PREVIEW: 2023 Go-Ahead Senior 1 Football Final

Tue, 17th October 2023

By Conor Martin

Kilmacud Crokes v Ballyboden St Endas, Sunday 22nd October 2023, Parnell Park, 4pm.

Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Endas battle it out this Sunday in the Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Final for the Clerys Cup.

Get match tickets here.

Kilmacud are going for a third senior Dublin title in-a-row while their opponents Ballyboden are looking for a first title since 2019. It is also the first meeting between the two teams at this stage of the competition since 2004.

Crokes won Group 2 after winning all three of their group games before they met Ballymun Kickhams in the quarter-finals.

Shane Walsh’s contribution that day proved crucial as he scored 0-5 (2 ‘45’, 1f) while Dublin senior football Paul Mannion was on form as his club steered past a tricky task in the shape of Ballymun.

Next up they faced Raheny in the last four. Many inside and outside of Dublin had written off Raheny’s chances ahead of the game. But Raheny made Kilmacud work for a ticket to this weekend’s big dance as a fine point from Brian Talty and a Darren Lunney penalty followed by a Adam McAweeney score meant defending champions Kilmacud were moments away from being dethroned.

However, there was time for some late drama...step forward Crokes substitute Luke Ward who found the net well into injury-time to break Raheny hearts and send the game to extra-time.

Extra-time couldn’t separate the sides so, penalties would decide the fate of the two teams. Kilmacud scored five from five penalties, with Shane Horan’s clinching the win and a spot in the final with his penalty.

Ballyboden St Endas have gone one better after their semi-final exit last year and are looking forward to a first outing in the final since their defeat to Ballymun Kickhams in the 2020 Championship.

Boden won all of their Group 1 games comfortably as they progressed from their group as winners, before they recorded a dominant 11 point win in their quarter-final against Castleknock in which Ryan O’Dwyer joined the Basquel brothers Ryan and Colm in leading the charge into the last four.

St Judes were up next for Kenny Naughton’s men who swept their fellow southsiders aside in a 3-13 to 0-9 win. A goal in the 12^th minute from O’Dwyer got men in blue and white rolling as they went for the kill. Ryan Basquel converted a penalty before Warren Egan wrapped up a place in the final with a goal right before the final whistle.

Both teams go into the climax of the Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship with different milestones in mind.

Kilmacud would have regathered and refocused after their dramatic semi-final and will be looking for a third title in a row. Ballyboden, on the other hand have been convincing in every game this Championship and will believe this year will be the year the Clerys Cup heads home with them to Firhouse Road for a fifth time.