Club News

15/03/03 Senior hurlers beat down the challenge of Ballyboden

It was a great day for this pre-season challenge game against the hurlers of Ballyboden, St. Endas. Conditions, whilst cold, were spot on for this encounter against the Dubliners, the sun even came out to grace Corrigan Park for its first game of the new season.

It took some time for either team to register a score in this match however, it was Ballyboden who broke their duck first with a fine point from play. Another point followed without reply from the southern side until a 21 yard free was awarded to St. John's and Brian McFall stepped up to take his shot. It was somewhat fortuitous in the end as his strike trickled over the line, but it was enough to take the lead in the match 1-0 to 0-2 with some 20 minutes to go in the first half.

Ballyboden continued to make some headway in the scoring stakes racking up another few points, however they were made to work hard for it by a gritty St. John's defence. The St. John's forwards were finding it somewhat tougher to get a few points on the board despite some determined efforts made by Gerard McFall and his cousin Brian.

Brian showed his class towards the end of the first half after latching on to the end of a pass from Gerard McFall and sending an unstoppable shot to the back of the Ballyboden net. This was to be the second and final score for St. John's in the first half however it was enough to keep in front of Ballyboden as they scored 5 points in the first half in total - the scoreline reading 2-0 to 0-5.

The second half was thankfully a far more fruitful period for St. John's hurlers as they stepped up a gear and started to send scores over a lot more easily. Brian began pointing with regularity - his personal tally for the game finishing up at 2-5. Ballyboden managed only 2 points in the second half and Neil Reyonlds pointed for St. John's with Kevin Rafferty sending in a long range speculative effort into the Ballyboden goalmouth and netted a goal for his troubles.

St. John's played strongly overall in defence, the half back line probably being the strongest line in the team on the day, whilst the captain Mickey O'Neill turned in a typically professional performance at full back.

In the end the scoreline flattered to deceive a little with St. John's romping home with some ease 3-6 to 0-7, whereas for the vast majority of the match matters were very evenly poised.

After a few jars in the club Ballyboden's hurlers and mentors were then treated to a bite to eat in the newest bar in town - Vaughns - before returning to the club for many more pints and craic with the rest of St. John's GAC. A good day was had by all, both teams acquitting themselves well and Ballyboden will hopefully be welcomed back up some time soon as fine ambassadors of Dublin hurling.

 

		St. John's
		C. Cunningham
J. J. Hartigan		M. O'Neill	C. Clarke
C. Gannon		R. Heenan	G. Clarke
		L. McCurdy K. Rafferty
G. Cunningham		C. Thompson	B. McFall
G. McFall		D. O'Hara	S. Thompson
(Subs: N. Reynolds for L. McCurdy, N. Kelly for J.J. Hartigan, H. Kennedy for C. Thompson, A. Brennan for S. Thompson)