Boden book berth in Leinster Club SFC decider

Sun, 22nd November 2015

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 1-11 ST LOMAN'S (Westmeath) 0-9

Ballyboden St Enda's progressed to theIR first AIB Leinster Club SFC final following this comfortable semi-final victory in Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday.

Boden did the damage in the last ten minutes of the opening half and again on the restart.

The opening 20 minutes was even but an Andrew Kerin free and point immediately from Colm Basquel put the Dublin champions 0-6 to 0-5 ahead.

Three minutes later came the crucial score of the game when Sam Malony fired to the net following good work from Michael Darragh Macauley and Conal Keaney.

A Kerin free pushed Boden five clear, 1-7 to 0-5, before John Heslin converted a free just before the interval.

Andy McEntee's men also had to thank their keeper Paul Durcan for denying David Windsor from close range before Boden began to get on top during that spell late in the opening half (22nd minute).

Boden's brilliant restart to the second half was also central to victory with the highly influential Conal Keaney slotting three frees inside the opening three minutes of the second half to see his side move 1-10 to 0-6 in front.

Loman's continued to rely on the freetaking of John Heslin as the Westmeath champions struggled to break down the Boden defence.

The Westmeath senior added three frees in the second half as they failed to score from play.

Loman's day went from bad to worse when Ken Casey was dismissed in the last minute of the game.

Boden will face Portlaoise on Sunday week in O'Connor Park, Tullamore (2.0) in the provincial final.

SCORERS - Ballyboden St Enda's: A Kerin (0-3f), C Keaney (0-4f) 0-4 each, S Molony 1-1, C Basquel, MD Macauley 0-1 each. St Loman's: J Heslin 0-7 (0-6f), K Casey, P Sharry 0-1 each.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: P Durcan; B Dwan, S Hiney, S Clayton; D Nelson, R McDaid, S O’Connor; MD Macauley, D O’Mahoney; C Basquel, D Davey, D O’Reilly; C Keaney, S Molony, A Kerin. Subs: D McCabe for Davey (48), S Durkin for Dwan (53).

ST LOMAN’S: J Daly; J O’Toole, N O’Toole, S Flynn; G Glennon, D Whelan, G Grehan; A Gaffney, P Sharry; D Windsor, J Heslin, K Lynam; K Casey, K Reilly, S Dempsey. Subs: C Reilly for Windsor (ht), C Kilmurray for N O’Toole (38), R O’Toole for Lynam (42), G Hickey for Dempsey (47).

REF: F Smyth (Offaly).