced Kane into action on both occasions, they couldn’t produce the scores.
It was becoming difficult to see where the next score was going to come from, but points deep into stoppage-time from Barra McGarry and Ross McGarry completed a memorable weekend for Ballyboden St Enda’s, who will now contest the minor (versus Ballymun Kickhams) and senior county football finals.
Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: R Leddy 1-2, R McGarry 0-5, B McGarry 0-4 (4f), J Holland 1-0, N Hester, M Dunne 0-1 each. Na Fianna: J Doran 2-2, J Carey 1-1 (1-0 pen), S Caffrey 0-1 (f).
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: J Kane; C Ryan, C Murray, A Mellet; K Cronin, J Holland, L Stafford; N Hester, L O’Flaherty; C Byrne, B McGarry, R Leddy; C O’Dea, R McGarry, M Dunne.
SUBS: H Keller for Stafford (h-t), R Kirwan for Byrne (43), O Carolan for Cronin (51), D Walsh for Leddy (55), C Kelly for O’Flaherty (58).
NA FIANNA: S Bruton; S Guiden, D Ryan, N Loftus; E O’Dea, P O’Hanlon, G Farrell; C Doran, P Feeney; J Doran, S Caffrey, J Carey; A Flannery, J Brophy, S Baxter.
SUBS: D Lacey for Baxter (39), D McHugh for Flannery (44).
MENTORS – BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: N Brennan, D Carlin, B Gillespie, D O’Sullivan, B O’Regan. NA FIANNA: N Mulhern, M O’Dea, J Caffrey, J Murchan.
REFEREE: Dan Stynes (St Peregrine’s).
WIDES – Ballyboden St Enda’s: 6 (5+1). Na Fianna: 7 (1+6).
CONDITIONS: Dry and mild with a gentle breeze.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda’s).