Holders Boden and Ballymun primed for SFC1 decider

Tue, 22nd September 2020

Holders Ballyboden St Enda's face Ballymun Kickhams in this Sunday's Dublin SFC1 final at Parnell Park (4.30) - it's a repeat of last year's AFL1 decider and it could provide a very intense battle.

Unlike the participants in last Sunday's SHC 'A' final - Cuala and Ballyboden St Enda's - their football equivalents have gone through this championship unbeaten.

Kickhams topped Group 1 with victories over Skerries Harps, Round Towers Lusk and last year's beaten finalists Thomas Davis before defeating Na Fianna in their quarter-final and then Kilmacud Crokes in the last-four.

Boden recorded a 100 per cent record to finish on top of Group 3 with victories over Clontarf, St Vincent's and Whitehall Colmcille before seeing off Raheny (after extra-time) in their quarter-final and St Jude's last time out.

In last year's top-flight league final Ballymun Kickhams prevailed 0-9 to 0-8 with John Small kicking the winning point deep in added time.

That victory brought to an end a terrific unbeaten league and championship run for Boden in Dublin after they had claimed county and provincial honours.

The tie looked destined for extra-time when Conal Keaney split the posts under serious pressure late on.

However, the Mun found the strength to muster one last decisive attack that culminated in John Small's winner, his second point of the night.

Reigning champions Ballyboden St Enda's will be hoping their injury concerns lessen ahead of this Sunday's big clash.

They defeated St Jude's in their semi-final (2-11 to 1-11) with both Collie Basquel and Michael Darragh Macauley watching on from the sidelines while Aran Waters had to be replaced in the opening half. Bob Dwan is also currently on their injured list.

Collie Basquel has been Boden's top scorer in this championship to date, tallying 4-21 overall (1-10 v Clontarf; 2-3 v St Vincent's; 1-6 v Whitehall Colmcille; 0-2 v Raheny).

“Collie has a ligament knee injury,” said Boden selector Finian Hyland. “You could nearly put them all in the one basket – you’ve Collie, Mick, Aran and Bob all carrying injuries. And we won’t really know until the end of the week where we’re at. We’re hopeful that we’ll get some time out of some of them.

“All the lads are getting treatment … our last training is Friday evening, to see where the guys are and to see if there’s minutes in them.”

The Dublin SFC2 decider also takes place in Parnell Park on Sunday when Cuala face St Brigid's (2.0).

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BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S

Group 3: First (three wins)

Group results: Ballyboden St Enda's 4-20 Clontarf 2-8; St Vincent's 1-17 Ballyboden St Enda's 5-11; Ballyboden St Enda's 4-22 Whitehall Colmcille 1-10

Quarter-final result: Ballyboden St Enda's 2-16 Raheny 0-16 (after extra-time)

Semi-final result: Ballyboden St Enda's 2-11 St Jude's 1-11

Scored to date: 17-80 (131)

Average scored per game: 26.2

Conceded to date: 5-62 (77)

Average conceded per game: 15.4

Number of Dublin SFC titles: 4

Last time Dublin SFC holders: 2019

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BALLYMUN KICKHAMS

Group 1: First (three wins)

Group results: Ballymun Kickhams 3-18 Skerries Harps 0-12; Round Towers Lusk 1-10 Ballymun Kickhams 3-26; Ballymun Kickhams 3-15 Thomas Davis 0-8

Quarter-final result: Ballymun Kickhams 1-18 Na Fianna 2-13

Semi-final result: Ballymun Kickhams 1-18 Kilmacud Crokes 2-12

Scored to date: 11-95 (128)

Average scored per game: 25.6

Conceded to date: 5-55 (70)

Average conceded per game: 14

Number of Dublin SFC titles: 2

Last time Dublin SFC holders: 2012

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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