News
Ladies Football
BODEN BELLES ON TOUR
[ Friday, 10th July 2009 ]
Friday arrived at last and with a wave from Nedser and a blessing from Father Jimmy we were finally off. The girls were very relaxed on the short journey to our hosts St. Laurences. The warm welcome we received continued on the pitch with our girls taking their time to get used to the closer marking and quick kickouts of the hosts. However an 11 point win was satisfactory for all their efforts.
Score Boden 4 – 3 St. Laurences (the larries) 0 – 4.
Scorers Jessica Nugent 1 –2, Aoife O’Brien 1 –1, Grace Kennedy 1 – 0, Maria McGrath 1 – 0.
The Girls were then whisked away by the host families before arriving back for the bus to the parade. What great stories of swimming pools, horses, farm animals and a peacock called “Percy”.
The parade passed off full of wonderful colour in the sunshine. There was lots of conversation with other teams. The New York boys were popular and the Clonmel boys team all wanted to talk to Lauren Melon.
After a very early night in bed, Fearghal was strict in imposing curfews, day 2 started in the driving rain. Baltinglass were our next challenge and a completely different starting team took the field. Again we were slow starters but the improvement was swifter and in the true spirit of feile all 24 on the panel played, we eventually ran out winners on a score of :-
Boden 6 – 4 Baltinglass (Balto) 0 – 4.
As Fearghal’s pen wouldn’t work in the rain, we’ll have to get back to list the scorers.
As the third team in the group Mungrets St Paul (Limerick) had also won their first 2 matches, our game against them was effectively a knockout game.
Great efforts were make to ensure that all the gear was dry for the match. The rain had stopped and the team finally showed what they were capable of. In a performance reminiscent of the first half against Na Fianna and the second half against Kilmacud Crokes, the girls were totally dominant all over the field.
The forwards changed position at will. The Limerick team deserve great credit for not giving up and were still tackling hard at the final whistle.
Final score in a great performance :
Boden 4 – 7 Mungrets 0 – 0.
Scorers Grace Kennedy 1 – 2, Kate O’Toole, 1 – 1, Maria McGrath1 – 0, Martha McLoughlin 1 – 0, Jess Nugent 0-2, Katie Murphy and Aisling O’Leary 0-1 each.
At this stage word was coming through that the boys had progressed through to the semi final and we began to dream of having two teams in Newbridge on feile finals day.
Semi final
Our semi final oppotments were our old foes from Mountmellick Sarsfields. Mick Gillen had a look at them in their final group stage and came back with much useful information. The game was in Newbridge Sarsfields on their main pitch. The pitch is 145 x 100, the maximum size allowed. Fearghal requested a buggy for the mentors to get round the pitch. We knew we would have to up the performances from the previous games and that is exactly what the team did. In a wonderful football performance from every player on the pitch our heroes won a memorable semi final with a score of :-
Boden 4 – 7 Mountmellick 1 – 1.
Scorers Jessica N 0-5, Grace 1-1, Maria 1-0, Jess McGirr 1-0, Aoife 1-0 Katie 0-1.
Back on the bus and to our Hosts St. Laurence who provided both players and parents with a great show. Barbecue and music were the order of the evening. While the girls danced and mingled with the guests, they were shattered from their earlier exertions from three hard matches. So bed at a reasonable hour was the priority. While the parents had a short post mortem on proceedings most of our heroes slept well.
Final
Sunday the 5th July D-Day. An all-Ireland final and we started with a visit to 11.30 mass in our hosts’ local parish. The PP had promised a short mass with no sermon. He welcomed his guests from New York and Boden and prayed for a Boden victory.
All-Ireland Champions 2009
He even wished Glen McCusker a happy 14th birthday. As time was running short we abandoned plans for a workout at Sarsfields and headed straight to St. Conleth Park. We were cramped in the dressing room area for a long time as proceedings were running late. The tension was high and nervousness was evident everywhere.
