Lucan Sarsfields vs. Ballyboden St Endas 29/3/2015

After a below-par second half performance against St. Oliver Plunketts two weeks ago, Lucan returned to winning ways with a good overall display at the 12^th Lock. The pitch was slippy due to heavy overnight rain, but the surface did not really deteriorate during the game.

We played with the wind in the first half and settled in well with Andrew, Shaun, Cian and Oisín all scoring points before Ballyboden got off the mark. This set us up to lead by seven points from play to one by the middle of the first half. Ballyboden did get the ball up the pitch in the opening quarter but did not really get a return from this with our backs playing well and distributing the ball accurately to the forwards. We didn’t waste any long balls during the first half as can often happen when playing with the wind. Ballyboden did get more into the game in the second quarter and put over a few frees but we also kept the scoreboard ticking over with Andrew, Oisín and Cian all continuing to score points. At the end of the first half, David Millar got a decisive score by running on to a through ball in a one-on-one with their keeper. He showed some quick thinking and kicked the ball past the advancing keeper and put it inside the left post. The half finished shortly afterwards with Lucan ahead by 1-13 to 0-4.

Ballyboden pressed more in the second half with the aid of the wind but our full back line held up well, aided by Eoin Higgins who cleaned up a lot of loose ball. Ballyboden opened the scoring with an early point as the teams traded two scores each over the first ten minutes. Our scores came from Cian who put over two frees. Ballyboden were not as accurate with the wind as we had been but defensive pressure was a factor also. As the game developed, the second half turned out to be not so high-scoring. Ballyboden shaded the territory but we were capable of breaking out an Andrew and Cian converted more scores. With both sides having scored five points in the second half, Ballyboden netted to reduce the margin. Time however was against them and although they added another two points, Andrew put over one for us. Their keeper also made a few late saves as we kept the pressure on. Key to our second half display was the link-up between Eanna and Alan for puck-outs. Our support play for the player in possession also improved in this game. Final score was Lucan 1-19 to 1-11 for Ballyboden.

Special credit was due to the U14 and U13 mentors and their players (and parents) in filling the injury and school-trip gaps on the U15 panel with Jothyn, Cathal, Colm, Mark, Dylan and Evin all playing up and making a significant contribution.

Lucan: Eanna Torsney; Cathal Shanahan, Jothyn Joseph, Ruairí Connolly;  Alan Murphy, Anthony McNulty, Eoghan O’Connor; Herkus Sviglinskas, Colm Behan; Shaun Keegan (0-1), Andrew Carroll (0-7); Oisín O’Brien (0-2); Cian McHugh (0-9), David Millar (1-0), Eoin Higgins; Mark Lavin, Jake Rooney, Dylan Kelly, Evin Dowling.