Result: 1 14 to 1 10
Boden Senior Hurlers finish the year with Dublin double
O’Toole Park provided a modicum of Christmas cheer on Sunday morning at the Senior Hurling League Final. The ‘result’ of a pre-match inspection by a few eagle eyed Boden supporters was the tone of the conversation from the sparsely populated concrete terrace.
‘Jazzzz, that field is not great…..plenty of mud on show’.
‘You’re right…..were you ever at the Ploughing Championships?’.
‘I see they’re keeping Paul (Ryan) in reserve….not starting….and David (Curtin) too’.
‘I see…..Good squad out though….. any plans for the rest of the day?’.
‘We’re goin to the Senior Citizens Party in the club’.
‘How did you qualify for that’.
‘Don’t ask……..Jazzzz that field is not great’.
‘This could be as exciting as an hour long Mass’.
‘Don’t say that……’.
The early exchanges were all Bodens with Collie Basquel showing well for the ball. Aiden Mellett also looked the part….perhaps this was evidence of him having had an early Saturday night. The score sequence went…Paul Doherty from a free….Mellett to Basquel….point….Doc again on the double…..and captain Simon Lambert….5 to 0. Na Fianna responded well with Gavin King doing the business from the spot, line balls included.
The next ball into the scoring goal was controlled by Mellett….lay-off to Basquel….GOAL! A quarter gone.
Next up was Shane Durkin with the first of his two customary long-range points.
This sparked Na Fianna into action and with Shane Barrett leading the charge, they pointed three without reply. Half time had it at 1.06 to 5 points.
The second half was very stop-start, with the northsiders piling the pressure on. But it was Boden who were to point first through the stick of introduction Paul Ryan….a free out wide.
After Durkin’s second point, Na Fianna corner back man Conor Kelly stepped up with the first of his two great points. The Boden response was immediate, with Paul from from two frees, followed by the impressive David O’Connor. James Roche completed this good Boden sequence with a neat strike. But the game was not far from done….Na Fianna got their chance and goalman Jonathan Treacy buried his free from 25 metres and set the joust up for a tight finish. But that was as good as it got for them, with Paul Ryan pointing neatly from close in in response to some very good free-taking from King.
Well done to the squad in doing the Championship and League double.
Squad; Gary Maguire, Luke Corcoran, Dean Curran, David O’Connor, Stephen O’Connor, Simon Lambert, James Madden, Shane Durkin, Niall McMorrow, Conor Dooley, Paul Doherty, Niall Ryan, Conal Keaney, Collie Basquel, Aiden Mellett, James Roche, Conor McCormack, Collie O’Neill, Eoin O’Neill, Finn McGarry.
My thanks to the following in the preparation of this report; Joe Ryan, Giuseppi Riani, Comrade Josef Ryner and Seosamh O’Riain.