BODING WELL
Barton goal clinches extra-time victory
DUBLIN MHC ‘C’ FINAL
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S……………………………… 3-6
ST SYLVESTER’S…………………………………………. 1-11
(After extra-time)
Daire Walsh
CONOR Barton was the hero on Sunday afternoon at O’Toole Park, where his magnificent extra-time goal helped Ballyboden St Enda’s to secure the Dublin Minor Hurling ‘C’ Championship title at the expense of St Sylvester’s.
Ace marksman Dan Murphy was in excellent shooting form for Syls, but even though his brace of successful frees offered the northsiders a two-point cushion during the additional periods, Barton’s 76th-minute three-pointer was enough to give Boden a victory by the slenderest of margins.
Boden were hoping to add to the U16 Hurling ‘A’ Championship crown they claimed at the same venue against Cuala in mid-October, but they were facing into a stiff breeze during the opening period of normal time.
This meant that scoring chances were always going to be at a premium for the southside men, and after converting two 65s in the opening moments, Murphy helped Syls develop a three-point cushion from a 30-metre free.
A goal-bound effort from corner-forward Sean Graham was also turned away by a Boden defender, but following another 0-2 salvo by Murphy (which included the game’s first score from play), Syls put further daylight between the teams.
Boden were finding it difficult to settle into their usual rhythm of play, but thanks to strong work from centre-back Ruairi Kirwan, they were gradually gaining a foothold in the middle-third. Indeed, they finally opened their account on 18 minutes, when great persistence by Rory Knight produced a fine point from distance.
However, Murphy registered his sixth point of the half for Syls on 20 minutes, and after he collected the ball in superb fashion three minutes later, inside forward Eoin Cooney brilliantly fired beyond the reach of Boden netminder Oisin Carolan.
MAZY RUN
The concession of this major was a hammer blow for Boden, but they soon responded with a goal of their own. Barton had kick-started his own personal tally with a point from a placed-ball, before Mikey Dunne embarked on a mazy run down the right-wing, and found the back of the Syls net from a tight-angle.
This ensured that Ray McKenna’s charges were only four points in arrears (1-6 to 1-2) for the start of the second half, and when Knight and Barton (’65’) found the target in quick succession, there was a sense that momentum was on their side.
Murphy’s close-range pointed free brought an end to this scoring sequence but when Barton replied with a similar effort from the right-hand side, the gap remained at two points (1-7 to 1-5) heading into the final 20 minutes.
In fact, it was at this point that Boden moved into the ascendancy for the very first time. Full-forward Eoin Monaghan gathered the sliotar on the left-flank, and his neat hand-pass set-up a clinical three-point finish by the inspirational Barton.
This was a huge morale boost for Boden, and even though they conceded an eighth point to the reliable Murphy, Barton’s 44th-minute free restored their one-point lead. With the wind at their backs, Boden were hoping to push on at this stage, but they were wide of the mark from a number of scoreable opportunities.
It looked like they might have enough to hold out, however, as Murphy missed a free from the left-hand touchline two minutes into time added on. An outstanding point from long-range by midfielder Bryn Redmond meant that the sides couldn’t be separated at the end of normal time (2-6 to 1-9), though, and a further 20 minutes of play was required to determine the eventual winners.
TENSION
Boden continued to play with a strong breeze in the first-half of extra-time, but with the tension increasing, neither side could add to their tally in this ten-minute spell.
Murphy then brought his impressive haul up to 0-10 and Donnacha O’Brien’s side had regained the initiative in the second period. Barton produced the match-winning score just a minute later, when he fielded the ball in majestic style and fired into the bottom corner of the Syls goal.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: C Barton 2-4 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65’), M Dunne 1-0, R Knight 0-2. St Sylvester’s: D Murphy 0-10 (7f, 2 ’65’), E Cooney 1-0, B Redmond 0-1.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: O Carolan; R Keegan, B Lyons, H Kelly; K O’Flaherty, R Kirwan, T Deane; M McGee, M O’Brien; S Gorman, C Barton, R Knight; S Choy-O’Byrne, E Monaghan, M Dunne.
SUBS: S Lally for Kelly (40), K Lalor for Gorman (40), E Featherstone for Knight (70).
ST SYLVESTER’S: E Ryan; N McCann, P Ryan, K Murphy; J Kennedy, S Foley, M Meaney; D Deneher, B Redmond; D Murphy, D O’Brien, L Hughes; E McLoughney, E Cooney, S Graham.
SUBS: B Crosse for McCann (44), S Drumm for Graham (60+2).
MENTORS – BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: Ray McKenna, Mick Kennedy. ST SYLVESTER’S: Donnacha O’Brien, Martin Meaney, Anthony Cooney.
REFEREE: Sean McNicholas (St James Gaels).
WIDES – Ballyboden St Enda’s: 7 (0+6+0+1). St Sylvester’s: 7 (2+2+1+2).
CONDITIONS: A blustery wind throughout the game, but also dry for the most part.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Conor Barton (Ballyboden St Enda’s).