BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 3-12 O’TOOLE’S 0-9
Ballyboden St Enda’s senior hurlers continue to rewrite the history book after they captured their fifth Evening Herald Dublin SHC ‘A’ title in emphatic fashion on Sunday afternoon in Parnell Park.
Garda were the last club to annex five in-a-row back in the 1920s (1925-29) and after beaten their opponents in this year’s championship by 12 points in the final, 17 points in the semi-final (v Lucan) and 12 in the quarter-final (v Ballinteer St John’s) there is no sign of any slowing up by the Firhouse Road men.
They succeeded this year without the talents of two men who played central roles in their four previous championship campaigns (the injured duo of Conal Keaney and Stephen Hiney) which further underlines their strength in depth.
The opening quarter was evenly balanced before a huge lineball from Stephen Nolan was pounced on by Emmet Carroll who rifled to the net past Brendan McLoughlin – it put his side 1-3 to 0-3 up but also signalled the start of the game going away from the Larriers.
Up front O’Toole’s could not win sufficient possession to put the Boden defence under sustained pressure with Liam Ryan the only O’Toole’s forward who looked like causing problems with the St Enda’s rearguard doing a great job to shut out their opposition.
By the interval Boden had struck for a second and crucial goal when Paul Ryan blasted a 20-metre free to the net to give his side a 2-6 to 0-4 half-time advantage.
Three minutes into the second half Conor McCormack put the game out of O’Toole’s reach when he fetched a high delivery before cutting through on goal and driving the sliotar to the net.
Four minutes later they could have had a fourth goal but Paul Ryan’s penalty cannoned off the crossbar and was cleared down field.
O’Toole’s did create plenty of point scoring chances in the second half but their accuracy failed them.
Boden progress to represent Dublin in the AIB Leinster Club SHC – they face Westmeath’s Clonkill (away) next Sunday.
SCORERS – Ballyboden St Enda’s: P Ryan 1-3 (1-2f, 0-1 65), E Carroll 1-2, C McCormack 1-1, D O’Connor 0-2, S Nolan (f), S Durkin, S Lambert, T Sweeney 0-1 each. O’Toole’s: A Morris 0-4 (0-2f), Peadar Carton, C Mulligan, M Carton, L Ryan, P O’Donoghue 0-1 each.
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