Ballyboden retain Senior Club Crown

Boden
Retain Senior crown

All Ireland Senior Club Final Ballyboden St Endas (Dublin)
1-06 Donaghmoyne (Monaghan) 0-06

A converted spot kick by Louise Kelly nine minutes into
the second period was the decisive score that sent Ballyboden
on their way to retaining the All Ireland Senior Club
title at Drogheda. As expected this was low scoring affair
with the two best defences in the country coming head
to head. However despite the few scores this was a game
that had just about everything with some wonderful football
throughout, fine scores, excellent saves, great defending,
sin bins and a few errors only adding to a very exciting
encounter. Monaghan champions Donaghmoyne got the ball
rolling with a Majella Woods point inside two minutes.

Points from Joanne O’ Sullivan and the lively Gemma Fay
had the hotly fancied Boden in front after five minutes.
Both keepers were called into action with Lynda Martin
quick off her line to deny Orla Scollard and at the other
end Suzanne Hughes was called into a point blank save
from Angela Lennon. Midway through the half came the first
sin bin with Sarah Denvir punished for a high challenge.
Donaghmoyne used the numerical advantage and hit three
unanswered points from Angela Lennon, Aine Gilsenan and
Catriona McConnell.

The final say of a very entertaining opening period went
to player of the match Louise Kelly with a point to leave
it at the interval Donaghmoyne 0-04 Ballyboden St Enda’s
0-03.

Boden opened the second half the brighter but without
reward with a number of missed chances. While at the other
end on their first attack of note Angela Lennon rattled
the upright with Hughes well beaten. A key moment in the
game as moments later Ballyboden took control with the
opening goal. Natalia Hyland fouled by Fiona Courtney
and Boden had a penalty and Courtney also sin binned for
the offence. Up stepped Louise Kelly to calmly fire to
the roof of the net. To their credit Donaghmoyne didn’t
panic and struck back with a Majella Woods point to leave
it a one point game once again.

However the experience and overall power of Boden became
evident in the final quarter and with Kelly firing three
unanswered points they pulled four clear. Donaghmoyne
had the final say after Kelly was sin binned with Catriona
McConnell pointing but the Dolores Tyrrell Memorial Cup
was heading to Ballyboden for the second year in succession.
All Star Gemma Fay summed it up after the final whistle
” absolutely delighted, such a great achievement two in
a row, credit to the management and all the girls, worked
so hard, such a tough game but we pulled it out in the
end, just so proud to be part of it and a privilege to
be part of this team, we will celebrate long into the
week” More in dept report and Players views in the next
edition of PEIL.

Ballyboden
St Endas: S Hughes, A Farrelly, N Comyn, T Allen,
S Farrelly, J O’Sullivan (0-01), S White, F Ni Corcorain,
M Farrell, C Butterly, G Fay (0-01), N Hyland, O Scollard,
L Kelly (1-04, 1pen 2f), S Denvir
Subs: K Hopkins
Donaghmoyne: L Martin, J Geoghegan, M Grimes, N
Lynch, S Courtney, A Gilsenan (0-01), J Courtney, A O’Toole
Duffy, A Lennon (0-01), K Hall, M Woods (0-02), C McConnell
(0-02), H Kingham
Subs: L Kingham, C Courtney, F Daly

Alan Gunn (PR Committee and PEIL)