Cool Boden see off Vins

Champs always in control as return of Dublin star Keaney adds to positives

By Ronan Mac Lochlainn

Monday April 30 2012

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 0-15, ST VINCENT’S 0-10 – County champions Ballyboden St Enda’s got their campaign off to a positive start following a comfortable 0-15 to 0-10 win over St Vincent’s in their Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group C encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

Despite not firing on all cylinders, ‘Boden always held the upperhand in a contest that failed to ignite throughout and although St Vincent’s narrowed their deficit to five points with 10 minutes remaining, they never looked likely to complete their comeback.

There were positives to derive for the Marino men through the performance at full-back by Willie Lowry while John Hetherton looked lively in attack in addition to chipping over two fine scores.

They proved immaterial however as St Enda’s found scores easier to find with Paul Ryan accounting for over half of his side’s tally with eight points while Emmet Carroll continued his rejuvenation with three second-half scores.

Simon Lambert handed the holders the perfect start, executing a glorious sideline cut for the game’s opening score in the second minute and he followed that up with another classy point soon after as Boden opened up impressively.

Eoghan Dromgoole replied for St Vincent’s in the sixth minute but despite enjoying a fair share of possession, they were held scoreless for the ensuing 15 minutes as Ryan tagged on three frees to add to a long-range strike from Niall McMorrow.

In the 21st minute, Cian McBride ended Vinnies’ barren spell and although Tomás Connolly landed a ’65’ soon after, three further Ryan placed balls and a lovely score from the impressive Stephen O’Connor pushed Boden to a wind-assisted 0-10 to 0-3 interval lead.

Any hopes of a St Vincent’s comeback were quickly dispelled upon the restart with Carroll and Ryan sharing three points from play to leave nine points between the sides by the 36th minute.

There was further cause for cheer for the Firhouse Road supporters as Conal Keaney entered the fray soon after as Boden’s strength in depth was illustrated through his introduction and that of David O’Connor, with the former giving an understandably rusty showing given his lengthy lay-off.

Hetherton and Connolly narrowed the deficit as the half progressed but Boden looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Carroll denied a goal by a brave block by Paddy Clerkin in the 59th minute.

At the opposite end, Hetherton shot narrowly wide when partially hooked entering injury-time with McBride’s late score of mere consolation to St Vincent’s, who should gain some momentum for the remaining group games from their encouraging performance.

Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: P Ryan 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65’), E Carroll 0-3, S Lambert 0-2 (0-1 sideline), N McMorrow, S O’Connor 0-1 each. St Vincent’s: T Connolly 0-5 (0-3 ’65’, 0-2f), J Hetherton, C McBride 0-2, E Dromgoole 0-1.

Ballyboden St Enda’s: G Maguire; D Sweeney, T Sweeney, S Nagle; S Hiney, S Nolan, D Curran; M Travers, S O’Connor; J Doody, S Lambert, N McMorrow; P Ryan, C McCormack, E Carroll. Subs: C Keaney for Doody (38), D O’Connor for Nolan (55).

St Vincent’s: P Clerkin; R Pocock, W Lowry, R Treanor; N Bishop, C Billings, C Harney; M Chawke, D Connolly; S Barrett, C McBride, J Hetherton; E Drumgoole, T McGrane, T Connolly. Subs: K Connolly for Barrett (40), S Connolly for Drumgoole (43), A Moore for McGrane (58).

Referee: P Behan (Trinity Gaels).

– Ronan Mac Lochlainn

Fianna hang on as Faughs fail to capitalise on Brady red card

By Diarmuid Geraghty

Monday April 30 2012

NA FIANNA 2-11, FAUGHS 1-10 – Na Fianna survived the sending off of county star Tomás Brady to overcome the challenge of Faughs in a hard-fought Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group D clash at Parnell Park yesterday afternoon.

Brady, who is continuing his return from long-term injury, was positioned at full-forward for the game as opposed to his more accustomed defensive role and was thriving, having notched up 1-1.

