“I’m just very proud of my lads”

Fortune remains upbeat after his Ballyboden team fall just short in Senior Hurling Championship decider

CUALA………………………………………………….2-20

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S………………………….1-18

By Daire Walsh

DESPITE the obvious disappointment of losing out 2-20 to 1-18 to Cuala in a tense Dublin Senior ‘A’ Hurling Championship decider at Parnell Park last Sunday, Ballyboden St Enda’s manager Joe Fortune was able to keep things in perspective.

Having started the competition playing in front of a small crowd, ‘Boden’s latest county final appearance was played behind closed doors. The rise of Covid-19 cases around the capital led to a surreal atmosphere in the Donnycarney venue and Fortune is hopeful the country can return to a semblance of normality before too long.

“I’m just very proud of my own lads,” Fortune remarked in the aftermath of the game. “They really gave everything they had. I thought a couple of decisions coming towards the end just went against us. Maybe we gave away a couple of frees at a critical time as well. We’d a couple of chances at the end where the ball was scrambled off the line.

“It has been a strange year, a tough year for an awful lot of people. This hurts, but it’s not the most significant thing in everybody’s lives at the minute. We hurt today and we move on in the next couple of weeks, please God. I hope everybody is safe and sound after today.”

Once they crossed the white line, however, ‘Boden were solely focused on trying to secure an eighth county hurling title. After leaking an early point to Cuala sharpshooter David Treacy, the Firhouse Road outfit responded with unanswered contributions from Paul Ryan (two), Conor Dooley and Niall Ryan.

Niall Carty and Treacy (free) were later on target for the holders, before Paul Ryan (‘Boden’s scorer-in-chief with eight points) and Aidan Mellett raised white flags at the opposite end. Sean Moran angled a superb strike beyond the reach of opposition custodian Finn McGarry in the 11th-minute, but it was ‘Boden who gained a foothold either side of the first-quarter mark.

After Paul Ryan and Cuala’s Jake Malone traded scores, the dependable inside forward edged his team back into the ascendancy with a coolly-converted ’65’. Niall Ryan and Dooley found the range once again, with another Treacy point sandwiched in between.

The evergreen Conal Keaney announced his presence with a well-worked single on 23 minutes and when Paul Ryan had a penalty turned away by Sean Brennan two minutes later, the dual player scooped the rebound to the Cuala net.

The Ryans – Niall and Paul – enhanced their personal tallies before the half was out, but with Treacy, Colm Cronin, Mark Schutte and Con O’Callaghan all raising white flags, Cuala had reduced their arrears to four (1-13 to 1-9) in time for the interval.

Given there was going to be a slight breeze at their backs, the Dalkey outfit were expected to step up their challenge on the resumption. Within two minutes, Treacy (who finished with 0-11 to his name) had thrown down the gauntlet with a brace of points.

Similar efforts from Paul Doherty and Paul Ryan helped ‘Boden to settle, only for a ravenous Cuala to come back for more. The Treacy and Moran double act produced a score each and while Paul Ryan’s dead-ball accuracy was once again on display, Moran ensured Willie Maher’s defending champions were just one point adrift (1-16 to 1-15) during the second half water break.

The pivotal moment of the game then arrived in the 52nd-minute. Dublin senior footballer O’Callaghan had the ball in the ‘Boden net, but referee Sean Stack called the play back for a foul.

Moran duly dispatched his penalty past the helpless McGarry to give his team the upper hand at a vital juncture. ‘Boden twice brought their deficit down to the bare minimum in the closing minutes, but unanswered points courtesy of Nicky Kenny, Moran and Treacy (two) ultimately propelled Cuala to their fifth county title in just six seasons.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: F McGarry; S O’Connor, L Corcoran, J Madden; S Durkin, D O’Connor, S Lambert; S McDonnell, N McMorrow; N Ryan, P Doherty, C Dooley; A Mellett, C Keaney, P Ryan. Subs: D Curtin for Lambert, P Christie for McDonnell (both 47), P Dunleavey for S O’Connor (52), L McDwyer for Mellett (56), C McCormack for Doherty (60).

CUALA: S Brennan; O Gough, Cian O’Callaghan, M Conroy; D O’Connell, J Sheanon, J Malone; N Carty, S Treacy; D O Floinn, D Treacy, C Cronin; Con O’Callaghan, M Schutte, S Moran. Subs: C Sheanon for Carty (27), S Timlin for Conroy (36), N Kenny for D Treacy (36-38), N Kenny for O Floinn (45), L Murphy for Con O’Callaghan (52-53), L Murphy for Cronin (65).

