Home defeat puts Boyne in drop peril
Monkstown Tullow Longford Co Carlow Boyne Clondalkin
Cill Dara
De La Salle Palm
P 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
W 9 6 5 5 3 3 3 1
D 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
L 0 2 3 4 6 6 6 8
F A Pts 264 144 41 249 161 31 190 134 28 158 130 25 207 220 19 187 241 18 160 197 16 110 298 4
Boyne Cill Dara 13 15
SO often in sport there are small margins between success and failure and Boyne’s two-point home defeat to Cill Dara on Sunday could turn out to be extremely costly.
It was a fifth successive loss for Vic Ball’s team and the result plunges the Drogheda men into a relegation battle - whereas one more successful kick would have clinched victory and put Boyne nine points clear of the drop zone with five rounds remaining.
Ball’s first season in charge has been a real rollercoaster affair, with a heavy home defeat on the opening day followed by three bonus wins in games where Boyne amassed 122 points. That was followed by another run of losses, although the eight-point reverse away to runaway leaders Monkstown last Sunday week had to be regarded as a positive given that the Sydney Parade side have made a habit of crushing opponents throughout the season.
Perhaps this latest setback should have been a victory, but not for the first time Ball was left to reflect on an opportunity lost.
Two penalty kicks from Joe Sweeney was all Boyne had to show for their efforts in the opening half, when they had the benefit of a very strong wind at their backs.
On the restart Cill Dara, who are second from bottom of the table, responded with 10 unanswered points, only for Boyne to restore their lead with a Shaun Rooney try converted by Sweeney - 13-10. Playing into the elements, though, Boyne were always likely to face another Cill Dara surge and so it proved as the visitors turned defeat into victory with a try in the 73rd minute.
Reflecting on the outcome yesterday (Monday), coach Ball felt the damage was done in the first half, even though Boyne ended it with a 6-0 lead.
‘The wind was one of the strongest I’ve seen in a game,’ he said.
‘It was a 15-point wind we had at our backs, so to be six up - we didn’t do enough in the first half. Mistakes cost us - we dropped the ball about eight times - and then going against the wind it was too much hard work.
‘We’ve been in contention in the last three games and come out the wrong side of it, and it’s not for a lack of attitude or desire. They’ve been brilliant in that regard, but little things have let us down at crucial times, and that’s where we have to be better.’
Just three points now separate Boyne from second-bottom Cill Dara, with five rounds remaining, and the Drogheda men’s first two fixtures in the New Year are away to fellow strugglers DLSP and Clondalkin.