Boden seniors into league final
BALLYBODEN St Enda’s senior footballers marched into the Division One League final following their 2-11 to 1-10 victory over St. Jude’s in Pairc Ui Mhurchu at the weekend.
As league table toppers, Boden were rewarded with a home fixture, however, the first 15 minutes of the first half were dominated by St Jude’s who scored five points without reply.
Eventually, the home side settled down and Daire Sweeney converted a free before Paddy Dunleavy broke up a Jude’s attack and set up a move that he finished himself by setting up Harry Donaghy to fist the ball to the net.
Daire Sweeney, from play, brought the sides level with a good point before the visitors were then awarded a penalty which they duly converted.
Boden got a point back by Daire Sweeney before a 45 by Darragh Gogan was knocked out to the waiting Luke O’Donoghue who punched it to the net.
Jude’s finished the half strongly with two late points to leave the half time score at 2 – 3 to 1 – 7 in favour of the visitors.
The early pressure was again applied by Jude’s who hit the cross bar and post after three minutes.
A minute later, Donogh McCabe popped over a point with his left foot to bring the sides level and this was followed by two points each by Daire Sweeney (2 frees) and Ryan Basquel (1 free) to put Boden four points ahead with 15 minutes gone.
Things could have been different if Judes had managed to convert their second penalty which was awarded after some poor defending by Boden led to a Judes player being fouled after 10 minutes.
However, Darragh Gogan dived the correct way and made a good save.
While Judes continued to put pressure on the Boden backline, scoring three points over the next 15 minutes, the hosts responded each time to maintain the four-point lead at the end, with two points from Ryan Basquel (1 free) and Céin D’Arcy.
Next up will be the league final after Lucan and Kilmacud Crokes play each other in the other semi-final.
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