Boden deliver late knockout blow to Crokes

Sat, 3rd October 2015

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 1-11 KILMACUD CROKES 0-10

In this clash of the titans an Andrew Kerin penalty as the game ticked into the final minute delivered the knockout blow for Ballyboden St Enda's in the Dublin SFC second round duel in Parnell Park on Friday night.

There was nothing between the sides all night before Kerin despatched the spot-kick after sub Sam Malony had been fouled and deep into injury-time he added a free to make fully sure of victory.

Crokes started well with two excellent Mark Vaughan frees inside the opening four minutes but the frequency of scores soon dried up as both forward lines struggled to break down their opponent's defence.

The Stillorgan side, who lined out without the injured Cian O'Sullivan, led 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes following a point from the lively Dara Mullin.

However, driving on by the energetic Michael Darragh Macauley Boden kicked the next three scores with Ryan Basquel, Kerin, following good work by Colm Basquel and Macauley, and the Dublin midfielder himself to move 0-4 to 0-3 up by the 15th minute.

There was only one further score before the break in this battle of attrition when Mullin added his second point from Crokes following a superb pass from the impressive Donal Ward.

Boden gained the upperhand in midfield in the second half, and with Darragh Nelson marshalled the defence from centre-back, but failed to turn possession into scores and when Crokes rallied late in the second half with points from subs Paul Mannion (free) and David Campbell they moved 0-8 to 0-6 clear with ten minutes remaining.

Earlier in the half Brian Kavanagh slotted a sublime point from the stand side as Crokes threatened to find the scoring touch up front.

Points from Conal Keaney and Kerin tied up the game before wing-back Ward replied for Crokes. But typical of the night Boden responded with an excellent Kerin point with his left foot to bring equality again, 0-9 each.

With the game in the melting pot Malony fielded a long hopeful delivery before being hauled down and Kerin held his nerve to convert from the spot and send the Boden supporters into raptures.

SCORERS - Ballyboden St Enda's: A Kerin 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), C Keaney, R Basquel 0-2 each, S O'Connor, MD Macauley 0-1 each. Kilmacud Crokes: B Kavanagh 0-3 (0-2f), M Vaughan (0-2f), D Mullin 0-2 each, D Ward, P Mannion (0-1f) 0-1 each.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: P Durcan; B Dwan, S Hiney, S Clayton; S O'Connor, D Nelson, A Waters; MD Macauley, D O'Mahony; D O'Reilly, R Basquel, S Gibbons; C Basquel, C Keaney, A Kerin. Subs: D Davy for O'Reilly (25), S Molony for C Basquel (43), D McCabe for Gibbons (55).

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; E Culligan, Rory O'Carroll, R McGowan; D Ward, K Nolan, C O'Shea; Craig Dias, M Coughlan; D Mullin, P Burke, A Egan; B Kavanagh, M Vaughan, E Keating. Subs: P Mannion for Keating (42, black card), D Campbell for Coughlan (47), S Williams for Burke (47), L Og O hEineachain for Vaughan (56).

REF: G McCormack (Nh Barróg).