Boyle GAA Blog ...by Tony Conboy

Sat. 10.45pm. Boyle Disappointed on the Double.
Boyle set out today with good hopes that they would bring home a cup and get to another final. Alas through the vicissitudes of sport it didn’t turn out that way. I am not really going into the fine detail of the games, I was too involved and then too disappointed at the end. The first thing to say is that everyone involved put in a huge effort, players, management and executive and deserve great credit for that. The supporters too were out in force. It is suggested that when a man falls off a horse that he must try and get back on there as soon as possible. Boyle has a bright future and we saw a good deal of that this evening in terms of the coming generation of Boyle teams. The Intermediate team has an opportunity to get back in the zone on Saturday night next with an important O’Rourke Cup game on Saturday next against their victors tonight, St.Dominick’s. Maybe even how they respond on Monday to the Walk will test their resilience and spirit. (weather and all that considered). The U 16s’ too have another big game with a league Final outing v St. Croan’s plus involvement with the minors.
I gather you know the results from above.
The under U 16s’ went down to Clann na Gael by the narrowest of margins on the score of Clan na Gael 0.7 Boyle 0.6. After a very poor first half the score stood at 2 points each. Boyle levelled the game 23 minutes into the second half but Clann had two winning points on 27 and 28 minutes despite a late Boyle point. There were massive efforts by many players but Evan McGrath was fantastic at midfield with Dylan Mattimoe, Thomas Halligan and Cian McKeon also to the fore. Hopefully I’ll have a team pic. up anon. So well done to all and hold your heads up and look forward to the next game and days like the semi-final in Elphin.
The Intermediate side were beaten by a St. Dominick’s side that maximised their strengths and were resourceful, clever and resilient. Boyle crept into an early lead but St. Dominick’s got the final 4 points of the first half to go in with a lead of 7 points to 4. The teams were level by the 13 minute of the second half at 8 all. But Boyle were unable to tack on any more scores subsequently and St. Dominick’s added two, number 9 on fifteen minutes and a clincher in a nail biting finale. In this period Boyle shot a number of wides from a variety of angles, from play and frees and this was the dividing line. The introduction of David Casey in the second half seemed as if it was going to provide the momentum but it too got stifled. Even in defeat there were a good number of pretty good performances such as those of Donal Smith (0.3), Darren O’Connor (0.2), Cillian Cox, Aaron Sharkey, goalie Tadgh Lowe, and Seanie Purcell.
From now the target remains for next year when I believe that Boyle will be a more formidable force with attainable objectives. So next spring we do as we always do and start again with today’s disappointment-and it was not just both teams disappointment but the broader clubs also- recorded but behind us.

There will be brighter days.
3pm.
It is batten down the hatches as there is a storm on the way due Sunday evening/night.