At last we took the pitch. Luckily we had seen our opponents win their semi final against Southern Gaels. Mourneabbey started very strongly and proceeded to totally dominate down the centre. Despite Aoife’s best efforts it was nearly always a case of 2 on 1. Some stout defending by Lauren and Doireann and saves from Danielle kept us in touch. After 10 mins we were 5 points to 1 down (Aisling) and in deep trouble.
But a point from Grace and a goaled free from Jess Nugent brought up right back into the game. On the stroke of half time Moarneabbey tagged on another point to leave the score at half time 1-2 to 0-6.
The second half started better with Katie, Aisling, Kerry and Ciara helping the midfield areas. We levelled (Grace) but were then shook with an excellent goal that even Danielle could not stop. The girls were still first to every ball and started to claw the score back. Maria looked goalbound but her effort blasted over the bar.
Points from Jess Nugent and Katie and one for Mourneabbey left us one behind with 3 minutes left. Then in a move that started in the full back line was finished to the net by Grace Kennedy. In a nerve wrecking finish Jess McG touched a goal bound shot on to the crossbar and when Aisling O’Leary got a point deep into injury time we knew the celebrations could begin.
Congrats also to the boys for completing a memorable double.
The panel: Danaille Aylmer, Aisling Scully, Lauren Falconer, Doireann Mullanyy , Kerry Maunsell, Aoife O,Brien, Ciara Lambert, Jessica McGirr, Niamh McLoughlin, Katie Murphy, Maria McGrath, Aisling O’Leary, Grace Kennedy, Jessica Nugent, Kate O’Toole, Glen McCusker, Catherine McDonald, Lauren Mellon, Amy O’Halloran, Julie Sadlier, Amy Feighan, Orla Dooley, Martha O’Donoghue, Rachel White, Ruth Kelly, Ciara O’Byrne and Claire Cremmin.
Special thanks to :-
The Management.
Score Boden 4 – 3 St. Laurences (the larries) 0 – 4.
Scorers Jessica Nugent 1 –2, Aoife O’Brien 1 –1, Grace Kennedy 1 – 0, Maria McGrath 1 – 0.
The Girls were then whisked away by the host families before arriving back for the bus to the parade. What great stories of swimming pools, horses, farm animals and a peacock called “Percy”.
The parade passed off full of wonderful colour in the sunshine. There was lots of conversation with other teams. The New York boys were popular and the Clonmel boys team all wanted to talk to Lauren Melon.
After a very early night in bed, Fearghal was strict in imposing curfews, day 2 started in the driving rain. Baltinglass were our next challenge and a completely different starting team took the field. Again we were slow starters but the improvement was swifter and in the true spirit of feile all 24 on the panel played, we eventually ran out winners on a score of :-
Boden 6 – 4 Baltinglass (Balto) 0 – 4.
As Fearghal’s pen wouldn’t work in the rain, we’ll have to get back to list the scorers.
As the third team in the group Mungrets St Paul (Limerick) had also won their first 2 matches, our game against them was effectively a knockout game.
Great efforts were make to ensure that all the gear was dry for the match. The rain had stopped and the team finally showed what they were capable of. In a performance reminiscent of the first half against Na Fianna and the second half against Kilmacud Crokes, the girls were totally dominant all over the field.
The forwards changed position at will. The Limerick team deserve great credit for not giving up and were still tackling hard at the final whistle.
Final score in a great performance :
Boden 4 – 7 Mungrets 0 – 0.
Scorers Grace Kennedy 1 – 2, Kate O’Toole, 1 – 1, Maria McGrath1 – 0, Martha McLoughlin 1 – 0, Jess Nugent 0-2, Katie Murphy and Aisling O’Leary 0-1 each.
At this stage word was coming through that the boys had progressed through to the semi final and we began to dream of having two teams in Newbridge on feile finals day.
