Grenham’s late, late free earns draw for Raheny in SFC1 clash with Boden

An injury-time free from Seán Grenham secured Raheny a share of the spoils (1-12 to 2-9) in Wednesday night's refixed Go-Ahead Dublin SFC1 Group 1 Round 1 clash at Parnell Park.

In an entertaining tussle Boden looked like they might hang on for victory following Conal Keaney's 60th minute converted free following a foul on Ciarán O'Reilly.

However, Grenham took on the responsibility to slot his fourth free of the night - to add to his point from play early in the second half.

It means that no team has qualified for the SFC1 quarter-finals yet ahead of this weekend's concluding series of round-robin games - Boden face Whitehall and Raheny face Na Fianna.

Currently Raheny and Boden are joint-top (three league points) with Raheny enjoying the better scoring difference (+5 versus +3) with Na Fianna on two points and Whitehall in bottom spot (0).

When the sides originally met in their void Round 1 clash three weeks ago a strong third quarter from Boden propelled them to a 2-17 to 0-8 victory - Wednesday's clash did not go in accordance with a repeat script.

In their initial meeting Boden were 0-7 to 0-5 ahead at half-time before dominating the second half - outscoring their opponents 2-10 to 0-3 in the second period - including a dominance that resulted in a third-quarter score of 2-5 to 0-1.

In Wednesday night's meeting it was delicately poised at half-time with Boden leading by the minimum - 2-4 to 1-6 - as the opening half concluded in a welter of action.

A Paddy Reid goal in the 30th minute edged Raheny in front but before the break Warren Egan fired to the Raheny net to give them their one point lead.

Ballyboden's first goal arrived in the ninth minute when Colm Basquel rattled the net but a Brian Howard point made it 1-1 to 0-3 at the first water break.

Howard combined with his Dublin team-mate Brian Howard at the start of the second quarter before kicking his second point from play before Paddy Reid made it 0-5 to 1-1 by the 21st minute.

However, Boden replied with three unanswered points from Aran Waters, Ryan Basquel (free) and Colm Basquel, off his left, to regain the lead (1-4 to 0-5).

Seán Grenham converted a free before Paddy Reid's goal but their delight was short-lived with Colm Basquel quickly raising a green flag for Boden.

Five minutes into the second half Grenham was placed by Brian Fenton to fire over to level it - the first of four times in the second half the teams were on equal terms.

Two minutes later Fenton angled over and Raheny were two points up.

Again back came Boden to slot four points without reply to lead by three points, 2-8 to 1-8, at the second water stoppage.

Simon Lambert ignited the flurry of Boden scores with a long-range effort before Conal Keaney (two) and Ryan Basquel (free) put the Firhouse Road lads a goal clear.

Inside the concluding ten minutes Brian Howard pointed a free from 45 metres, this was followed by a Paddy Reid score to bring his personal tally to 1-3, with a Seán Grenham free levelling it - 2-8 to 1-11 with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Conal Keaney's close-range free, as the game moved towards added time, might have sealed it for Boden but Seán Grenham had the final word with his late, late equalising free. All to play for this weekend.