DUBLIN SHC
Classy Crumlin issue Boden a reality check
Daire Walsh
CRUMLIN produced a superb performance at O’Toole Park last night to stun Ballyboden St Enda’s in Group 1 of the Dublin Senior Hurling ‘A’ Championship.
Despite playing against a strong breeze in the opening period, goals from Kevin Elliott and Alex Quinn helped Crumlin to establish a 2-9 to 0-14 interval cushion, and they pushed on after the restart to preserve their 100pc record in this year’s competition.
Boden were aiming to build on their victory over All-Ireland champions Cuala six days earlier, and they hit the ground running with early scores from midfielder Finn McGarry and Paul Doherty.
Crumlin responded with a brace of points from corner-forward Alex Quinn, but even though centre-back Kevin Byrne was also on target, Boden subsequently opened up a four-point gap with contributions from Shane Durkin, Conal Keaney, Doherty (two) and Simon Lambert.
Boden remained in control thanks to the scoring prowess of Aidan Mellet, Lambert and substitute Niall Ryan, before Crumlin signalled their intent with an explosive conclusion to the half.
Quick-fire three-pointers courtesy of Elliott and Quinn levelled matters, and although Durkin claimed his second score of the evening, stoppage-time scores from Quinn and Adam McGreal moved Crumlin into the ascendancy.
As a result, they felt they could build on their opening game success against Faughs when the action resumed, and they extended their lead with outstanding points by Alex Quinn and corner-back Alan Byrne.
The hard-working Keaney split the posts either side of a Crumlin point from Ben Quinn (a twin brother of Alex), but the six-time winners leaked further scores to Kevin Elliott and Darren Whelan. Three Boden points without reply from Mellet, Lambert (free) and David O’Connor restored parity with 14 minutes remaining, but it was Crumlin who dominated the scoreboard in the final quarter.
Consecutive points from McGreal, Alex Quinn and Lee Coleman created daylight between themselves and Boden, and thanks in no small part to a magnificent three points by Shane Ryan, they ultimately moved to the summit of the group table with a well-deserved triumph.
Scorers – Crumlin: A Quinn 1-6, A McGreal 0-5 (4f), K Elliott 1-1, S Ryan 0-3, P Elliott (f), A Byrne, B Quinn, K Byrne, L Coleman, C Gough, D Whelan 0-1 each. Ballyboden St Enda’s: S Lambert 0-6 (5f, 1 ’65), P Doherty 0-4, C Keaney 0-3, S Durkin, N Ryan, A Mellet 0-2 each, D O’Connor (s/line), F McGarry, N McMorrow, E O’Neill 0-1 each.
CRUMLIN: J Maher; L Blood, C Murphy, A Byrne; B Quinn, K Byrne, P Elliott; L Coleman, C Gough; K Elliott, D Whelan, S Ryan; A McGreall, S Cullen, A Quinn. Sub: B O’Reilly for Gough (57).
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: G Maguire; K Wigglesworth, M Travers, S O’Connor; C Mellet, S Hiney, S Durkin; F McGarry, C Robinson; S Lambert, P Doherty, C Keaney; J Roche, A Mellet, N McMorrow. Subs: N Ryan for Hiney (19), Hiney for Roche (20), R Leddy for Wigglesworth, D O’Connor for C Mellet (both h/t), E O’Neill for McGarry (40).
Referee: T Lambe (St Vincent’s).