CODD AND MAGUIRE STAR FOR BODEN
Malachy and John turn on the style as the hosts get the better of John’s in a dominant second-half display
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 4-21
BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S 1-10
Daire Walsh
BALLYBODEN St Enda’s turned on the style at Pairc Ui Murchu on Sunday morning to comprehensively defeat Ballinteer St John’s in Division One of the Minor Football League.
Despite only possessing a two-point cushion during the interval of their top-tier clash, a dominant second period display propelled the hosts towards their fifth triumph of the campaign.
Inside forwards Malachy Codd and John Maguire finished with six points apiece, while Adam Kelleher (0-4) and substitute Luke Byrne (1-1) were others to impress for Boden in attack.
Liam Fenton and midfielder Adam O’Brien flew the flag for Ballinteer, but they ultimately fell to their second consecutive league reversal. Boden began the weekend a single point adrift of Lucan Sarsfields, who defeated them in the previous round of fixtures.
They also shared the spoils at home to Kilmacud Crokes at the beginning of April, leaving them with some ground to make up in the race for the division’s top spot. It proved to be a near-perfect start to the contest for ‘Boden as they raced four points clear within the opening six minutes of the play.
Following Kelleher’s deadlock-breaking free, Codd added a brace of points to create early daylight between the teams.
TARGET
Kelleher subsequently found the target for a second time, before Ballinteer eventually opened their account through an impressive Oisin Grady point on the left-wing.
This only provided the visitors with a temporary respite, however. After Kelleher (free) and Maguire raised white flags, Codd released raiding centre-forward Conor Lowe for the game’s maiden goal on 13 minutes.
A Robert Cullen ’45’ ensured Liam Carter’s men were nine points to the good (1-7 to 0-1) and well on course for a commanding victory. Yet, it was during the second-quarter that Ballinteer hit top gear – consequently giving themselves a fighting chance.
Supplementing his own pointed free moments earlier, Fenton fired beyond the reach of Jake Turley via excellent combination play by Dara Casserly and Luke Cullen.
Half-back Eoghan Gannon’s superb effort settled ‘Boden once again, only for Ballinteer to respond with another scoring blitz.
Fiachra Morrissey, Fenton, Grady, Luke Cullen and Robert Cullen registered unanswered points to dramatically reduce their deficit to the bare minimum. While Boden had struggled to curb the growing influence of O’Brien, a Dean Ralph point ensured they brought a 1-9 to 1-7 buffer into the break.
BRILLIANT
There was still plenty of work to do before a win could be guaranteed and back-to-back points, courtesy of Maguire, offered them some breathing space on the resumption. A successful Fenton free – after Turley had produced a brilliant save from Luke Cullen – kept Ballinteer in touch, but the floodgates opened once Eoin Behan grabbed their second goal in the 39th minute.
Although Luke Cullen completed a lengthy John’s move with a fine point, Boden went on to amass an astonishing haul of 2-9 without reply. The deadly duo of Maguire (two) and Codd split the posts in quick succession – preceding substitute Luke Byrne’s palmed finish on the third-quarter mark.
Eager to boost his future prospects, Byrne stretched his side further in front through a well-worked point. Ralph chipped in with a second off the resulting attack and Boden’s fourth goal arrived eight minutes from the end.
Though David Reinhardt brilliantly turned away a Cian Maher penalty, the versatile replacement was immediately set up by Behan for an inevitable three-pointer. Codd was a constant thorn in the Ballinteer defence over the course of the hour and he contributed another 0-2 salvo in customary style.
Maguire’s final score of the tie capped an outstanding performance and while Ballinteer replacement Matty Lynch ended this prolonged scoring sequence, Kelleher’s fourth point wrapped up a thoroughly deserved success for Ballyboden.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: M Codd, J Maguire 0-6 each, A Kelleher 0-4 (2f), L Byrne 1-1, C Lowe, E Behan, C Maher 1-0 each, D Ralph 0-2, R Cullen (’45’), E Gannon 0-1 each. Ballinteer St John’s: L Fenton 1-3 (0-3f), O Grady, L Cullen 0-2 each, F Morrissey, R Cullen, M Lynch 0-1 each.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: J Turley; J Donohoe, J Lambert, S O’Donnell; C Hanrahan, P Dunleavy, E Gannon; R Cullen, C Cullen; D Ralph, C Lowe, E Behan; A Kelleher, M Codd, J Maguire.
Subs: C Maher for Donohoe (h-t), L Byrne for C Cullen (39), C Leahy for Hanrahan (51).
BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S: D Reinhardt; J Graham, L Smith, L O’Shea; F Morrissey, M Tully, F Chambers; D Casserly, A O’Brien; N Hannon, L Fenton, O Grady; R Cullen, C Browne, L Cullen.
Subs: M Lynch for Hannon (21), L Breathnach for Casserly (42), Casserly for O’Brien, S Carroll for Morrissey (both 47), Hannon for Casserly (62).
MENTORS – Ballyboden St Enda’s: Liam Carter, Paul McLoughlin, Eamon O’Reilly. Ballinteer St John’s: Colm O’Donnell, Rodney Joyce, Darren Chambers, Aidan Fields.
Referee: Mark Ryan (St Patrick’s, Palmerstown).
WIDES – Ballyboden St Enda’s: 6 (2+4). Ballinteer St John’s: 10 (7+3).
CONDITIONS: Dry weather throughout.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Malachy Codd (Ballyboden St Enda’s).