The umpires however, drew the attention of referee Eamon MacSuibhne to an off the ball incident that resulted in Brady receiving a straight red card midway through the second half.

At that point it appeared that it could derail the Glasnevin men, after Faughs had recovered from a slow start – at one point they trailed by nine – to come within a point of the winners. But to their credit, Na Fianna kept their composure and outscored their opponents by 0-4 to 0-1 in the final quarter to seal the win.

They got off to the perfect start when Brady found the net inside the opening minute with a low finish past Trevor Donohue. Aidan Keogh, a brace of Mikey Brennan frees, and a point from Brady put them well in control before Brennan found the net after 10 minutes.

Faughs appeared shell-shocked but their challenge got back on track thanks to a wonderful solo goal from Fergal Heavey who won his own puck out before carrying for 50 metres and firing an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net.

Na Fianna corner-forward Fergal Breathnach split the posts twice in a minute to edge his side further ahead.

But the Templeogue men finished the half strongly with four points without reply before the turnaround, through Heavey and three Tom Kearns frees to leave them within four at the break, 2-6 to 1-5.

Faughs’ challenge gathered further momentum after the restart as former Dublin minor Heavey, who was dominating the middle third, slotted over three points to leave the minimum between the sides.

When Brady received his marching orders, Faughs looked primed to go on and take the spoils, but Na Fianna held their nerve and, thanks largely to the unerring accuracy of Brennan from placed balls, finished strongly for a deserved victory.

SCORERS – Na Fianna: M Brennan 1-6 (0-6f), T Brady 1-1, F Breathnach 0-3, A Keogh 0-1. Faughs: F Heavey 1-6 (0-4f), T Kearns 0-4 (0-3f)

NA FIANNA: A Flaherty; E O’Leary, E Rutledge, D Flaherty; W Lyons, J Boland, S Bruke; N Ó Ceallacháin, M Quilty; E Cassidy, A Keogh, K Murphy; F Breathnach, T Brady, M Brennan. Subs: P Downes for Cassidy (55).

FAUGHS: T Donohue; J Robinson, D Burke, S White; P Robinson, E McKenna, H O’Leary; F Heavey, B Dillon; P Donoghue, M O’Brien, C Devane; T Kearns, M Connolly, C Brennan. Subs: L Heavey for Burke (16), C Heavey for Kearns (ht), J Kelly for Connolly (40), E Prendergast for O’Brien (52).

REFEREE: E MacSuibhne (St Jude’s).

– Diarmuid Geraghty

O’Tooles get off to the perfect start

O’TOOLE’S 3-18, NAOMH FIONNBARRA 3-8

O’Tooles got their Dublin Senior ‘A’ Hurling championship campaign off to a winning start at Parnell Park yesterday, proving too strong for Naomh Fionnbarra in Group D.

A goal inside 30 seconds from Seán Leonard set the Dublin 13 side on their way and Michael and Peadar Carton were prominent as they opened up a 1-11 to 0-3 interval lead.

Within a minute of the restart Ciarán Gettings hit the Finbarr’s net and Graham Morris did the same 10 minutes later. Finbarr’s late rally saw goals from Gerry O’Reilly (2) and John Bailey.

SCORERS – O’Toole’s: P Carton 0-5, C Gettings, S Leonard, G Morris 1-1 each; A Morris 0-4, M Carton 0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 65), A King 0-2, C Carton 0-1.Naomh Fionnbarra: G O’Reilly 2-0, E Dillon 0-4, J Bailey 1-0, S Costello 0-2 (0-2f), P Turner, C Turner 0-1 each.

O’TOOLE’S: B McLoughlin; J Bastow, G O’Meara, D Burke; P Brennan, K Ryan, C Carton; M Carton, A Morris; G Morris, P Carton, P Bradshaw; A King, C Gettings, S Leonard. Subs: P McLoughlin for McLoughlin (46), M Cunningham for Leonard (50).

