Path to 2020 SFC1 final: Ballyboden St Enda’s

PATH TO DUBLIN SFC1: Ballyboden St Enda's

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, PARNELL PARK

DUBLIN SFC1 SEMI-FINAL

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 2-11 ST JUDE’S 1-11

A Simon Lambert goal six minutes from the end of normal time was crucial as holders Ballyboden St Enda’s eked out victory in this Dublin SFC1 semi-final at Parnell Park.

Super sub Lambert, only introduced a few minutes earlier, stole in behind the Jude’s cover in the 54th minute and was brilliantly picked out by Brian Bobbett before firing past Paul Copeland.

It was the crucial score as it gave Boden sufficient breathing space in a tension filled conclusion.

Importantly following Lambert’s goal Ross McGarry, who finished with a personal tally of 0-5 (0-2f), tagged on a point to push Boden 2-10 to 0-10 clear as the game finished in some excitement but for Jude’s, still searching a maiden title, they were left to rue several missed opportunities, especially in the second period.

Jude’s sub Simon King did well to grab a 58th minute goal for his side from close range following good approach play from Tom Devlin and Pádraic Clarke.

Niall Coakley cut the deficit to just two points as the game moved into the final minute of normal time before Tom Hayes regained the clear goal margin for Boden.

Boden’s victory however came at a cost as goalkeeper Darragh Gogan was red-carded as this contest moved into added time as the Firhouse Road club, for whom Colm Basquel and Michael Darragh Macauley did not feature owing to injury, kept their dream of back-to-back championship glories alive.

Anthony Rainbow's side also lost Aran Waters to injury after just 21 minutes, he was only making his comeback from injury in this game.

Boden's replacement keeper Jake Turley was introduced as they rejigged their team and made one good intervention in the short period of time left in this duel.

The reigning champions led 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time with Robbie McDaid, who was highly influential early on, grabbing the goal - clinIcally firing home after a well judged pass over the top from Warren Egan.

They lost Declan O'Mahony to a black card just before the break and so were down to 14 men on the restart as Jude's opened with points from Kieran Doherty and Niall Coakley (mark) to close the gap.

However, points from Ryan Basquel and Ross McGarry steadied Boden in this tactical battle.

Heading inside the last ten minutes points from Diarmuid McLoughlin and Tom Devlin reduced the gap to two points but they then missed a golden goal opportunity when Brian Coakley struck his shot at Darragh Gogan's midriff.

To add to Jude's woes after working hard to keep the scoring opportunity alive Tom Devlin shot narrowly wide as Boden breathed a sigh of relief.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, PARNELL PARK

DUBLIN SFC1 QUARTER-FINAL

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 2-16 RAHENY 0-16 (After extra-time)

Ballyboden St Enda’s kept their hopes of back-to-back titles alive when they eventually shrugged off the defiant challenge of Raheny in this Dublin SFC1 quarter-final which went to extra-time at Parnell Park.

In extra-time the sides were level (1-13 to 0-16) with five minutes to go after Brian Fenton had a goal chance saved by keeper Darragh Gogan.

Boden heeded the warning to score 1-3 without reply in the dying minutes to battle their way to victory.

Ciarán O’Reilly was the late scoring hero, hitting 1-1 with a Ryan Basquel free and Conal Keaney (who tallied 0-5 overall) fisted point, following a great crossfield pass from Michael Darragh Macauley, securing their passage to the semi-finals.

O’Reilly’s goal came after his point effort rebounded to him off an upright and he reacted to fire the second opportunity to the net past Ciarán Heapes.

Raheny had forced extra-time with sub Seán Grenham playing a starring role, converting a mark and then two points from play along with a long-range Brian Fenton effort to make it all-square, 1-10 to 0-13.

Boden's goal arrived in the 45th minute when Ryan Basquel converted a penalty following a foul on Michael Darragh Macauley.

Boden had a late, late chance for a winner but Ryan Basquel’s free from over 40 metres faded wide. The southsiders had also concluded the half with 14 men after Cathal Flaherty was dismissed (two yellow cards).

In the first period of extra-time Cian Ivers edged Raheny in front following good approach play from Eoin Keogh.

Ross McGarry slotted a ‘45’ to level it again and by the interval the sides were still deadlocked after Seán Grenham, after combining with Seán McMahon and Eoin Keogh, pointed with Michael Darragh Macauley equalising for Boden (1-12 to 0-15).

However, Boden were reduced to 14 men when Darragh Nelson was black-carded for dragging down Brian Fenton in the last minute of this period.

In normal time, Ballyboden had finished the first-half on the up to lead 0-9 to 0-6. They also went close to getting the opening goal but Brian Bobbett’s shot glanced off the crossbar in the final minute of the opening half.

A Gavin Ivory free, following a foul on James O’Kane, in the 19th minute put Raheny 0-5 to 0-4 ahead.

