Féile Football Report from Juvenile Chairman Séamie Ó Néill

As reigning Dublin Champions Ballyboden St Endas set out for the Kildare town of Athy on Friday July 3rd in a quest for All-Ireland glory in Féile Peil 2009. Although missing ace midfielder Andrei Martynyuk,  who sustained a serious knee injury 8 days before Féile, hopes were high that this team could emulate the Ballyboden Féile team of 1998 who had won Féile Division 1 for the first and only time in the club’s history. Having won the Dublin Under 13 Championship and League double in 2008, their supporters knew that this team had the power and the potential but the big question was if they could negotiate a group stage that contained Kerry Champions Legion of Killarney along with two useful Kildare sides, Athy and Sarsfields.

All-Ireland Champions

Friday 3rd July

Game 1 :Ballyboden St Endas  v Athy

Ballyboden got their Féile Championship weekend off to a good start in splendid sunshine with a fine win over Athy. Two goals from James Madden and a tally of 1-3 from centre-forward Jack McCarren helped Ballyboden to  a solid if not spectacular victory.

Team: David Mahon, Corey McLelland, James McGrath, Kenny Wigglesworth, Fionn Maguire, Tom Hanifin, Mattie  Timmons, Sam Moloney, Cillian Power, Colm Basquel, Jack Mc Carren, Cian Bates, Colm Ó Néill, Stephen McDonald, James Madden

Scorers:
James Madden  2-0
Jack McCarren  1-3
Colm Basquel   1-0
Sam Moloney    0-2
Cian Bates         0-1

Final Score Ballyboden St Endas 4-6 Athy 2-2

As the match ended word came through that out the road in St Laurences the girls teams were also getting their Féile campaign off to a good start.

Following the Athy match Ballyboden headed for Newbridge for the Féile Parade. As Kilmacud had won Division 1 in 2008 the honour of leading the parade fell to Ballyboden. 160 teams from Ireland, Britain, US and France paraded behind the Ballyboden banner past the review stand where President Mary McAleese and a host of dignitaries listened to a running commentary from Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh.

Sat 4th July

Game 2 v Sarsfields

The rain pelted down on Athy on Day 2 of Féile 2009 as Ballyboden faced Sarsfields of Newbridge in their second group match. Ballyboden were on top in every position but failed to reflect their dominance on the scoreboard. At the end of normal time Ballyboden were one point up but the referee chose to play 3 minutes and 45 seconds of injury time and a late goal from Sarsfields left the score Ballyboden 0-4, Sarsfields 1-1. The referee blew the full time whistle on the restart. Progress to the All-Ireland semi-final looked extremely doubtful at this stage and the large crowd of Ballyboden supporters must have thought that the Féile journey was over.

Scorers
Jack McCarren 0-2
James Madden 0-1
Alex Fullarton 0-1
Final Score Ballyboden 0-4 . Sarsfields 1-1

Following the Sarsfields game Ballyboden settled down to watch Athy and Sarsfields play out a local derby with victory going to Sarsfields.  As the game ended all kinds of calculations and permutations were executed, the rule book was consulted and it emerged that Ballyboden would have to win their last game against Kerry Champions Legion of Killarney by 8 points in order to progress. A tall order if ever there was one.

Game 3 v Legion

Games between Dublin and Kerry teams in the past have always been competitive and it was expected that this game would be no different.  Ballyboden had a tough target to beat the Kerry champions by 8 points but they set about their task in serious fashion knowing that an early exit from the tournament and an early trip back to Dublin awaited them.

First half goals from Colm Basquel, Sam Moloney and Jack McCarren meant Ballyboden went in at half time 3-4 to 0-3 ahead.  Boden scored another 1-6 in the second half and a wonderful display from Tom Hanifin set Boden up for a fine  victory. The team was beginning to play to its potential and showed glimpses of what they are capable of. A 19 point victory meant that Ballyboden were on the road to the semi- final in Naas.

Scorers
James Madden  0-1
Colm Basquel    1-1
Jack McCarren 1-4
Sam Moloney   1-0
Cian Bates        0-2
Cormac Healy 1-1
Tom Hanifin    0-1

Final Score Ballyboden 4-10 Legion 0-3

Game 4 All-Ireland Semi Final v Slaughtneil of Derry

The Semi-Final was played on the immaculate surface of Naas GAA club against the Derry champions. Ballyboden played their best football to date in front of a vocal Ballyboden support as they controlled the game from start to finish in a fine display of disciplined football. Left half forward Cian Bates tore through the Derry defence time after time and used his blistering pace to great effect. Slaughtneil tried all they could to catch the pacy left half forward but they had no answer on the day. McCarren once again showed that he is an ace freetaker and cool under pressure while Brian O Shea made a wonderful interception on his own goal line to save the day.

Scorers
Jack McCarren 0-5
Sam Moloney 0-1
Cian Bates 0-1
Keith Robinson 0-1

Final Score : Ballyboden 0-8 . Slaughtneil 0-4.

Sunday July 4th

The Ballyboden players got a good rest on Sunday morning and attended mass in Athy looking for divine intervention. Having said goodbye to their host families who looked after them so well over the weekend, they headed for Newbridge.

Sunday July 5th will go down as a special day in the annals of Ballyboden St Endas. For the first time in the club history two teams contested the Div 1 Finals – the girls against Cork Champions Mourenabbey and the boys against Maynooth.

The finals were running late so Ballyboden headed for Sarsfields grounds for their warm-up, Word trickled through that the Ballyboden girls were on the point of making history.

With 15 minutes to go to throw-in  Ballyboden entered St Conleths Park and made for the dressing room. In what was a big boost for their confidence word came through that the girls had won the Division 1 All-Ireland for the first time in the club’s history. This showed that Ballyboden St Endas were a force to be reckoned with.

