BALLYBODEN ST ENDAS OPEN GO-AHEAD LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CAMPAIGN WITH VICTORY OVER CUALA

GO-AHEAD ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH 

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 2-22 

CUALA 0-18 

By Daire Walsh 

Ballyboden St Enda’s began their Go-Ahead Adult Hurling League Division One South campaign with a comprehensive victory against Cuala at Pairc Uí Mhurchú on Saturday.

In their first game under the management of former player Malachy Travers – who replaced Joe Fortune at the end of the last year – ‘Boden turned on the style with an excellent opening-quarter serving as the foundation for their eventual 10-point success.

The inside forward line of Niall McMorrow, Paul Doherty and Luke McDwyer were especially prominent, contributing a combined tally of 2-14 over the course of the contest. McMorrow’s personal haul of 1-6 made him the scorer-in-chief for the victors – no mean feat when you consider he isn’t entrusted with free-taking duties.

There has also been a significant change to Cuala’s backroom team this year, with former Dublin star John Twomey replacing Willie Maher as manager and Kilkenny hurling legend Eddie Brennan on board as team coach. While the duo will have been disappointed to see their charges falling short in this league opener, they can take positives from a much-improved second period performance.

Although full-forward Emmet Murphy was the only prolific marksman on show, the Dalkey men had no fewer than 11 scorers on the day. Both teams are expected to welcome back familiar faces to their panel over the next few weeks and should the two meet in the senior championship later in the summer, you suspect there will be very little to separate them.

Neither outfit had seen competitive action since their showdown in the 2020 Dublin SHC decider last September – a game that Cuala won on a scoreline of 2-20 to 1-18.

Whereas that encounter was strictly a behind closed doors affair, 100 spectators were permitted to be in attendance for their latest clash. The Ballyboden supporters were in full voice early on as McMorrow found the target either side of a Doherty effort to give the hosts a three-point cushion inside the opening two minutes.

A response was expected from Cuala and wing-back Andy Power finally got them up and running with a superb point on the right-wing.

Formerly a professional rugby player with Connacht, Conor McKeon returned to Ballyboden as an adult player in 2019 having previously lined out for them in the juvenile grades. He took up a position on the ’40’ alongside Eoin Behan and Niall Ryan in this game and struck a fine score from a right-hand angle to keep ‘Boden firmly in the ascendancy.

This was supplemented by a Simon Lambert strike from distance, before the defensive lynchpin’s direct opponent – Diarmuid O’Flynn – did likewise at the opposite end. Cuala remained in the reckoning following traded points from Niall Ryan and Murphy (’65’), but ‘Boden started to take control as the first half water break approached.

Latching onto a superb reverse pass by Doherty, McDwyer fired beyond the reach of Cormac Spain for the opening goal of the game. Even though Murphy briefly settled the Cuala nerves with a pointed free, McMorrow and McDwyer split the uprights to give ‘Boden a 1-8 to 0-4 buffer on the first-quarter mark.

Doherty and midfielder Aidan Mellett created further daylight with well-worked points and while Nicky Kenny, Murphy and Cillian Sheanon did their part for the Cuala cause, a blistering end to the opening period had Ballyboden in pole position.

Firstly, Mellett and McDwyer dissected the posts to enhance their own individual tallies. The impressive Mellett then turned provider for McMorrow’s emphatic three-pointer on the half-hour.

Mellett and Lambert (’65’) also found the range for ‘Boden in the closing moments of the half to propel them towards a seemingly insurmountable 2-15 to 0-7 interval lead.

With Conor Robinson and Pearce Christie being introduced for their seasonal bows, the home team initially maintained their momentum on the resumption. McMorrow in particular was eager to lay down a marker for the season ahead and he added a brace of points with another Murphy free for Cuala squeezed in between.

Doherty and opposition netminder Spain both converted place-ball efforts prior to Behan opening his account at the end of an excellent 38th-minute move. Cuala persisted with their challenge, however, and eventually hit a purple patch in advance of the game’s second water break.

In the space of nine minutes, the visitors knocked over five points in succession to give themselves considerable solace moving into the final-quarter. Midfielders Colum Sheanon and Kevin Kirwan contributed fine scores (the latter’s goal-bound shot was brilliantly diverted over the crossbar by Conor O’Donohoe), whilst Niall Carty and Murphy (two) were on hand to complete this sequence.

Yet, Ballyboden issued a response through Doherty and McMorrow to reinforce their superiority. Cuala substitutes Des Duggan and Cian Waldron did their chances of gaining a starting berth no harm with quickfire points as Cuala persevered with the task at hand.

After Cillian Sheanon cancelled out Doherty’s sixth point of the tie, Cuala were awarded a penalty in stoppage-time. Spain had just had a 21-metre free turned away from danger and his latest dead-ball effort drifted agonisingly past the right-hand post.

Carty concluded the action with his second point of the proceedings and Cuala will now seek to take the positives from a spirited second half showing into their home meeting with Lucan Sarsfields on July 3. Two days before that, Ballyboden St Enda’s will embark on a short journey to Tymon Park where Faughs will provide the opposition.

Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: Niall McMorrow 1-6, Paul Doherty 0-6 (4f), Luke McDwyer 1-2, Aidan Mellett 0-3, Simon Lambert 0-2 (1 ’65’), Eoin Behan, Conor McKeon, Niall Ryan 0-1 each. Cuala: Emmet Murphy 0-6 (3f, 3 ’65’), Cillian Sheanon, Niall Carty 0-2 each, Cormac Spain (f), Andy Power, Kevin Kirwan, Colum Sheanon, Diarmuid O’Flynn, Nicky Kenny, Cian Waldron, Des Duggan 0-1 each.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: Conor O’Donohoe; Stephen O’Connor, Dean Curran, Rob Leddy; Shane Durkin, Simon Lambert, Paddy Dunleavy; Seanie McDonnell, Aidan Mellett; Eoin Behan, Conor McKeon, Niall Ryan; Niall McMorrow, Paul Doherty, Luke McDwyer. Subs: Conor Robinson for Lambert, Pearce Christie for McDwyer (both half-time), Darragh Kenny for Ryan (47).

CUALA: Cormac Spain; Simon Timlin, Oisin Gough, Ross Tierney; Andy Power, John Sheanon, Jack Lahart; Kevin Kirwan, Colum Sheanon; Cillian Sheanon, Diarmuid O’Flynn, Niall Carty; Nicky Kenny, Emmet Murphy, Sean Treacy. Subs: Eoin O’Naoire for Kenny (35), Cian Waldron for Tierney (39), Jim O’Reilly for Colum Sheanon (44), Des Duggan for Timlin (52), Timlin for Power (58).

Referee: Chris Mooney (St Patrick’s, Palmerstown).