Boden show true grit to beat Clonmel in extra-time

Sun, 14th February 2016

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 0-15 CLONMEL COMMERCIALS 0-10

(After extra-time)

What a game and what a spirited performance by Dublin champions, Ballyboden St Enda's, as they qualified for the AIB All-Ireland club SFC final by beaten Tipp's Clonmel Commercials after extra-time in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday evening.

Boden trailed by three points, 0-10 to 0-7, as the game ticked into the 55th minute and following the red card dismissal of Declan O'Mahoney their dream looked over.

However, in a superb display of true grit Boden kicked three points, the equaliser coming fittingly from the boot of captain Darragh Nelson.

The superior fitness levels and concentration of Boden told in extra-time as Clonmel failed to score again as the Firhouse Road men ran out five-point victors and set up a Croke Park meeting on St Patrick's Day with Mayo's Castlebar Mitchels.

"Things were looking grim with about five minutes to go in normal time. We were a few points down and had a man sent off (Declan O'Mahoney) but we dug deep,” said Michael Darragh Macauley afterwards.

"This team showed heart. Everybody looked around and showed a bit more belief and we dug it out in the end. Darragh got that great point at the end of normal time."

“I've been there (Croke Park on All-Ireland club final day) watching the Ballymun and St Vincent's lads on the big day and I know what comes with it. We have to come back down to earth now and re-focus for the final,” added Michael Darragh.

SCORERS - Ballyboden St Enda's: A Kerin 0-7 (0-5f), Conal Keaney 0-4 (0-3f), D Nelson, C Basquel, S Molony, R Basquel 0-1 each. Clonmel Commercials: I Barnes 0-3 (0-2f), M Quinlivan (0-1f), J Lonergan, J Kennedy 0-2 each, K Harney 0-1.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: P Durcan; B Dwan, S Hiney, S Clayton; R McDaid, D Nelson, A Waters; MD Macauley, D O'Mahoney; D Davey, C Basquel, D O'Reilly; C Keaney, S Molony, A Kerin. Subs: R Basquel for Davey (33), S O'Connor for O'Reilly (35), S Durkin for Clayton (55), S Gibbons for Molony (56); Molony for red carded O'Mahoney for extra-time, D McCabe for Gibbons (70), S Lambert for Molony (77).

CLONMEL COMMERCIALS: J McDonald; J Peters, F Condon, D Lynch; D Madigan, K Fahey, K Harney; M Quinlivan, S Kennedy; A Matassa, J Lonergan, I Fahey; I Barnes, J Kennedy, L Moore. Subs: P White for Madigan (48), P Looram for Barnes (56), S Taylor for Condon (bc, 60+3); N Kelly for Quinlivan (bc, 62), S Flynn for Looram (70).

REF: B Cassidy (Derry).