Boden break Vinnies resistance to progress to SHC ‘A’ semi-final

DUBSTV HIGHLIGHTS:

MATCH REPORT:

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 1-23 ST VINCENT'S 0-17

Ballyboden St Enda's progressed to the semi-final of the Dublin SHC 'A' after breaking St Vincent's resistance over the concluding 15 minutes in Saturday evening's quarter-final at Parnell Park.

Central to Boden's victory was how they finished off the first half when scoring 1-3 without reply in the last four minutes of the opening period to enter the break 1-11 to 0-8 in front.

David O'Connor cracked home the goal in the 28th minute after Collie O'Neill's point effort had been half-blocked. Ace freetaker Paul Ryan converted three placed balls before the interval for the southsiders to suddenly assume a six-point lead.

Throughout the first half it had been nip and tuck with the deadball accuracy of Tomás McGrane as well as two fine Cian McBride points keeping the Vins very much in the hunt.

The Marino men did rally on the restart to the second half with two long range frees from McGrane from about 85 and 75 metres out respectively. In between Diarmuid Connolly, now operating at full-forward, grabbed a point and by the 35th minute the deficit was reduced to three points, 1-11 to 0-11.

But that was really as good as it got for Vincent's as the Boden half-back line of Stephen Hiney, Simon Lambert and James Madden, followed by Shane Durkin, on his introduction, took control of matters.

Points from Paul Ryan (two) and Stephen O'Connor steadied the Boden ship and they showed the greater match-winning know-how to go on to book their berth in the last-four with midfielder Niall McMorrow adding two second half points to the brace in the opening half.

In the last two round robin games in Group 2 Lucan Sarsfields defeated Ballinteer St John's 0-22 to 0-14 while Cuala and Faughs drew 1-16 each.

SCORERS - Ballyboden St Enda's: P Ryan 0-11 (0-9), D O'Connor 1-4, N McMorrow 0-4, D Curtin 0-2, S O'Connor, C O'Neill 0-1 each. St Vincent's: T McGrane 0-8 (0-7f), C McBride 0-5 (0-1f), R McBride 0-2, D Connolly, S McBride 0-1 each. 

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: G Maguire; K Wigglesworth, D Curran, M Clifford; S Hiney, J Madden, S Lambert; S O’Connor, N McMorrow; D Curtin, E O’Neill, C O’Neill; D O’Connor, C Keaney, P Ryan. Subs: S Durkin for S O’Connor, F McGarry for E O’Neill.

ST VINCENT’S: D Perry; W Lowry, C Harney, R Trainor; J Cook, R Fallon, D Garland; T Connolly, D Connolly; C McBride, C Billings, B Bolger; A Moore, T McGrane, R McBride. Subs: J Hetherton for Billings, R Pocock for Fallon, S McBride for Lowry, K Connolly for McGrane.

REF: D Moloney (St Brigid’s).