Ballyboden beat Rathnure in Leinster Club Final

 
Weather conditions were not ideal for this important fixture and it was the home side who were able to avail of the strong first half wind and found themselves in the driving seat 1-6 to 0-0 at the break, the Rathnure goal coming from Sandra Carr early in the half. Rathnure looked strong throughout with the O’Connor sistes, Aoife and Claire in action, as well as All-Star nominee Michelle O’Leary.
 
The visitors, backed by the equally strong second half wind got to grips with the game quickly when Aoife O’Leary got the first of the three second half Boden goals. Rathnure were finding the going tough with former Dublin goalkeeper SÝle Nic Coitir in top form while an equally resiliant Rachel Ruddy at right corner back was not allowing the Rathnure forwards a sniff of the sliotar and so the home side were confined to one point in the second half – a point from Grace Hearne.
 
With Boden’s midfield pairing of Anne Griffen and Fiona NÝ Chorcorßn in ine form it seemed that it might just be their day, but they earned it the hard way. Rathnure were still ahead despite a second goal from Boden’s Dearbhla Brennan late in the half, but then the story changed in injury time.
 
One minute into injury time and the home side looking good for an All-Ireland semi-final spot, but Dublin player FÝona NÝ Chorcorßin gained possession of the sliotar and the unmarked player soloed  up along the wing and found the waiting Emer Lucey who shot goalwards. To her delight, the ball dipped under the cross bar and for the very first time in the game the visitors were ahead. Rathnure were rocked and to add further to their woe, Emer’s older sister, Ciara sent over the final score of the day – a forty five a minute later. Suddenly, the Dublin champions realised they were in an All-Ireland semi-final against Antrim and Ulster champions O’Donovan Rossa on November 1st.    
 
Leinster club championship Final: scorers:
 
Ballyboden St.Endas: 3-3, A O’Leary, D Brennan, E Lucey 1-0 each, C Lucey 0-1, D Dolan 0-1 ’45 each, F NÝ Chorcorßin 0-1.
Rathnure: 1-7: S Carr 1-1, E O’Connor 0-3, M O’Connor,L Holohan, G Hearne 0-1 each

“