Convincing victory for Ballyboden St Enda’s over Lucan Sarsfields
DAIRE Sweeney struck 11 points at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon to guide Ballyboden St Enda’s towards a convincing victory against Lucan Sarsfields in a Dublin Intermediate All County Football Championship semi-final, reports Daire Walsh.
Played with the aid of a strong breeze during the first half of the game, ‘Boden built up a commanding lead thanks in no small part to Sweeney’s scoring prowess from right corner-forward. Lucan did enjoy a bright start to the second period, but their Firhouse Road counterparts continued to dominate and will now face Na Fianna in this competition’s final.
There was less than 30 seconds gone on the clock when Sweeney curled a shot between the posts following superb build-play from industrious midfielder Conor Lowe and Robbie O’Reilly joined him on the scoresheet off a subsequent attack. Mikey Dunne also found the target after getting on the end of a superb John McGuire delivery and with Lucan struggling to make an impact into a gale force wind, ‘Boden remained in the driving seat.
Courtesy of additional scores by Sweeney and full-forward Barra McGarry, they were five points ahead by the first-quarter mark. Lucan centre-forward Brian Collopy was narrowly off-target with a 35-metre free, but this was one of very few attempts on goal that the 12th Lock men had in the opening 30 minutes.
‘Boden on the other hand were picking off scores on a regular basis with Sweeney converting frees either side of a second from Dunne. Goalkeeper Josh Kane also stepped forward to expertly split the uprights off a ’45’ and enhance his team’s advantage.
Sweeney added another brace from play and following McGarry’s second of the tie in stoppage-time, ‘Boden were 0-12 to 0-0 in front at the interval.
Jack Lawlor had gone close to opening Lucan’s account prior to the break, before finally getting his side up and running with a free just under two minutes after the resumption. Quickfire scores by Donie Smith and Lawlor raised the possibility of a dramatic fightback, but ‘Boden eventually came to terms with their rising challenge and with the elements.
McGuire was on target off the outside of his right boot on the stroke of 40 minutes, in advance of a 0-2 salvo by dead-ball specialist Sweeney. The dynamic number 13 was every bit as dynamic from open play and he added three points in the final-quarter to mark himself out as the game’s outstanding performer.
Substitute Caoimhain O Conghaile and Lawlor did contribute scores at the opposite end, but Lucan ultimately succumbed to a comprehensive last-four reversal.
The forthcoming showpiece encounter with Na Fianna will be Ballyboden’s second game against the Glasnevin club in this year’s competition after the teams clashed in a Group Three opener at St Mobhi Road on August 6. Although Na Fianna came away with a 2-13 to 0-15 triumph on that occasion, ‘Boden have since gained considerable momentum and will believe they are more than capable of coming home with the top prize.
Ballyboden St Enda’s: J Kane; C Hanrahan, J Lambert, F Maguire; J Murphy, O Carolan, E Gannon; R Cullen, C Lowe; R O’Reilly, C Dunne, J McGuire; D Sweeney, B McGarry, M Dunne. Subs: S Cullen, T Hanifin, M Codd, C Gray, R Kirwan.
Lucan Sarsfields: C O’Flynn; O Tully, J Kenny, R Carey; C Shanahan, D Forde, J Lavin; K Moran, C Behan; D Smith, B Collopy, O Ryan; R Ward, S Casey, J Lawlor. Subs: K Fitzgerald, M Guilfoyle, B O’Sullivan, C O Conghaile, C Rogers.
Ballyboden St Enda’s Scorers: Daire Sweeney 0-11 (5f), Barra McGarry, Mikey Dunne 0-2 each, Josh Kane (’45’), Robbie O’Reilly, John McGuire 0-1 each.
Lucan Sarsfields Scorers: Jack Lawlor 0-3 (2f), Donie Smith (s/line), Caomhain O Conghaile 0-1 each.