Dublin U21 Football Championship Roundup- Nov 23rd

Ballyboden St Enda’s secured their place in the Dublin Under 21 ‘A’ Football Championship final as they got the better of Clontarf by 3-10 to 2-9 at Páirc Ui Mhurchú on Saturday afternoon.

Two early goals against the breeze proved crucial for the hosts as they entered the break with a 2-4 to 1-5 lead with Callum O’Dwyer kicking some classy scores for Boden during that period.

The hosts also benefitted from a strong showing at midfield by Alex Gavin and Michael McDonald with the pace of Gavin yielding two points while McDonald chipped in with a vital goal.

Mark McGlynn (penalty) and Jimmy Meaney raised the other green flags for a St Enda’s team well served over the hour by Oisin Byrne, David Keogh and Cillian Murray.

For Clontarf, Sean O’Grady top scored with 1-4 (0-3f), while Luke O’Boyle looked threatening throughout as he accrued 1-1, augmenting further scores by Conor Rooney, Cillian Leyden, James Kavanagh and Cian Goode.

However, their contributions up front and the strong defensive play of Calum Ahearne, Tom O’Sullivan and Harry Digan proved in vain by the final whistle.

On the all-weather surface in Páirc Uí Mhurchú, Ballinteer St John’s overcame a tricky start to eventually account for St Vincent’s by 4-16 to 3-8 at the quarter-final stage.

Backed by a strong breeze, Vinnies raced into an early 1-2 to 0-1 lead but Luke Breathnach led the St John’s revival with three superb points from play to push his team into a narrow lead by the 20^th minute.

The visitors finished the half impressively through goals from Joey Quirke and Jack Long to enter the break with a healthy 2-8 to 1-6 advantage.

A cracking goal from Quirke ensured that Ballinteer remained in control in the third quarter and after Breathnach, John Clair and Quirke had enhanced their lead, they effectively settled the issue as Mark McNally put the finishing touches to a well-worked move.

The hosts continued to battle and were rewarded for their perseverance through consolation goals by Bill Costello and Kalem O’Brien but St John’s were deserving winners with the likes of Finn Nolan, Andrew O’Reilly and Patrick Coleman all to the fore.

In the ‘B’ Championship, St Brigid’s confirmed their place in the final as they beat Naomh Barróg by 2-11 to 0-8 at Páirc Barróg.

Elsewhere, Fingal Ravens scored goals at vital times on their way to a 5-6 to 1-6 quarter-final success at Abbotstown.

James Farrell set the tone for Ravens with an early goal and they continued to add to the scoreboard through consistent contributions from George Hickey, Dylan Kettle and Niall Daly.

Further down the field, goalkeeper Aaron Lee made some outstanding saves to preserve his team’s lead with Jack Donnelly, Caylum Stafford and Conor Farrell all shining in a defensive capacity for the Rolestown outfit.

The Under ‘C’ final will be contested by St Sylvester’s and O’Dwyer’s with Syls requiring extra-time before eventually seeing off St Patrick’s Donabate by 0-17 to 0-13.

Meanwhile, in Balbriggan, O’Dwyer’s recovered from a seven-point deficit before pipping Erin’s Isle by 1-12 to 1-11.

Cathal O’Rourke top scored with 1-4 for the hosts, including a goal ten minutes from time that saw the hosts draw level, with Callum Johnston (0-3), Ciaran Morrissey (0-3) and Tristan Cawley (0-2) completing the O’Dwyer’s scoring.

U21 ‘A’ FC quarter-final: St Vincent’s 3-8 Ballinteer St John’s 4-16.

U21 ‘A’ FC semi-final: Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-10 Clontarf 2-9.

U21 ‘B’ FC quarter-final: Raheny 1-6 Fingal Ravens 5-6.

U21 ‘B’ FC semi-final: Naomh Barróg 0-8 St Brigid’s 2-11.

U21 ‘C’ FC semi-finals: O’Dwyer’s 1-12 Erin’s Isle 1-11; St Sylvester’s 0-17 St Patrick’s Donabate 0-13 AET.