GAA
Boden seniors denied by Ballymun in league final showdown
Dubs star John Small kicks stoppage-time winner a week after his dad passed away
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS…………………………………0-9
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S……………………………..0-8
By Daire Walsh
JOHN Small was the hero for Ballymun Kickhams at Parnell Park on Tuesday night as his stoppage-time point denied Ballyboden St Enda’s a third piece of silverware in 2019.
Following their recent county and provincial championship successes, ‘Boden were aiming to add an Adult Football League Division One title to their list of honours. Additionally, another triumph would have seen the Pairc Ui Murchu brigade going the entire year unbeaten.
Yet thanks to Small’s dramatic intervention, it was their northside counterparts who prevailed in the end. It had been an emotional week leading up to this contest for Small and his younger brother Paddy after the untimely passing of their father Declan, the long-time chairman of Kickhams.
Despite the spectre of an All-Ireland semi-final encounter against Down’s Kilcoo looming large in the new year, ‘Boden manager Anthony Rainbow kept faith with 10 of the team that started the recent Leinster SFC final success over Eire Og.
Seven-time Celtic Cross winner James McCarthy combined with Davy Byrne in the ‘Mun midfield and he cancelled out Ryan Basquel’s deadlock-breaking free with a sweet effort off his left boot. In the absence of Dean Rock, corner-forward Fiach Andrews was on place-kick duties for Brendan Hackett’s men.
He comfortably converted from close-range to give his side a slender advantage on seven minutes. ‘Boden were turned over in possession on a number of occasions during the early exchanges, but inevitably found their feet amidst chilly conditions in Donnycarney.
After Ross McGarry restored parity to the contest, Warren Egan was on hand to edge them back into the ascendancy. Rival wing-backs Sean Gibbons (‘Boden) and Carl Keeley (‘Mun) proceeded to trade points either side of the first-quarter mark before Dillon Keating bagged a superb equalising score on the left-wing.
The diminutive attacker has been a star performer for Ballymun throughout their top-flight campaign and his outstanding curling strike in the 21st-minute ensured the lead changed hands once more. There was precious little to separate the sides for the majority of the opening period, however, and another Basquel free cancelled out ‘Mun’s slender cushion.
They looked set to remain on level terms at the interval only for Basquel to register his third point of the half as the play moved into time added on. As a consequence, the southsiders brought a 0-6 to 0-5 buffer into the dressing rooms.
It proved to be a scrappy start to the second period with neither side truly cutting loose in attack. It was left for marauding ‘Mun corner-back Alan Hubbard to end a lengthy scoring drought and Andrews – son of former Louth and Cavan boss Val – swiftly followed with a coolly-struck free.
Scoring chances were at a premium but when John Small ventured forward for a 55th-minute point, Ballymun had the finishing line in sight. ‘Boden had to wait until the hour mark for their maiden score of the second half, Tom Hayes slotting over from close-in to keep their hopes alive.
The tie appeared destined for extra-time when Keaney split the posts under enormous pressure off his ever-dependable left peg. However, Ballymun simply refused to give in.
John Small once again found space inside the ‘Boden half and, with all of 64 minutes gone on the clock, he sealed the deal for his side by dissecting the uprights in devastating style.
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: S Currie; A Hubbard, E Dolan, D Bolger; C Keeley, J Small, L Young; J McCarthy, D Byrne; C Tighe, J Whelan, D Keating; P Small, C McCormack, F Andrews. Subs: J Burke for Young (48), A Swan for Whelan (54), P McMahon for P Small (57), A McCaul for Keating (60).
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: D Gogan; C Murray, C Flaherty, K Kennedy; S Gibbons, R McDaid, B Bobbett; J Holland, D O’Mahoney; W Egan, R Basquel, D O’Reilly; R McGarry, C Keaney, T Hayes. Subs: A Flood for Egan (25), D McCabe for D O’Reilly (h-t), C O’Reilly for Basquel (48), L Cawley for McGarry (57).
Referee: S Farrelly (Ballinteer St John’s).