Mixed c’ship fortunes for Lucan hurlers

By Daire Walsh

THERE were contrasting fortunes for Lucan Sarsfields hurlers in the concluding stages of the Dublin Junior Hurling Championships last Saturday.

Whereas the 12th Lock club suffered an agonising one-defeat to St Brigid’s in the ‘A’ decider at Parnell Park, they were crowned ‘C’ champions courtesy of a 3-15 to 2-15 triumph at the expense of St Sylvester’s in O’Toole Park.

Following scores from Kevin O’Reilly (free), Rob Lambert, Barry Aird and Dave Kavanagh, Dermot O’Brien’s side were a single point adrift on 22 minutes in their Junior ‘A’ showdown with Brigid’s.

This was before Kieran O’Sullivan (two), Matt Barr and Michael Fraine registered unanswered efforts to give Brigid’s a 0-9 to 0-4 cushion at the interval.

A Barr point offered Brigid’s additional leeway on the resumption, but Lucan subsequently came to grips with the task at hand.

After he had added a brace of frees to compliment an Oisin O’Brien point, the dependable O’Reilly rattled the back of the opposition net.

A Rob Lambert single on 37 minutes edged them in front for the first time and all the momentum appeared to be with Lucan at this juncture.

However, Brigid’s regained control of the proceedings by amassing six consecutive points – including three from the dynamic O’Sullivan. Lucan refused to throw in the towel and O’Reilly’s four-point salvo reduced the gap to the bare minimum.

With just under 10 minutes of stoppage-time played, Colm Behan restored parity with a superb score on the right-wing. The tie now looked destined for extra-time, only for Brigid’s to be awarded a penalty at the opposite end.

O’Sullivan opted to tap the ball over the bar and it was enough to get the Russell Park outfit over the line on a score of 0-17 to 1-13.

At the exact same time on the opposite side of the city, Lucan’s third adult squad were in raptures as a result of their impressive Junior ‘C’ championship success against St Sylvester’s.

This victory was particularly noteworthy as they had claimed Junior ‘D’ honours in the same venue just under 12 months earlier.

There was a good mixture of youth and experience within the ranks, with Kevin Roche – Lucan’s senior hurling goalkeeper for a number of seasons – lining out at full-back.

Ciaran Keane was the team’s scorer-in-chief on the day, finishing with a magnificent personal tally of 11 points. While five of these were frees, he also bolstered his haul with four points from play and two majestic sideline cuts.

Their ability to strike goals at vital moments was in evidence throughout the course of the action. Thanks to fine finishes by Andy Carroll and Killian Boylan, Lucan led 2-6 to 0-9 at the midway point in the contest.

Another Carroll goal followed in the third-quarter, but the Syls challenge was beginning to rise. At the midway stage in the second half, Lucan were just two points in front (3-9 to 1-13).

Although their Malahide counterparts struck a second major inside the final-quarter, Lucan were able to keep them at bay. Supplementing the scoring prowess of Keane, the impressive Boylan ended the tie with 1-3 to his name.

Evan Lombard also contributed a fine point to give Lucan considerable leeway on the scoreboard. Even though Keane, Carroll and Boylan did the bulk of the scoring, this was a unified effort – both on and off the field of play. Alex Hanley, Peter Fagan, Ian Fitzgerald and substitute Sean Kelly all stood out for the victors.

It was a family affair for the Finnertys with manager PJ watching his son Luke holding his own between the sticks for Lucan.

The elder Finnerty has been ably-assisted on the sideline by Christy Boylan, Paul Kyne and Kevin O’Toole, all of whom will be hoping the club can make a serious impact in next season’s Junior ‘B’ Championship.

Ballyboden senior hurlers denied in Championship decider

By Daire Walsh

THERE was disappointment for Ballyboden St Enda’s in the Dublin Senior ‘A’ Hurling Championship decider at Parnell Park this afternoon as they lost out 2-20 to 1-18 to Cuala.

Despite finding themselves in the ascendancy for large spells, Joe Fortune’s side suffered a five-point reversal at the hands of the defending champions.

Although they were rocked by the concession of a goal from Cuala attacker Sean Moran, ‘Boden were 0-8 to 1-4 in front on the first-quarter mark.

Indeed, after Paul Ryan had a penalty turned away by opposition netminder Sean Brennan in the 25^th minute, the evergreen Conal Keaney was on hand to sweep home the rebound.

