Sam Molony goal the vital boost for Ballyboden St Enda's

Ballyboden St Enda’s (Dublin) 1-11 St Loman’s Mullingar (Westmeath) 0-9: Sam Molony’s 25th minute goal proved the crucial score as Dublin champions Ballyboden St Endas booked their place in the Leinster Club SFC final with victory over St Loman’s at Cusack Park, Mullingar.

While Ballyboden St Endas were the better side and deservedly won this contest, unfortunately the game was spoilt by the over fussy decisions of referee Fergal Smyth, which left both sides very frustrated.

Smyth awarded 51 frees, (31-20 in favour of Loman’s), flashed eight yellow cards (four apiece) and sent off St Loman’s Ken Casey in the dying minutes with a straight red card, leading both managers to question his decisions.

“He seemed to make it difficult for both teams. It was like basketball, when you put a hand on a fella it was a free and that’s disappointing,” said Ballyboden boss Andy McEntee.

St Loman’s boss Luke Dempsey added: “I couldn’t fathom some of the decisions out there. You could hear that both sets of supporters and both mentors were so frustrated by the referee’s decisions. He never let the game flow. “I want to make it clear the referee didn’t cost us the game but I have to question his appointment.” After a tight opening 20 minutes, which ended with the sides level at 0-5 each, Ballyboden edged ahead with a Colm Basquel score.

Then came the game’s crucial phase. St Loman’s looked set to claim the game’s opening goal when Kelvin Reilly set up David Windsor. But Ballyboden goalkeeper Paul Durcan, who flew home from Qatar on Saturday evening for this game, advanced to make a fine save. Two minutes later Ballyboden had the ball in the net after Conal Keaney set up Molony for an easy finish which gave the Dublin side a four-point lead.

“Paul’s only back in the last week, he’s under pressure to head back there but we hope to have him back for the final” said McEntee afterwards. “He’s huge to us. He’s got a calm head on his shoulders and fellas have so much respect for him, it makes everyone feel calmer. He sees things other people don’t.”

John Heslin and Andrew Kerin traded points to leave Ballyboden ahead 1-7 to 0-6 at the break. Within four minutes of the second-half Ballyboden had stretched their lead to seven, thanks to three converted frees by Keaney. A hard working Paul Sharry tried to inspire St Loman’s but Ballyboden, with Shane Clayton, Stephen Hiney, Michael Darragh McCauley, Declan O’Mahony and Conal Keaney all dominant, held on for victory with McCauley fisting over Ballyboden’s final point in a very poor, free-ridden, stop-start spectacle. “It is great to be in the Leinster final. We are not very spectacular but we work very hard,” winning manager McEntee admitted.

“Yet again the goal was the vital score. A couple of quick scores at the start of the second-half, suddenly there was seven in it, and that is a big margin in a tight game.”

Scorers for Ballyboden St Enda’s:

S. Molony 1-1, A. Kerin 0-4 (0-3 frees), C. Keaney 0-4 from frees, C. Basquel 0-1, MD MacCauley 0-1.

Scorers for St Loman’s Mullingar:

J Heslin 0-7 (0-6 frees), K. Casey 0-1, P Sharry 0-1.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S:

P Durcan; B Dwan, S Hiney, S. Clayton; D. Nelson, S O’Connor, R McDaid; MD MacCauley, D O’Mahoney; C. Basquel, D Davey, D O’Reilly; C. Keaney, S Molony, A Kerin.

Subs:

D McCabe for D Davey (48 minutes), S Durkin for B Dwan (53 minutes).

ST LOMAN’S MULLINGAR:

J Daly; J O’Toole, S. Flynn, N O’Toole; G Grehan, G Glennon, D Whelan; A Gaffney, P Sharry; D Windsor, J Heslin, K Lynam; K Casey, K. Reilly, S Dempsey.

Subs:

C Reilly for D. Windsor (half time), C Kilmurray for N O’Toole (37 minutes), R O’Toole for K Lynam (42 minutes), G Hickey for S Dempsey (47 minutes).

Referee:

Fergal Smyth (Offaly).