Boden and Davis targeting championship final berths
By Daire Walsh
BALLYBODEN St Enda’s and Thomas Davis will be hoping to extend their already memorable Dublin Senior One Football Championship runs at Parnell Park this weekend.
The finalists at this grade in 2019 – when ‘Boden recorded a 0-15 to 0-9 triumph at the expense of their near neighbours – both clubs are just 60 minutes away from a return to a top-tier decider.
Whereas ‘Boden will face Na Fianna in the Donnycarney venue on Saturday (throw-in 5.15pm), Thomas Davis take on defending champions Kilmacud Crokes at 4pm the following day.
Both ‘Boden and Na Fianna are seeking to emulate Kilmacud’s magnificent 2021 feat, when the Stillorgan men claimed top championship honours in both football and hurling.
Despite now being 40 years of age, Conal Keaney remains a valued dual player in the Firhouse Road club.
Although he has mainly been used off the bench by the footballers, his late brace of points helped ‘Boden to see off the challenge of a determined Ballinteer St John’s in last Sunday week’s quarter-final.
Na Fianna squeezed past the challenge of Whitehall Colmcille in their last-eight showdown and will look towards inter-county stars Conor McHugh, Jonny Cooper and Eoin Murchan for inspiration on Saturday.
‘Boden have past Dublin footballers of their own – most notably Keaney, Michael Darragh Macauley and Colm Basquel – and are seeking to reach a third county showpiece in the space of just four seasons.
Having started Group Three with a five-point reversal against Na Fianna, Davis bounced back with narrow victories over Skerries Harps and St Jude’s. This sealed the runners-up spot ahead of 2021 finalists Jude’s and the Tallaght side really came into their own for a quarter-final showdown with Castleknock.
With Eamon Conroy (1-1), Fionn Murray (0-4) and Conor Guilfoyle (0-3) leading the way in the scoring stakes, Ciaran Farrelly’s earned a deserved 1-12 to 0-5 triumph.
Wing-back Cian Murphy has established himself as a Dublin senior squad regular in the past 12 months . He made three appearances for the Sky Blues in this year’s championship, while inter-county hurler Davy Keogh is also part of their side.
If they are to avenge the loss of their senior ladies to the same club in a championship showpiece last Friday, then Davis will most likely need to put the shackles on star duo Paul Mannion (if he shakes off an ankle injury) and Shane Walsh.