However, Boden kicked the next four points in quick succession with Cathal Flaherty, Darren O’Reilly, Conal Keaney and Ryan Basquel all on target as Raheny struggled to get out of their own defence.

James O’Kane broke the Boden sequence of scores after good combination play involving Seán Byrne, Brian Fenton and Gavin Ivory.

Before the break a well-judged free from Colm Basquel on the 20m line wide on the left, following a foul on the influential Robbie McDaid, helped last year’s champions to their three-point interval lead.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, O'TOOLE PARK

DUBLIN SFC1 GROUP 3 ROUND 3

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 4-22 WHITEHALL COLMCILLE 1-10

Ballyboden St Enda's concluded their round- robin games with another high-scoring victory when overcoming Whitehall Colmcille by 4-22 to 1-10 in their Dublin SFC1 Group 3 encounter at O'Toole Park.

The Dublin and Leinster holders from last year tallied a massive 13-53 over their three group games with their over successes against Clontarf (4-20 to 2-8) and second-placed St Vincent's (5-11 to 1-17) to top their group with a 100 per cent record and a points difference of +45.

Colm Basquel scored 1-6 for Ballyboden St Enda’s against with Conal Keaney, Brian Bobbett and Tom Hayes also grabbing goals.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, PAIRC NAOMH UINSIONN

DUBLIN SFC1 GROUP 3 ROUND 2

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 5-11 ST VINCENT’S 1-17

Holders Ballyboden St Enda's made it two wins from two in the Dublin SFC1 Group 3 with this six-point victory at Páirc Naomh Uinsionn.

The Firhouse club booked their berth in the quarter-finals with the outcome of the St Vincent's and Clontarf clash deciding the other spot.

Boden, last year added the Leinster club SFC title to their Dublin crown last year, finished the game out the stronger during the concluding quarter with goals from Donogh McCabe and Tom Hayes securing the win in this high-scoring encounter.

The southsiders led at the break, 2-6 to 0-8, with Colm Basquel hitting both goals on his way to talling 2-3 overall (0-3f).

Vincent's had plenty of possession in the early exchanges but their accuracy let them down as they kicked first half wides in double-digits.

Colm Basquel's first goal came in the 13th minute when he finished clinically past Michael Savage.

However, after the first half water break the home side began to find their range with points from Tomás Quinn (two frees), Greg Murphy and Gavin Burke (two) to bring the sides level.

Basquel slotted his second goal in the 23rd minute which followed a point from Warren Egan to see the momentum turn back Boden's way.

Conal Keaney and Diarmuid Connolly exchanged points while before the interval Tomás Quinn had a sighting on goal but his effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Before half-time Basquel converted another free and a Ross McGarry point from play gave the visitors their four-point interval advantage.

Vincent's upped their game on the restart and by the 40th minute were on back on level terms following scores from Greg Murphy (two), Diarmuid Connolly, Gavin Burke and Shane Carthy with a Basquel free Boden's sole score.

Donogh McCabe's and Tom Hayes' goals were decisive late on despite Shane Carthy replying with a goal of his own for Vinnies.

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, PAIRC UI MHURCHU

DUBLIN SFC1 GROUP 3 ROUND 1

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 4-20 CLONTARF 2-8

Ballyboden St Enda's, managed by former Kildare star Anthony Rainbown, recovered from a slow start to overpower Clontarf in their SFC1 Group 3 opener at Páirc Uí Mhurchú.

However, it was Clontarf, for whom Mayo star Chris Barrett made his club debut, who dominated the opening quarter with 2-2 from Kevin Lillis helping the Dublin 3 side to a 2-5 to 0-5 lead.

The game was only in its opening minute when Lillis showed his eye for a score when beating Boden keeper Darragh Gogan from close range.

Lillis had a second goal opportunity but his rising shot clipped the bar on the way over before he did raise a second green flag following good approach play by Jack McCaffrey.

If Clontarf, who started without with former Dublin U21 players Andy Foley and Declan Monaghan as well as current U20 Kieran McKeon, were on top in the opening quarter of the game the concluding quarter belonged solely to Boden who hit 3-7 in that period to run out 18-point victors.

From a position of leading 1-13 to 2-8 as the clock showed 45 minutes goals from Colm Basquel (penalty), who tallied 1-10 (1-0 pen, 0-5f) overall, Warren Egan (his second) and sub Simon Lambert saw the hosts sweep to a comprehensive victory.

In the opening half points from the highly impressive Ross McGarry, who finished with 0-4 from play, and Conal Keaney, who hit 0-4 (0-1f), gave Boden a foothold following Clontarf's initial scoring blitz and Egan's first goal had the sides level, 1-9 to 2-6, at the half-time interval with Michael Darragh Macauley doing well at midfield.