Mellett’s magic strike sees Boden past Vins in SHC ‘A’ semi-final

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 2-16 ST VINCENT’S 0-18

Ballyboden St Enda’s in back in the Dublin SHC ‘A’ for the first time since 2013 after overcoming St Vincent’s in Sunday’s semi-final at Parnell Park.

It took a Aidan Mellett goal late on after good work by Conor McCormack to finally seal the deal and set up a final against Kilmacud Crokes in two weeks’ time.

It was Boden’s two goals that were vital with Paul Doherty getting their first in the 14^th minute though Boden trailed at the break, 0-12 to 1-8.

The influence of Rian McBride and the accuracy of John Hetherton from placed balls had the Marino men in front at the break.

Two minutes into the second-half Boden were level following a Shane Durkin point and within a minute Doherty had edged Joe Fortune’s men in front.

Freetakers Hetherton and Boden’s Paul Ryan exchanged scores before the influential Mellett found the range.

Ryan and Mellett added points before Hetherton replied with two further frees but the game was effectively decided when Mellett clinically angled the sliotar to Dara De Poire’s net to see his side into the final.

SCORERS - Ballyboden St Enda’s: P Ryan 0-8 (0-7f, 0-1 ‘65’), A Mellett 1-3, P Doherty 1-2, N McMorrow 0-2, S Durkin 0-1. St Vincent’s: J Hetherton 0-11 (0-9f, 0-1 ‘65’), R McBride 0-3, T Connolly, A Moore, C McBride, C Burke 0-1 each.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: G Maguire; S Durkin, L Corcoran, J Madden; D Curran, S Lambert, D Curtin; S O’Connor, N McMorrow; P Ryan, P Doherty, N Ryan; C Keaney, C Dooley, A Mellett. Subs: D O’Connor for S O’Connor (ht), C McCormack for Doherty (36),

ST VINCENT’S: D De Poire; C Harney, J Collins, R Pocock; F Power, R Trainor, S McCaw; T Connolly, M O’Keeffe; C Burke, R McBride, J Hetherton; K Connolly, C McBride, N Billings. Subs: O Lanigan for Pocock (29), A Moore for K Connolly (38), C McCarry for C McBride (Blood Sub 42-44), J Walshe for Billings (58).

REF: T Gleeson (Naomh Fionnbarra).