NAOMH FIONNBARRA: L Sweetman; K Byrne, I McDonnell, P Whelan; B Quinn, G Dodrill, A Costello; C Turner, P Turner; G O’Reilly, N Paget, S Costello; T Lynch, E Dillon, J Bailey. Subs: A Kavanagh for Quinn (24), S MacDonnacha for S Costello (40), S Commins for Paget (40).

REFEREE: D O’Donovan (St Mark’s)

Crokes hold off Pat’s comeback

KILMACUD CROKES 2-12, ST PATRICK’S (P) 2-9

Kilmacud controlled this Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group A duel in O’Toole Park on Saturday evening but a late Pat’s spurt made things interesting.

The Palmerstown club trailed at the interval, 1-11 to 1-2, but got within three points with five minutes left. Dave O’Hanlon struck the game’s opening goal on nine minutes. Damien Kelly added a second on 27 minutes.

Seán McGrath put Crokes 2-11 to 1-5 ahead on 45 minutes. O’Hanlon’s second goal, three minutes made for a tight finish.

SCORERS – Kilmacud Crokes: D Kelly 1-2, S McGrath 1-0, R O’Dwyer, K O’Loughlin (2f, 1s) 0-3 each, Ross O’Carroll, B O’Rorke, J Sweeney, C Clinton 0-1 each. St Pat’s (P): D O’Hanlon 2-0, S Stapleton 0-4 (3f), A Glennon 0-2, L Rushe, D Rushe, C Dolan 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: M Collins; N Corcoran, B O’Carroll, J Doughan; G McMorrow, Rory O’Carroll, R O’Loughlin; D Mulligan, J Sweeney; R O’Dwyer, D Kelly, K O’Loughlin; B O’Rorke, Ross O’Carroll, S McGrath. Subs: C Clinton for Sweeney (35); J Burke for McMorrow (42); N O’Riordan for O’Rorke (52).

ST PATRICK’S (P): D Gallagher; D Byrne, G Kelly, G Dunne; C Dolan, B O’Hanlon, K Ward; P Keaney, D Mooney; A Glennon, L Rushe, L Dunne; D O’Hanlon, D Rushe, S Stapleton. Subs: N Sweeney for Mooney (inj, 29).

REFEREE: J Brennan (Thomas Davis).

– Diarmuid GeraghtyBy Niall Scully

Jude’s edge out Brigid’s by a point

ST JUDE’S 1-10, ST BRIGID’S 1-9

St Jude’s withstood a brave St Brigid’s comeback to prevail by 1-10 to 1-9 in their Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group B encounter at a cold and windy O’Toole Park.

The Tymon men led by 0-9 to 0-4 at the interval with Stephen Larkin and Sam Lehane scoring three points apiece while Daire Plunkett struck two for Brigid’s.

A brace of scores from John O’Loughlin and one from Aodhán McEnerney saw Brigid’s narrow their deficit to three points but Jude’s responded in the 41st minute as Jessie Kennedy goaled. A Daire Plunkett goal in the 52nd minute offered Brigid’s hope but they only added one further point.

Scorers – St Jude’s: J Kennedy 1-1, S Larkin 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65’), S Lehane 0-3, J McManus 0-2. St Brigid’s: D Plunkett 1-3, P McAvinue 0-3 (0-2 ’65’), J O’Loughlin 0-2, A McEnerney 0-1.

ST JUDE’S: G McManus; A O’Beirne, S McLoughlin, G Roche; G Nolan, F Feore, R Hardy; R Joyce, J McManus; S Larkin, J Ryan, D Sutcliffe; J Kennedy, S Lehane, C Mangan.

ST BRIGID’S: A Nolan; M Cussen, C Lynch, C Ryan; C Woodgate, A McEnerney, A O’Leary; C Doyle, J Smith; P McAvinue, P Rohan, D Smith; D Plunkett, J O’Loughlin, D Doyle. Subs: K Kellett for D Smith (48).

REF: P Faughnan (St Pat’s, P).

– Ronan Mac Lochlainn

Evening Herald