Boden open defence of SFC1 title against Clontarf

Thu, 23rd July 2020

Ballyboden St Enda's begin their defence the Dublin SFC1 title this Saturday when they face Clontarf in their Group 3 contest in Páirc Uí Mhurchú (6.30).

The sides also met in the opening round of last year's group phase when a late Ryan Basquel point saw them narrowly defeat Clontarf (0-11 to 0-10) in O'Toole Park in April of last year.

Boden topped their group with further victories over Lucan Sarsfields (1-19 to 0-9, Monaster Road) and Skerries Harps (2-20 to 0-6, Parnell Park) to advance to the knockout stages,

In their quarter-final they were involved in a thriller with Na Fianna, then managed by current Dublin boss Dessie Farrell, which went to extra-time before the Anthony Rainbow's men emerged 3-15 to 1-15 victors.

Colm Basquel was Ballyboden's hero as he tallied 3-4 (0-1f) in a pulsating last-eight encounter.Basquel kicked all of Boden's extra-time scores, 2-1 from play, after the southsiders rescued the game in the final moments of normal time to force extra-time.

Ballyboden St Enda's progressed into the decider buoyed by a semi-final victory (2-10 to 1-10) over St Jude's when they came with a storming finish to progress to the final (against Thomas Davis).

Jude’s, having played with the wind advantage, had a six-point lead at half-time but Boden improved massively in the second period to run out winners.

St Jude’s could only muster two points in the second half as Boden took control and with Colm Basquel in inspired form the Firhouse Road men dominated the conclusion of the second half.

Ballyboden St Enda's captured the title for the fourth time in their history when defeating Thomas Davis, 0-15 to 0-9, in Parnell Park.

During their six SFC1 contests Ballyboden St Enda's scored 8-90 and conceded 2-59, the goals they conceded were scored by Lucan's Brian Collopy in their second game of the round-robin section in Group 2 and by Na Fianna's Karl Deeley in their epic quarter-final.

Following their Dublin SFC1 triump they defeated Louth's Newtown Blues (1-11 to 0-5), Westmeath's Garrycastle (3-14 to 0-12) and Carlow's Eire Og (0-8 to 0-6) to capture the Leinster SFC title for the second time (previously having won in 2015 on their way to All-Ireland club glory).

Their opponents in last year's Dublin SFC1 final, Thomas Davis, made their return to the capital's top-flight SFC final after an absence of 28 years.

The Kiltipper Road club, who won the SFC2 in 2018, exhibited terrific championship form underlined by their quarter-final victory over Castleknock and then the 2018 champions, Kilmacud Crokes, in their semi-final.

In their semi-final they defeated Crokes 2-12 to 1-10 with Ciarán Farrelly's goal immediately on the restart of the second half putting Paul Kelly's men on the road to victory.

A long ball from Ryan Deegan was mishandled by Crokes keeper David Nestor and Farrelly was on hand to fire to the net. The influential Ryan Deegan followed up with a great point as Davis moved 1-7 to 0-6 clear, it was a lead they never relinquished

Their 3-12 to 1-17 quarter-final victory over Castleknock was packed with drama. Two goals inside a minute during the first half gave Thomas Davis great self-belief and they held on in a frenetic finish to progress to the last-four.

Castleknock led 0-5 to 0-4 by the 20th minute before they were rocked by goals from Ryan Deegan and Ciarán Farrelly in immediate succession to suddenly lead 2-4 to 0-5.

Davis’ also made the dream start to the second half with a Brendan Kirby goal inside the opening minute. Points from Gerard McDermottroe and Rob Shaw cut the gap but the three goals still had Davis’ ahead despite late points from Ciarán Kilkenny and Tom Shields for Castleknock.

Davis' host Round Towers, Lusk in their SFC1 Group 1 clash on Saturday in Kiltipper Road (6.30).

Lusk succeded the Tallaght side as SFC2 champions when they defeated Whitehall Colmcille's in last year's decider (3-21 to 3-10) with the accuracy of Liam Bohan (0-8, 0-4f) and influential play of Cormac Howley (0-4, 0-2f) to the fore.

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2020 DUBLIN SFC GROUP PHASE ROUND 1

Dublin SFC1 (6.30)

Kiltipper Road: Thomas Davis v Round Towers Lusk

Páirc Ciceam: Ballymun Kickhams v Skerries Harps

Parnell Park: St Jude’s v Na Fianna, Live on DubsTV.

12th Lock: Lucan Sarsfields v Ballinteer St John’s

Collins Avenue: Whitehall Colmcille v St Vincent’s

Páirc Uí Murchú: Ballyboden St Enda’s v Clontarf

Silver Park: Kilmacud Crokes v Raheny

Somerton Park: Castleknock v St Oliver Plunkett/ER.

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Dublin SFC2 (6.30)

Blakestown: St Peregrine’s v Fingallians

Ballyboughal: Ballyboughal v Templeogue Synge Street

Páirc Uí Bhriain: Naomh Olaf v Parnells

Saggart: St Mary’s, Saggart v Cuala

Portmarnock: Naomh Mearnóg v St Maur’s

Rolestown: Fingal Ravens v St Brigid’s

Bohernabreena: St Anne’s v Erin’s Isle

Broomfield: St Sylvester’s v Trinity Gaels

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Dublin SFC (Clerys Cup): Roll of Honour

St Vincent’s (28): 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

O'Toole’s (11): 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1946

Geraldines (10): 1898, 1899, 1998, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1940, 1941, 1942

Kilmacud Crokes (8): 1992, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2018

UCD (7): 1943, 1963, 1965, 1973, 1974, 2002, 2006

Parnell’s (6): 1913, 1916, 1939, 1945, 1987, 1988

Kickhams (6): 1897, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1912

Garda (5): 1927, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1935

Na Fianna (5): 1969, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001

Young Ireland (5): 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1896

Clanna Gael (5): 1936, 1937, 1948, 1961, 1968

Ballyboden St Enda's (4): 1995, 2009, 2015, 2019

Erin’s Hope (4): 1887, 1932, 1956, 1978