Boden's SHC 'A' final replay joy after another tough battle

Boden’s SHC ‘A’ final replay joy after another tough battle

Sun, 28th October 2018

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 2-15 KILMACUD CROKES 1-15

Ballyboden St Enda’s are Dublin senior hurling champions again for the first time since 2013 after defeating Kilmacud Crokes in Sunday’s ‘A’ final replay at Parnell Park.

Joe Fortune’s men will now represent the county and face Westmeath’s champions Clonkill in the Leinster Club SHC next Sunday in Parnell Park (2.0).

Again there was nothing between the sides before a massive Paul Ryan point from 75 metres as the game ticked into added time and one from play from Dublin senior footballer, Colm Basquel, sealed the deal for Boden as Crokes suffered defeat in the decider for the third year in-a-row.

It was some of their more experienced players that got St Enda’s over the line with Ryan hitting 1-5 overall, 1-4 from frees and a sideline, while the evergreen Conal Keaney scored 0-4.

Boden made a great start with former Dublin senior Conor McCormack gaoling in the opening minute after Marc Howard had opened the Crokes account.

Howard, Crokes top scorer in the SHC, had to be replaced had to be replaced injured in the 24^th minute when he was fouled for a penalty at the end of a superb run. They also lost the experienced duo of Niall Corcoran five minutes into the second-half, and Ryan O'Dwyer three minutes later, through injury.

Crucially keeper Gary Maguire thwarted Oisín O’Rorke from the spot following the foul on Howard.

However, despite leading 1-6 to 0-4 after 20 minutes it was Crokes who took over towards the close of the half to outscore their opponents 1-5 to 0-1 between the 20^th minute and the break.

O’Rorke reacted well to his penalty miss by getting Crokes up and running in this period when hitting 1-3.

Two of his points came from play and he scored an injury-time goal after a high delivery from Shane Veale into the danger area was off-loaded by Sean McGrath to the corner-forward.

Crokes led 1-9 to 1-7 at the interval but Boden restarted the better with Ryan’s goal from a 37^th minute free a crucial score .

Paul Doherty's 43rd minute point had the Firhouse Road men four points to the good, 2-12 to 1-11, but Anthony Daly’s Crokes did not buckle and hot within a point with O’Rorke on target on several occasions.

The introduction of Basquel helped Boden to the winner’s enclosure with his strength and pace causing trouble for the Kilmacud defence as the ensured victory with late points from Ryan (free) and Basquel himself.

SCORERS – Ballyboden St. Enda’s: P Ryan 1-5 (1-3f, 0-1 sideline), C Keaney 0-4, C Cormack 1-1, A Mellett 0-2, J Roche, C Basquel, P Doherty 0-1 each. Kilmacud Crokes: O O’Rorke 1-7 (0-5f), M Howard 0-3 (0-2f), C MacGabhann (0-1f), F Whitely, C Conway, R Hayes, A Considine 0-1 each.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: G Maguire; S Durkin, L Corcoran, D O’Connor; D Curran, S Lambert, J Madden; N McMorrow, D Curtin; N Ryan, C Keaney, C Dooley; A Mellett, C McCormack, P Ryan. Subs: S O’Connor for Curtin (ht), P Doherty for N Ryan (34), J Roche for Dooley (50), M Travers for Lambert (55), C Basquel for McCormack (59).

KILMACUD CROKES: M Collins; B O’Carroll, C MacGabhann, N Corcoran; D Kelly, R O’Dwyer, R O’Carroll; L McMullan, F Whitely; S McGrath, C Conway, S Veale; R Hayes, M Howard, O O’Rorke. Subs: A Considine for Howard (inj, 24), J Clinton for Corcoran (inj, 35), D Jones for O’Dwyer (inj, 38), D Butler for R O’Carroll (46).

REF: J Ó Buachalla (Setanta).