More Dublin Championship heartbreak for Ballyboden
By Daire Walsh
BALLYBODEN St Enda’s suffered further heartache in Parnell Park this evening.
Following their five-point defeat to Cuala in last weekend’s county hurling decider, the Firhouse Road club again came off second best against an impressive Ballymun Kickhams side, losing 1-19 to 0-8 in this evening’s Dublin Senior One Football Championship decider.
Fresh from his appearance in the same venue seven days earlier, Conal Keaney got defending champions ‘Boden off the mark with a point inside the opening 60 seconds.
While Ballymun subsequently built up a head of steam, ‘Boden twice levelled matters through Keaney and Ryan Basquel.
However, a fired-up ‘Mun ruled the roost either side of the first half water break. Dean Rock – in particular – was in imperious form, contributing an outstanding opening period haul of eight points to propel the northside outfit into a deserved 0-14 to 0-4 interval lead.
A brace of Dillon Keating points increased the gap between the teams on the resumption, before Colm Basquel ended a barren scoring spell of 34 minutes for ‘Boden with a routine free.
Anthony Rainbow’s charges battled admirably during the final-quarter as Keaney and Ryan Basquel posted unanswered scores.
The latter proceeded to trade points with opposite number Fiach Andrews, but Brendan Hackett’s outstanding Ballymun were eager to finish with a flourish. Dean Rock buried a stoppage-time penalty after Shane Clayton had fouled Andrew McCaul, while Andrews and Jason Whelan added points to leave Ballyboden 14 points adrift at the end.
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: E Comerford; P McMahon, E Dolan, D Conlon; L Young, J Small, C Keeley; A Elliott, J McCarthy; D Keating, C McCormack, C O’Tighe; P Small, F Andrews, D Rock. Subs: J Whelan for O’Tighe (50), A McCaul for Keating (53), E Hill for McCormack (58), B Ashton for Elliott (60).
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: M McNamee; S Clayton, R McDaid, K Kennedy; B Bobbett, D Nelson, C Flaherty; MD Macauley, A Waters; D O’Reilly, W Egan, C Basquel; R McGarry, R Basquel, C Keaney. Subs: D O’Mahony for Bobbett, J Holland for Nelson, A Flood for O’Reilly (all h-t), S Lambert for C Basquel (50), T Hayes for McGarry (55).