Semi final
Our semi final oppotments were our old foes from Mountmellick Sarsfields. Mick Gillen had a look at them in their final group stage and came back with much useful information. The game was in Newbridge Sarsfields on their main pitch. The pitch is 145 x 100, the maximum size allowed. Fearghal requested a buggy for the mentors to get round the pitch. We knew we would have to up the performances from the previous games and that is exactly what the team did. In a wonderful football performance from every player on the pitch our heroes won a memorable semi final with a score of :-
Boden 4 – 7 Mountmellick 1 – 1.
Scorers Jessica N 0-5, Grace 1-1, Maria 1-0, Jess McGirr 1-0, Aoife 1-0 Katie 0-1.
Back on the bus and to our Hosts St. Laurence who provided both players and parents with a great show. Barbecue and music were the order of the evening. While the girls danced and mingled with the guests, they were shattered from their earlier exertions from three hard matches. So bed at a reasonable hour was the priority. While the parents had a short post mortem on proceedings most of our heroes slept well.
Final
Sunday the 5th July D-Day. An all-Ireland final and we started with a visit to 11.30 mass in our hosts’ local parish. The PP had promised a short mass with no sermon. He welcomed his guests from New York and Boden and prayed for a Boden victory.
All-Ireland Champions 2009
He even wished Glen McCusker a happy 14th birthday. As time was running short we abandoned plans for a workout at Sarsfields and headed straight to St. Conleth Park. We were cramped in the dressing room area for a long time as proceedings were running late. The tension was high and nervousness was evident everywhere.
At last we took the pitch. Luckily we had seen our opponents win their semi final against Southern Gaels. Mourneabbey started very strongly and proceeded to totally dominate down the centre. Despite Aoife’s best efforts it was nearly always a case of 2 on 1. Some stout defending by Lauren and Doireann and saves from Danielle kept us in touch. After 10 mins we were 5 points to 1 down (Aisling) and in deep trouble.
But a point from Grace and a goaled free from Jess Nugent brought up right back into the game. On the stroke of half time Moarneabbey tagged on another point to leave the score at half time 1-2 to 0-6.
The second half started better with Katie, Aisling, Kerry and Ciara helping the midfield areas. We levelled (Grace) but were then shook with an excellent goal that even Danielle could not stop. The girls were still first to every ball and started to claw the score back. Maria looked goalbound but her effort blasted over the bar.
Points from Jess Nugent and Katie and one for Mourneabbey left us one behind with 3 minutes left. Then in a move that started in the full back line was finished to the net by Grace Kennedy. In a nerve wrecking finish Jess McG touched a goal bound shot on to the crossbar and when Aisling O’Leary got a point deep into injury time we knew the celebrations could begin.
Congrats also to the boys for completing a memorable double.
The panel: Danaille Aylmer, Aisling Scully, Lauren Falconer, Doireann Mullanyy , Kerry Maunsell, Aoife O,Brien, Ciara Lambert, Jessica McGirr, Niamh McLoughlin, Katie Murphy, Maria McGrath, Aisling O’Leary, Grace Kennedy, Jessica Nugent, Kate O’Toole, Glen McCusker, Catherine McDonald, Lauren Mellon, Amy O’Halloran, Julie Sadlier, Amy Feighan, Orla Dooley, Martha O’Donoghue, Rachel White, Ruth Kelly, Ciara O’Byrne and Claire Cremmin.
Special thanks to :-
- Mary and Muriel for “organising the feile” and so much more.
- St Laurences, our hosts for a fantastic weekend.
- Tom Mullaney for his help with the team and quiet advice.
- Declan for his help every week and brilliant photos.
- Mick Gillan and Mick Aylmer and the under 13s
- Pat and the Ladies Executive.
- Eugene and Robbie and the under 16 girls.
- James for the indoor training.
- The under 13 boys A and B teams.
- Robbie and Aoife and the u 14 camogie team.
- Marian, Terry and Orla and the u 13 camogie team.
- All the girls’ previous managers and mentors.
- Our parents for their continuing support.
- Our sponsors for their generous contributions.
- Donal and Maria for their help and quiz night.
- The shoppers in Ashleaf and Dundrum.
- The club executive for their support.
The Management.
