BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 1-20 CUALA 0-14
Reigning champions, Ballyboden St Enda’s, made a successful opening defence of their Evening Herald Dublin SHC ‘A’ crown when coming strong in the last 15 minutes in this Group 2 round-robin clash at Páirc Uí Mhurchú on Thursday night.
Cuala made an impressive start and led 0-6 to 0-2 inside 16 minutes with the placed ball expertise of David Treacy to the fore but by the interval Boden were on level terms, 0-9 each.
The sides were still deadlocked 0-14 each after 45 minutes but two minutes later Conor McCormack, following good play by Emmet Carroll, struck for the only goal of the night to put Boden on their way to victory as they chase their fifth SHC ‘A’ title in-a-row.
Dublin seniors David Treacy and Oisín Gough were replaced towards the finish as a precaution after picking up injuries.
SCORERS – Ballyboden St Enda’s: P Ryan 0-9 (0-8f, 0-1 ‘65’); C McCormack 1-4; D Curtin (0-1f), C Keaney 0-2 each; S Durkin, M Travers, C Moffatt 0-1 each. Cuala: D Treacy 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 ‘65’); C Waldron 0-2; S Kiely, S Stapleton, P Schutte, C Sheanon, D Cunningham, J Sheanon 0-1 each.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S – G Maguire; D Sweeney, P Buckeridge, D Curran; S Lambert, S Nolan, S Durkin; M Travers, D Curtin; C McCormack, C Keaney, D O’Connor; P Ryan, J Doody, E Carroll. Subs: C Moffatt for Lambert (47); T Sweeney for Doody (55); B Treacy for D Sweeney (inj, 60).
CUALA – F O’Brien; R Reid, O Gough, S Timlin; D Holden, S Kiely, B Browne; S Stapleton, P Schutte; C Sheanon, D Cunningham, J Sheanon; R Doyle, D Treacy, C Waldron. Subs: P Butler for Doyle (ht); S Barron for Treacy (inj, 49); C O’Farrell for Gough (inj, 55); JJ Ryan for Waldron (60).
REF – JC Ryan (St Mark’s).