Connolly’s class steers Vincent’s into SFC decider

ST VINCENT’S 1-17 BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 1-10

Diarmuid Connolly gave yet another exhibition of his talents to steer defending champions, St Vincent's, to a Dublin SFC final showdown against St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh with this semi-final victory at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

Dublin's intercounty nominee for Footballer of the Year stood head and shoulders above the other forwards on the park as his personal tally of 1-6, all from play, ultimately got Vincent's through a difficult battle.

Connolly kicked five points in the opening half, a mix off either foot, before his second half goal in the 35th minute gave Boden a serious hill to climb as the Marino men led 1-8 to 0-6.

Boden had their own leaders carrying the fight for the Firhouse Road men with Sam Malony, a minor last year with the Dubs, impressing when kicking three points from play while Robbie McDaid impressed throughout in defence.

Andy McEntee's Boden showed great mettle to battle their way back into contention with points from Andrew Kerin (free) and sub Daniel Davey (two) as they refused to relent.

Eight minutes from time a hopeful punt into the danger area by Aran Waters was gathered on the break by Conal Keaney to blast to the net to trim the margin to just two points, 1-12 to 1-10.

But Vincent's showed all their experience and self-belief from there to the finish when kicked five unanswered points as subs Mark Loftus and Cormac Diamond got in on the scoring act to drive their team to victory.

SCORERS - D Connolly 1-6, T Quinn 0-4 (3f), E Fennell, S Carthy 0-2 each, R Trainor, M Loftus, Cormac Diamond 0-1 each. Ballyboden St Enda’s: C Keaney 1-1, A Kerin (3f), S Molony 0-3 each, D Davey 0-2, D O’Mahoney 0-1.

ST VINCENT'S: M Savage; H Gill, J Curley, K Bonnie; B Egan, G Brennan, M Concarr; E Fennell, D Murphy; G Burke, D Connolly, S Carthy; R Trainor, C Dorney, T Quinn. Subs: T Diamond for Dorney (36), M Moore for Bonnie (46, black card), L Bree for Egan (50), Cormac Diamond for Burke (51), M Loftus for Murphy (56), A Baxter for Quinn (59).

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: D Walsh; R McDaid, S Hiney, S O’Connor; B Dwane, D Nelson, C Flaherty; A Waters, D O’Mahoney; S Gibbons, D O’Reilly, A Flood; A Kerin, C Keaney, S Molony. Subs: M O’Sullivan for Dwane (12, black card), K Naughton for Flood (22), D Davey for O’Reilly (41), R Basquel for Gibbons (51), T Hanafin for O’Sullivan (58).

REF: D Feeney (Parnell's).