BODEN EDGE DERBY
Kiely points way for St Enda’s boys
DUBLIN U13FL DIVISION 1
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S…………………..0-11
ST JUDE’S………………………………………0-8
Daire Walsh
A STRONG finish paid dividends for Ballyboden St Enda’s in Greenhills last Thursday afternoon, when they recorded a narrow victory over rivals St Jude’s in their Dublin U13 FL Division 1 clash.
With just three minutes remaining in the contest at St Paul’s Girls National School, the sides were deadlocked at 0-8 apiece. However, after midfielder Ciaran Duggan edged them into the lead for the very first time, subsequent scores from Jim Kennedy and Cathal O’Sullivan sealed a hard-earned triumph for Boden.
Both sides entered this game with two wins and two defeats from their opening four games of this year’s campaign, but with the in-form duo of Kilmacud Crokes and Lucan Sarsfields facing each other on the same day at Deerpark, there was a chance to gain ground towards the top of the table.
Following a neat fifth-minute pass by Cuan Manning, Jude’s centre-forward Adam Danaher opened the scoring with a point from play. Boden created a number of opportunities during the early moments, but had to wait until the 12th minute to get their account up and running. Ciaran Kiely split the posts with an instinctive shot from close-range, and with corner-backs Fionn Keating McDermott and Oisin Byrne producing superb displays, ‘Boden were also keeping a tight leash on the Jude’s forward line.
However, the Tymon Park outfit maintained their composure, and unanswered scores by Mikey Power and Manning helped them to create some daylight between the teams in the second-quarter. A Kiely free reduced the ‘Boden deficit to a minimum, but after Sean McDonnell and Iwan Roberts responded at the opposite end of the field, Jude’s brought a 0-5 to 0-2 cushion into the break.
SHREWD
‘Boden had clocked up a total of eight wides throughout the course of the opening period, but a number of shrewd tactical alterations helped to galvanise their challenge. Rory O’Mahony and Ben Lawlor were introduced from the bench, but after playing the opening half-hour in goal, Evan Nugent was given a new outfield role in the second-half.
The towering Sam Doyle (who had started in the Boden half-back line) took his place between the sticks, and thanks to three points without reply from Kiely (two) and O’Sullivan, they had levelled matters within five minutes of the restart. Jude’s eventually settled down with a second point from Danaher on 36 minutes, but this was quickly cancelled out by the impressive Kiely.
Jude’s continued to move the ball effectively, though, and points by Manning and the industrious Tadgh Keegan ensured that they were two points to the good moving into the final 20 minutes of play.
Yet, the versatile Nugent was growing in confidence as the half wore on, and with the aid of the woodwork, he narrowed the ‘Boden gap with a well-worked point. He also forced a fine save from Jude’s netminder Kyle O’Reilly 11 minutes from the end.
With scores proving to be few and far between, Jude’s held on to their slender advantage for large spells, until Nugent registered his second score of the tie from a right-hand angle.
This acted as a catalyst for Ballyboden to push on in the closing minutes, and vital contributions by Duggan, Kennedy and O’Sullivan were enough to give them the two points on offer.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: C Kiely 0-5 (2f), E Nugent, C O’Sullivan 0-2 each, C Duggan, J Kennedy 0-1 each. St Jude’s: C Manning, A Danaher 0-2 each, M Power, S McDonnell, I Roberts, T Keegan 0-1 each.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: E Nugent; FK McDermott, B McGuire, O Byrne; O Murray, L Kennedy, S Doyle; S O’Sullivan, C Duggan; D Daly, C O’Sullivan, J Kennedy; A Farrell, C Kiely, M McShane. Subs: R O’Mahony for Farrell, B Lawlor for McShane (both h-t), B Delaney for Daly (38).
ST JUDE’S: K O’Reilly; C Waters, S Scully, S Kirwan; D O’Meara, E Kenny, A McGennis; M Power, S McDonnell; C Manning, A Danaher, I Roberts; C Durkan, L Kane, T Keegan. Subs: C Kiernan for Durkan (41), H Waldron for Keegan (47), Durkan for Kane (59).
MENTORS – Ballyboden St Enda’s: Dave Kiely, Maeve Gallagher, Neil Kennedy, Martin Murphy. St Jude’s: Noel Manning, Kieran Durkan, Derek Waters, Seamus Fitzgerald.
REFEREE: Philip Carr (Round Tower Clondalkin).
WIDES – Ballyboden St Enda’s: 11 (8+3). St Jude’s: 2 (2+0).
CONDITIONS: Wet and greasy conditions.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Ciaran Kiely (Ballyboden St Enda’s).