Ballyboden St Endas Beat Na Fianna To Claim Go Ahead AHL Division 1 title

Wed, 5th July 2023

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 0-20

NA FIANNA 1-12

Three points from Niall McMorrow in the final quarter helped Ballyboden St Enda’s claim the Go Ahead Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 1 title following their entertaining decider with Na Fianna at O’Toole Park on Wednesday evening.

St Enda’s enjoyed a six-point advantage at the break but facing a stiff breeze in the second-half, they came under concerted pressure from a Na Fianna outfit that failed to make the most of the opportunities that came their way.

The Glasnevin side struck thirteen wides in the second-half, struggling to utilise the wind effectively as a more economical Boden tapped over insurance points having being reduced to fourteen with seven minutes remaining.

There was an enterprising opening to the decider with Simon Lambert landing a trademark point from downtown in the 1^st minute with Gavin King levelling matters soon after, rewarding his excellent fetch with a straightforward finish.

Paul Ryan and Colin Currie exchanged points in the ensuing minutes before St Enda’s took control for a period, translating that possession into scores for Niall Ryan, Lambert and Adam Kelleher.

Na Fianna struck back with Currie and centre-back Brian Ryan splitting the posts and the former spurned the first genuine goalscoring chance in the 13^th minute as his low shot was smartly diverted around the upright by Matthew Nolan.

Currie converted the resultant ‘65’ and a sumptuous sideline by King ensured the sides remained deadlocked at the start of the second-quarter.

King repeated the trick from the opposing sideline in the 21^st minute, cancelling out another fine Lambert point in the process, but that score proved their final entry on the scoreboard for the remainder of the half as Ballyboden began to put daylight between the teams.

Timmy Hammersley popped over two frees with minimum fuss and with McMorrow and Kelleher also on target, they finished the half on a high through two superb points by the influential Luke McDwyer.

Na Fianna enjoyed a glut of possession in the early exchanges after the turnaround but struck morale-sapping wides while Hammersley availed of their profligacy to hammer over an excellent score from play in the 35^th minute.

Currie and substitute Ben Gaughran finally got Na Fianna ticking over but Currie was errant in the 39^th minute as he smartly eluded a plethora of Boden defenders before firing a low attempt well wide of Nolan’s right-hand upright.

He did add a point soon after, from another eye-catching King catch, but St Enda’s were showing signs of weathering the storm at this stage, enhancing their tally through Paul Ryan and Hammersley.

Na Fianna were handed a lifeline of sorts in the 53^rd minute as Currie was fouled by Sean McDonnell, a challenge that saw the Boden defender receive his marching orders, and Currie left Nolan helpless on this occasion when burying the resultant penalty.

It failed to act as a springboard to an unlikely comeback as McMorrow concluded the scoring in the 59^th minute, leaving his side relatively comfortable and deserving winners by the final whistle.

Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: T Hammersley 0-5 (4f), N McMorrow 0-4, S Lambert 0-3, L McDwyer, A Kelleher, P Ryan 0-2 apiece, C Dooley (’65), N Ryan 0-1 each. Na Fianna: C Currie 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-3f, 0-1 ’65), G King 0-3 (0-2 sidelines), B Ryan, B Gaughran, C Kelly 0-1 apiece.

Ballyboden St Enda’s: M Nolan; R Leddy, S O’Connor, L Mulligan Lynch; J Madden, S Lambert, L McDwyer; N Ryan, S McDonnell; C Dooley, N McMorrow, A Mellett; P Ryan, T Hammersley, A Kelleher. Subs: P christie for Leddy (half-time), C Kirwan for Kelleher (50), M Codd for Mellett (62).

Na Fianna: J Tracey; C McHugh, K Burke, S Burke; J Meagher, B Ryan, P O’Dea; D Clerkin, C Kelly; S Currie, G King, A Jesson; C Currie, C Stacey, T Brennan. Subs: J Tierney for S Currie (25), B Gaughran for Jesson (half-time), D Ryan for K Burke (33), M Quilty for O’Dea (43), C Heaney for McHugh (51).

Referee: Damien Burnett (Craobh Chiaráin)