Boden battle way past Na Fianna into SHC ‘A’ final

Sun, 6th September 2020

DUBLIN SHC 'A' SEMI-FINAL

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 1-15 NA FIANNA 0-12

Ballyboden St Enda’s finished the stronger to book their berth in this year’s decider following this Dublin SHC ‘A’ semi-final at Parnell Park on Sunday.

They will face Cuala in the final and they won their last-four battle in similar fashion to their opponents next day out – by showing greater will to win and experience down the home stretch.

In the concluding 20 minutes Ballyboden outscored Na Fianna by a comprehensive 1-7 to 0-1 with the experience of Conal Keaney, Paul Ryan, Simon Lambert and James Madden to the fore.

Madden was tasked with the man-marking duties on Na Fianna’s chief inspiration in the championship to date, Donal Burke, with the Boden man coming out on top.

A Colin Currie free gave Na Fianna a 0-11 to 0-8 lead in the 39^th minute but Boden controlled the majority of the remainder of this contest.

The free came after Finn McGarry made an excellent save to deny Shane Barrett from 25 metres at the end of a marauding run, it was whistled back on the advantage.

But then Boden, with Conal Keaney using all this know-how and strength up front, to drag his team into contention.

Paul Ryan hit three points, two frees, with Paul Doherty another from play as Boden moved 0-12 to 0-11 ahead just before the second half water-break.

Despite a Donal Burke free from the standside it was all Boden on the scoreboard to the finish.

Simon Lambert punished a puckout malfunction before the crucial score – a penalty converted by Paul Ryan after a great run by Luke McDwyer eventually resulted in Pearce Christie being fouled.

Ryan clinically dispatched the penalty but aggravated a groin injury in the process and was replaced.

Na Fianna, hoping to reach their first Dublin SHC decider, though had one late opportunity but Colin Currie’s goal attempt was wide on the far side following good work by his brother Seán.

Boden got good impact off the bench in the second half and one of those subs, Kevin Desmond, put over a late point for the Firhouse Road men.

The St Mobhi Road outfit held a 0-8 to 0-6 after Boden closed out the half with two converted frees from Paul Ryan.

Just after the water-break Na Fianna gained the upperhand and were rewarded with four unanswered scores to open up a 0-8 to 0-4 lead by the 24^th minute.

Seán Currie fired over from halfway before his older brother Colin hit his fourth and fifth frees, following respective fouls on the hard-working Seán Baxter and Seán Ryan.

The younger Currie then put over a massive 80 metre free to see there side four points clear before Ryan’s frees cut the gap by the interval.

The opening exchanges were very balanced and by the water-break the sides were deadlocked 0-4 each.

A superb Donal Burke point from a tight angle on the standside opening the scoring for Na Fianna in the third minute.

Two Colin Currie frees extended that lead out to 0-3 to 0-0 by the fourth minute before Simon Lambert got Boden off the mark with a long range strike.

Paul Ryan cut the deficit with a 50 metre free following a foul on Niall Ryan before Colin Currie’s third free, this one from 65 metres, made it 0-4 to 0-2.

Before the first half water-break points from David O’Connor from long range and Paul Doherty brought the sides level.

SCORERS – Ballyboden St Enda’s: P Ryan 1-8 (1-0pen, 0-7f), S Lambert, P Doherty 0-2 each, D O’Connor, P Dunleavy, K Desmond 0-1 each. Na Fianna: C Currie 0-6 (0-6f), D Burke (0-1f), S Currie (0-1f) 0-2 each, AJ Murphy, S Barrett 0-1 each.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: F McGarry; J Madden, L Corcoran, S O’Connor; D O’Connor, P Dunleavy, S Lambert; N McMorrow, S McDonnell; C Dooley, N Ryan, C Keaney; P Ryan, P Doherty, A Mellett. Subs: P Christie for Mellett (ht), C McCormack for N Ryan (40), L McDwyer for Dooley (51), S Hiney for Dunleavy (56), K Desmond for P Ryan (58).

NA FIANNA: J Treacy; C Kelly, P O’Dea, K Burke; C McHugh, S Baxter, S Barrett; F Breathnach, M Quilty; S Currie, E McHugh, AJ Murphy; C Currie, S Ryan, D Burke. Subs: S Burke for Quilty (15), M Murphy for O’Dea (46), S Murphy for Ryan (52), K Murphy for E McHugh (58).

REF: PJ Murray (St Finian’s Swords).