With combined experience of 214 years, the management of this team should surly be able to pass on some of their pearls of wisdom, if only by osmosis. Messer’s (not literally, well maybe not) Ryan, Kenny, Carroll and Bomber are at the helm of this exceptional group of young lads. Sitting at the summit of Division 1, the lads have gone 6 from 6 and were in no mood to surrender their 100% record on a summers evening in Shankhill.
Tearing into Cuala like Brendan Ryan into Happy Hour, Boden started at a ferocious pace. Adam Kelleher had the Cuala net rattled within 2 minutes and that set the tone for the evening. He slotted over another 2 points before John Maguire got one of his own. But like all great performances this one was built on solid foundations. Only the sunlight was allowed get past the half back line of Malachy Codd, Joe Maguire & Cillian Wall. And by the time Cuala realised this, Boden had stretched their lead to 10 points. A goal mouth scramble led to the first of Cian Corcoran’s goals, but the stunning catch, turn and smashed goal was the pick of his brace.
Cuala decided to “Go Long” and try avoiding the Boden half backs but they were met with Luke Mulligan Lynch, Paddy Dunleavy & Sean O’Donnell. How do you think that went for them???? Correct, not very well. The formidable back six is conducted by the “Puppet Master” that is Jack Lambert. His breath-taking close range save after 18 minutes was a hammer blow to Cuala’s chances of getting back into this one. Couple that with his laser guided puck outs and he makes this a night for the forwards. Corner forward, Cian Hassett chipped in with 1-2 and David Monahan’s goal made sure this contest was over by half time. Boden went into the break 5-13 to 0-7 to the good.
Not known for “Taking it easy” on a team, the management made a few positional changes to accommodate the substitution of Paddy Dunleavy through injury. Scoring forward Fergal Ryan turned into scoring full back Fergal Ryan, unbelievable stuff. The constant movement and relentless pressure from the full forward line of Kelleher, Daire Sweeney and Rhys McDonald sucked the life out of the Cuala defence. Point after point, each one better than the last. Daragh Kenny and half back / half forward, Malachy Codd, were creating space in the tightest of situations and scoring for fun. Cuala’s frustrations boiled over and the odd ‘ruckas’ or two called for the services of Dr. Peter Wall from the line and old “Healing Hands” himself, does what he does best, gives them a drink and tells them to get on with it……
But the final word goes to the real power houses who bind everything together, Eoin Behan & John Maguire in the middle of the park never stopped. The won the dirty ball, prevented Cuala from creating a platform and set up the plays that ultimately led to the final score line of 5-28 to 0-9. Yeah, you read that right 5-28 to 0-9. And, even more remarkably, there are only 4 frees and one ’65 in there, all from 9 different scorers.
So be it osmosis, passion or tactical genius, that 214 years of hurling experience is turning a great bunch of hurlers into something very special. You have an opportunity to see them free of charge against Lucan, at home, on Thursday 4th July. Don’t miss it cause you’ll be givin’ out when you will have to pay to see them.
The Team: Jack Lambert, Sean O’Donnell, Patrick Dunleavy, Luke Mulligan Lynch, Malachy Codd (0-7), Joe Maguire, Cillian Wall, Eoin Behan, John Maguire (0-2), David Monahan (1-0), Fergal Ryan (0-3), Daragh Kenny (0-3), Cian Hassett (1-3), Cian Corcoran (2-0), Adam Kelleher (1-7 (3xF & 1×65)), Daire Sweeney, Rhys McDonald (0-3 (1xF))