Going into our fourth match of the league  we had two comprehensive wins against St Oliver Plunketts (3-15 to 1-6) , Fingal Ravens (5-12 to 2-7) and a surprising home defeat to a dogged St Marys (1-11 to 2-9) not helped by us kicking 19 wides. 

Last Saturday we made the long trip to Malahide to take on St Sylvesters who had yet to win a match but were one of only 2 teams to beat us in the league last year. On a beautiful evening the first half did not match the weather . We got off to the perfect start. In the second minutes Dave Deveroux delivered a long ball into Luke Cullen who rounded his man , laid it back to Dave who crossed into the square for the inrushing Mark Mc Nally to finish to the net. Syls opened the scoring with a point and then Mathew Gardiner kicked a long range point. However despite a lot of possession we  over carried the ball too often when attacking and lost the scoring chances . Jack lundy in the tenth minute kicked a 45 to leave the score 1-3 to 0-1. Syls kicked the next 2 points and in the 17th minute Luke Cullen got a great score when winning a  long ball in ,rounding his man before kicking a point. However Syls came back strongly and kicked a 2 pointer in the 20th min and then 2 further points left them leading at HT by 1-3 to 0-7.

We started the second half with a point from a free when Luke Cullen was fouled and Luke then followed up with another point. However Syls came back with a 2 pointer in the 40th minute to go one up again . We then exchanged points before Syls went one up in 45 the minute. Ronan Cullen then hit a great point from play before Syls hit 3 points in a row to go 3 up entering the last 10 minutes. A free brought it back to 2 and then we got a critical break when substitute Jack Long intercepted a Syls kick out and went straight for goal ,laid off to Ronan Cullen who was taken down in the square. Jack Lundy converted into the corner of the net, We followed up with another point when Liam Fenton shot for goal rocketed  off the crossbar. Syls came back with a point before Liam Smith finished pointing a great move . Final score BSJ 2-11, Syls 0-14. 

It definitely was not vintage stuff but unlike last year, we came back from been down in  the last 10 minutes  to get over the line with a win.  Best for BSJ were Colm Fitzpatrick, Mathew Gardiner, Finn Nolan , Liam Smyth Ronan Cullen and twin brother Luke who was in flying form. 

Next up is Ballyboden St Endas on Saturday  April 26th in Marlay at 6-15. Currently we stand joint second in the table

 

The Inters had a daunting start to their league . Heavily depleted due to retirements and players going to the Senior team , they suffered losses to Geradine P Morans , St Peregines, and St Vincents in their first 3 games. So Saturday nights game away to Lucan Sarsfield who had won 2 of their first 3 games  was critical. 

The first half saw us playing against the wind and while playing well ,Lucan went in front from the start and led by a point at HT. We came out all guns blazing in the second half and was level in the first minute.  We then went 3 points up before we got our first goal ,an excellent score by Andrew O Reilly. Lucan came back strongly  to bring it back to 3 points before James Bates got our second goal 10 mins from time. Still with 7  minutes left there was only 3 points in it and Lucan were dominating possession. However we rallied strongly and got the last 4 points  to win by 7 with a wide range of scorers . Final score BSJ 2-15 Lucan 0-14.

It was a great team performance and best for BSJ were Adam Bates in goal with excellent kick outs, Eamon Naughton, Andrew O Reilly at centre back, Niall Dunphy , Sam Tully and Eoghan Seoighe. With this moral boasting win we can now look forward with a lot more optimism 

Next up is a home match V Garristown on Saturday 26th April. 

 

The Junior A team started their league campaign with a win over Whitehall Colmcille and then Kilmacud Crokes before suffering a disappointing loss to Ballyboden St Endas. Sunday morning we faced an experience St Brigids. 

Playing down the hill and with the breeze we kicked the first score ,a point and then Lughaidh Lynch kicked a 2 pointer from a free. We were 6 points up before Brigids got their first score, a point in the 15th minute . We were dominating possession with Joe Wolfe and Eoin Hoctor well on top at midfield . We kicked 4 points in a row and were making great movements but our efforts for goals to put us in a  commanding position before half time were poor. We did however go in at HT leading by 0-10 to 0-2

The first 5 minutes of the second half saw us kick 3 bad wides before Brigids kicked a 2 pointer and a 1 to bring the score to 0-10 to 0-5. It took a great safe by keeper Nathan Lhuiler to protect our advantage. Despite lots of possession but  due to poor decision making by our forwards we had to wait until the 45th minute to get our first score of the second half. We were 3 points up with 10 minutes left when Thomas Sheridan rounded two players to hit the corner of the net from a very tight angle. Lughaidh Lynch kicked a great point to put us 7 up with the game going into injury time when Brigids finished a ball to the net. It was a tense last 3 minutes but we deservedly  held out for the win on a scoreline of 1-11 to 1-7

Best for BSJ were Gavin Fahy ,  Matthew Naughton who did a lot of attacking from wing back, Eoin Hoctor, Joe Wolfe and Thomas Sheridan.

Currently we stand joint second in the table with our next match V St Vincents away on Sunday 27th April at 11 am 

 

 

The Junior B team have had a respectable start to the league with 2 wins and 1 loss and added a draw 1-8 to 1-8 on Sunday afternoon in Clonshaugh against a hardy seasoned Croabh Ciaran. Ballinteer came up against an opponent who won the equivalent Division 11 North league to Ballinteer’s Division 11 south unbeaten last season so this was always going to be a good match up.

 

In short Ballinteer threw the game away after leading the whole game and 5 points up in injury time conceding 2 points and a goal at the last kick of the game. Poor game management and decision-making n the last few minutes cost us but overall some very positive takeaways and some harsh learnings for the lads for future games.

 

Ballinteer played some excellent football at time but struggled to covert into points which will be a focus to work on. Defence played very well and worked hard and in fairness to Craobh they missed some easy scores that could have swung the game their way. Some excellent saves from Alex Gallagher were key moments for Ballinteer. 

Currently we stand in top half of the league with all to play for having played some of the top teams