Would an All-Ireland double be too much to expect for Ballyboden and their large band of supporters?

All –Ireland Football Division 1 Féile Final

Game 5 V Maynooth

Ballyboden boys won the toss and elected to play with the help of a fresh wind.  (Final Action below)

Noel Basquel and Derek Ward had seen Maynooth play in their All-Ireland Semi- Final against the Cork Champions St Michaels. They had reported that Maynooth were a big strong team and how right they were as the Maynooth team towered over the Ballyboden lads before the throw in. Ballyboden however had a game plan to match the biggest of the Maynooth players and when Sam Moloney set down a marker with a great catch from the throw in that set the tone for a great performance from Ballyboden.

His midfield partner Stephen McDonald won great early ball to put Maynooth on the back foot. These two players won crucial midfield ball and the stats will show that Ballyboden won the first four Maynooth kickouts in a row. Up front Ballyboden had three small lads in James Madden, Colm Basquel and Colm O Neill. Time after time these three lads, aided by Cian Bates and Cormac Healy, ducked under the Maynooth cover and, with their ball control and speed, played havoc with the Maynooth defence. Maynooth were left to concede free after free which the ice-cool Jack McCarren slotted over with precision. In the move of the first half Sam Moloney took on three defenders to unleash a brilliant shot from 30m which the Maynooth goalkeeper stretched full length to top around the post for a 45m kick.

At half-time Ballyboden led by 0-4 to 0-1. Having dominated the game for all the first half it was a slender lead. Going into the second half Ballyboden faced into a strong breeze but produced the best football of the tournament to dominate the game and deny Maynooth much needed possession,

This Ballyboden team however showed their strength in depth and showed no let up in commitment in the second half. It has often been said that ‘Goals win Féile’ and when left corner forward James Madden side footed the ball to the Maynooth net it put Ballyboden on the road to victory. Maynooth were not finished yet and took the game to Ballyboden. This is where the Ballyboden backs stepped up to the mark.

Team captain James McGrath took control at the back using his pace and strength to good effect and made great use of possession. As Maynooth played an extra man at the back Kenny Wigglesworth operated in a free role and mopped up ball after ball.  Cillian Power produced some brilliant tackes until an injury forced him to be replaced by the little dynamo Fionn Maguire who tore into everything.

Tom Hanifin was masterful at centre –half back. He showed all the classic characteristics of a brilliant centre half back as he repelled attack after attack. At left-half back Darragh O Shea was a revelation as his strength and discipline blotted out the Maynooth half forward line. Corey McLelland showed strength and power and didn’t give an inch. When goalie David Mahon, flown in from his holidays in Italy for the occasion, made one wonder stop from close range the omens were looking good. Into the fray came Alex Fullertan with the cultured left foot. A screamer of a shot from 20m gave the Maynooth goalie no chance and a brilliant goal meant Ballyboden were on the way to victory. Keith Robinson came in and in five minutes showed what an accomplished player he is with a block straight out of the coaching manual and a great point with the left leg to leave Ballyboden 5 points up at the finish and All-Ireland Division 1 champions for only the second time in the club’s history.

Scorers:
Jack McCarren 0-4 ( 3frees)
James Madden 1-0
Alex Fullartan 1-0
Keith Robinson 0-1

Final score
Ballyboden 2-5 Maynooth 1-3

Team
David Mahon, Cory McLelland, James McGrath ( capt), Kenny Wigglesworth, Cillian Power, Tom Hanifin, Daragh O Shea, Sam Moloney, Stephen McDonald, Colm Basquel, Jack McCarren, Cian Bates, Colm Ó Néill, Cormac Healy, James Madden
 
Subs Alex Fullarton, Fionn Maguire, Keith Robinson, Brian O'Shea, Cathal Burke, Andrei Martynyuk, David Gilheany, Mattie Timmons, Cathal Bergin, Stephen Coughlan
 
At the final whistle the large Ballyboden contingent went wild as team captain James McGrath accepted the cup from GAA president Christy Cooney on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary of the foundation of the GAA.  Tribute has to be paid to the management team of Noel Madden, Paddy Brady and Brendan Burke and team trainer Brian Oggi O'Regan, along with renowned physio Hammie, who prepared this team to peak at just the right time.

The selectors had the hardest job in the world in trying to pick the starting fifteen as each and every member of the panel played brilliantly as they came on the team over the weekend. Each member of the panel played their part in the group stage and without doubt this was the strongest panel ever to represent the club.

The final was a wonderful display of possession football, confidence under pressure and scoring ability. Although a much smaller team than Maynooth, Ballyboden moved the ball at speed and hardly gave a ball away all day.

After the match, Maynooth, although disappointed to lose in front of a big home crowd, were gallant in defeat and their team manager spoke magnanimously in the Ballyboden dressing room.

To win an All-Ireland Division 1 title takes a brilliant management team. No doubt Ballyboden had that in place but they also had great support from the club executive, the Féile Fundraising committee, the hurling section and the parents of the players. The football committee and members of the juvenile football committee supported the path to All-Ireland glory all the way.

James McGrath, Captain after receiving the cup from Christy Cooney, Úachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael

The players themselves were brilliant ambassadors for the club over the weekend and played an extremely attractive brand of pure football.   It will take a long time for this victory to sink in but it is great to reflect that this is the culmination of all the work that has gone on at nursery level in the club over the last few years combined with the great work being done for Gaelic games in our local schools.

Comhghairdeas do gach éinne a bhí bainteach leis an mbua iontach seo.

Séamie Ó Néill