Dublin SHC1 quarter-final

Daire Walsh

Goals in either half from Niall McMorrow and Paul Ryan were crucial at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon as Ballyboden St Enda’s claimed a four-point victory over Lucan Sarsfields in their Dublin SHC1 quarter-final.

Thanks in no small part to a combined haul of 2-11 from McMorrow and Ryan, Boden had enough in reserve to set up a mouthwatering last-four encounter with Kilmacud Crokes.

Chris O’Leary led the way for Lucan with an outstanding 12-point haul, but the Division 1 league champions came up short.

Eager to lay down a marker following a frustrating group-stage defeat to Cuala just over a fortnight earlier, Boden hit the ground running with a brace of points from the ever-dependable Ryan.

The former Sky Blues attacker was then on hand to cancel out a well-worked score by Lucan wing-forward O’Leary, before the latter also registered back-to-back frees to bring his side on level terms.

Sarsfields had a strong wind advantage throughout the opening period, and the 2013 finalists subsequently hit the front when the Crummey brothers – Chris and Paul – split the uprights either side of a Luke McDwyer point at the opposite end.

However, Boden didn’t panic and opened up a sizeable gap with their first purple patch of the game inside the second quarter. After Conal Keaney and Ryan posted points, McMorrow capitalised on a mishap by Lucan netminder Sean McClelland for a 20th-minute goal. Ryan found his range off the resulting attack to increase the lead to six, but credit must be given to Lucan for eventually stemming this tide.

Although McMorrow and Simon Lambert (from a sideline cut) added to Boden’s tally, 0-3 apiece from O’Leary and Colm Walsh left the 12th Lock men just two adrift (1-10 to 0-11) at the interval.

While John Bellew cut this deficit to the bare minimum on the restart, Boden reinforced their authority when Ryan buried a penalty in the 34th minute.

However, this did little to dim the appetite of Lucan, who responded with unanswered scores from Ciaran Dowling, ex-Dublin captain Johnny McCaffrey and O’Leary.

The gap remained at one after Ryan and O’Leary traded points, but Boden created further daylight courtesy of fine contributions from substitute Niall Ryan and Lambert.

Even though Liam Garrigan pointed to keep Lucan in touch, Boden looked set to ease over the line when Paul Ryan, Aidan Mellett and Lambert found their range in quick succession.

Yet with Bellew, O’Leary (free) and Dowling doing likewise for Lucan, this game was threatening to go down to the wire.

O’Leary added a two-point salvo off placed balls before the end of proceedings, but closing efforts from the outstanding McMorrow and Niall Ryan ensured Boden safely advanced to the penultimate round.

Match file

Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: P Ryan 1-8 (1-0 pen, 2f, 2 ‘65’), N McMorrow 1-3; S Lambert 0-3 (1 s/line); A Mellett, N Ryan 0-2 each; D O’Connor, C Keaney, L McDwyer 0-1 each. Lucan Sarsfields: C O’Leary 0-12 (9f); C Walsh 0-3; J Bellew, C Dowling 0-2 each; J McCaffrey, C Crummey, P Crummey, L Garrigan 0-1 each.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: F McGarry; J Madden, L Corcoran, H O’Sullivan; S O’Connor, S Lambert, S Durkin; P Christie, A Mellett; C Keaney, C Dooley, L McDwyer; N McMorrow, P Ryan, D O’Connor. Subs: N Ryan for Christie (h-t), P Dunleavy for O’Sullivan (47), T Hammersley for Dooley (54), K Desmond for McDwyer (60), C McKeon for Keaney (64).

LUCAN SARSFIELDS: S McClelland; M McCaffrey, P Rigney, P Claffey; L Walsh, J Bellew, J McCaffrey; R Smith, C Walsh; C Keher, C Smith, C O’Leary; C Dowling, C Crummey, P Crummey. Subs: A Murphy for L Walsh (34), L Garrigan for Keher (43), C McHugh for C Smith (47), K Fitzgerald for R Smith (59).

MENTORS – Ballyboden St Enda’s: D Curtin, S Hiney, B O’Regan, D O’Neill, D O’Reilly. Lucan Sarsfields: C Fenlon, D O’Leary, M Smith.

Referee: C Mooney (St Pat’s, Palmerstown).

WIDES – Ballyboden St Enda’s: 9 (3+6). Lucan Sarsfields: 6 (5+1).

CONDITIONS: Dry and breezy.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden St Enda’s).