Brilliant 2nd half from Ballyboden puts Carnacon out

Ballyboden
St Endas 3 – 10 Carnacon 1 – 8

A brilliant second half which saw the home side
reel off 1 – 9 to 0 – 1 played a huge part in
steering the Boden into its second All-Ireland
Club final. Boden were under the cosh for much
of the first half and inside five minutes found
themselves staring at a 1 – 3 to nil deficit.
The goal coming from Cora Staunton as well as
two pointed frees and the opening score after
a minute by Michelle McGing. But two first half
goals had a vital bearing in keeping Boden in
the game when the former All-Ireland champions
were at their most dangerous.

The first came in the 9th minute after a brilliant
run by Claire Butterly whose shot rattled the
cross-bar with Louise Kelly diving the ram home
the rebound. Cora Staunton and Michelle McGing
responded to put the Mayo girls 1 – 5 to 1 – 0
by the quarter-hour.

Carnacon aided by the breeze were coming forward
with great menace with their support play and
general distribution coming out of the top drawer.
But it was also evident that Boden had weathered
much of the early pressure. Noelle Comyn at full-back
was conceding little to Cora Staunton who would
not score again from play and Lisa Smith, Orla
Scollard, Clare Butterly and Gemma Fay were making
good progress when in possession. Another Cora
Staunton free extended the Carnacon lead to five
points when Boden got the game’s match-turning
score. Good work down the right side of the attack
playing into the Greenacres end saw Louise Kelly
place Karen Hopkins in front of goal and although
he shot was not the strongest it managed to deceive
the Carnacon ‘keepr Caroline Brennan and sneaked
into the net. Although Joyce O’Hara pointed again
for Carnacon, Boden were within sight of their
opponents at the break 1 – 7 to 2 -1 with the
breeze at their backs for the second half.

Carnacon dealt with the early Boden pressure until
a superb 40m free from Karen Hopkins opened the
scoring in the 36th minute. Sarah Denvir then
put her stamp on the game with a fine individual
performance that yielded three superb points.
Her first in the 38th minute left just a single
score between the sides. The breeze made the kickouts
very difficult for Carnacon and with Martina Farrell
now operating at midfield, confidence was growing
in the Boden camp.

A Cora Staunton free put the Mayo side 1 – 8 to
2 – 3 in front in the 42nd minute but one minute
later a superb Gemma Fay point had put Boden back
within a single score of the visitors. Two minutes
later they were in front for the first time when
Louise Kelly got a touch to a Gemma Fay centre.
The Boden fans were in full voice now as the five
times Dublin champions went for the kill and in
a blistering 60 seconds scored three great points
in the 51minute. Sarah Denvir began the sally
with the first from the left boot, Gemma Fay added
the second and Sarah finished it off with her
third. There was no way back now for Carnacon
with Fiona Ní Chorcoráin, Aisling Farrelly, Tonya
Allen, Joanne O’Sullivan, Sorcha Farrelly and
goalkeeper Suzanne Hughes as well as replacements
Eveleen Kehoe, Diane Spillane and Sorcha Timmins
all storming forward.

Further points from Karen Hopkins and Gemma Fay
sealed a memorable day for the large crowd at
Páirc Uí Mhurchú. The side will face Donaghmore
of Cork in a replay of the 2001 Final.

Ballyboden Team: Suzanne Hughes, Aisling Farrelly,
Noelle Comyn, Sorcha Farrelly, Joanne O’Sullivan,
Claire Butterly, Tonya Allen, Martina Farrell,
Fiona Ní Chorcoráin, Orla Scolard, Karen Hopkins
(1 – 3), Lisa Smith, Gemma Fay (0 – 4), Louise
Kelly (2 – 0), Sarah Denvir (0 – 3).

Subs: Eveleen Kehoe for Scolard; Sorcha Timmins
for Denvir; Diane Spillane for Allen.