This helped the southsiders to establish a 1-13 to 1-9 interval lead, but with a slight wind at their backs on the resumption, Cuala were expected to step up their challenge.

Thanks to the dead-ball accuracy of David Treacy, the holders were a single point adrift (2-15 to 1-16) moving into the closing 10 minutes of action.

And the Dalkey outfit subsequently hit the front when Moran clinically dispatched a penalty to the net.

Even though Ballyboden battled to the bitter end, Cuala ultimately claimed their fourth senior county title in the space of five years.

Heartbreak for Faughs as late rally falls short

CUALA…………………………………….4-12

FAUGHS…………………………………..2-14

By Daire Walsh

FAUGHS suffered final heartbreak at the hands of Cuala in a compelling Dublin Minor ‘D’ Hurling Championship showdown at a baking hot Tymon Park on Sunday afternoon.

Having found themselves 11 point adrift midway through the first half, the Templeogue side looked to complete a remarkable when they moved 2-14 to 2-11 in front on the stroke of 50 minutes.

The growing influence of inside forward Liam Lynch Crowe was a major factor behind this turnaround, while Conor Dargan and Ross O’Donovan also played their part.

However, their Dalkey counterparts refused to give in. Thanks to late goals by Lúca Sheehan and Ruaidhri Sinnott, Mick Dunphy’s side snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

This was the second time Fergal Hogan’s charges had faced Cuala in this year’s competition. In the final round of Group Two on August 16, they were on receiving end of a 2-12 to 3-4 reversal at the same venue.

Despite facing into a stiff breeze for this showpiece affair, they opened the scoring courtesy of Conor Kenny’s pointed free. Nonetheless, Cuala took full advantage of the elements in a dominant first-quarter display.

Supplementing Sheehan’s magnificent long-distance score, Matthew Ryan was successful off three placed-ball efforts. The Dalkey men created additional daylight in the seventh-minute when Ryan Barnes pulled to the Faughs net from the tightest of right-hand angles.

Faughs settled briefly with a brace of points from midfielder Dargan, but Cuala embarked on another scoring blitz in advance of the game’s first water break.

After Aaron Carey, Sheehan and Ryan raised white flags, a floated delivery by the impressive Sheehan deceived opposition netminder Matthew Ryan for the second goal of the contest.

With a 2-8 to 0-3 cushion, Cuala were firmly in the driving seat. Half-back Shane Mangan and Ryan kept the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors, although Faughs were slowly creeping back into contention.

Either side of Mikey Dunphy’s penalty save from full-forward Conn Murray, the dependable Dargan dissected the Cuala uprights. Kenny followed up with a 1-1 salvo, reducing the Faughs deficit to five (2-10 to 1-8) in time for the interval.

Cuala appeared to restore order when Ryan posted a 35th-minute point – his sixth of the tie – but the home team’s challenge gathered momentum.

Wing-back O’Donovan converted long-range frees and with Luke Davis and Dargan singles sandwiched in between these efforts, the gap was down to just two points. When Lynch Crowe claimed possession close to goal in the 48th-minute, his unstoppable shot moved Faughs into the box seat with the finishing line sight.

Tom Casey and Lynch Crowe points offered them further breathing space, before Cuala’s Peadar Ó Muirí ended a 20-minute scoring drought for his side. This placed Faughs on tenterhooks and when Sheehan brilliantly dispatched a penalty moments later, they were left to chase the game once more.

The decisive score of the proceedings then arrived in the penultimate minute of normal time. Faughs’ Matthew Ryan superbly turned away a Carey strike, but Sinnott was on hand to flick home the rebound and ultimately secure the silverware for Cuala.

CUALA: M Dunphy; F Breathnach, A McGranaghan, E Hall; S Mangan, L Sheehan, A Tormey-Murphy; R Mason, O Moloney; M Ryan, M Ainscough, P Ó Muirí; R Barnes, R Ó Muirí, A Carey. Sub: R Sinnott for Barnes (45).

FAUGHS: M Ryan; M Breen, E Quinn, D Ryan; R O’Donovan, R Finnegan, S Ruane; F Dignam, C Dargan; E Nolan, C Curran, C Kenny; T Paterson, C Murray, L Lynch Crowe. Subs: S Lawler for Breen (h-t), C O’Hara for Paterson, L Davis for Murray (both 36), T Casey for Kenny (39).