Dublin SHC: Connolly turns from hero to villain as Vincent's pipped by 'Boden

Diarmuid Connolly was shown a second yellow card, apparently for dissent, in the 80th minute of the game.

SEEIG RED: Diarmuid Connolly.

Dublin football great Diarmuid Connolly was the hero turned villain at Parnell Park as Pat Gilroy's St Vincent's hurlers agonisingly missed out on a county SHC final spot.

The 2011 All-Ireland SFC winning colleagues with Dublin teamed up again this season for the club hurlers and came within a whisker of beating Ballyboden St Enda's.

In the end, 'Boden escaped with a 0-24 to 1-19 semi-final victory to secure a decider date with Na Fianna - keeping alive the club's hopes of a double of SHC and SFC titles - but only after a dramatic period of extra-time.

Connolly, who came on for the second-half of normal time, initially pushed the game to extra-time with the equalising point in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

It proved to be the very last puck of the game and Connolly scored again within 30 seconds of extra-time beginning.

But things went downhill from there for the experienced attacker who was shown a second yellow card, apparently for dissent, in the 80th minute of the game.

The focus then turned to Connolly's brother, Thomas, who stepped up to take an 85th minute penalty following a foul on John Hetherton. St Vincent's trailed by two points at that stage.

But there was agony for the younger Connolly too as his hip-height blast to goalkeeper Conor O'Donoghue's right side was brilliantly tipped away by a flying save.

David Curtin's southside outfit will chase an eighth county crown at the end of the month in what will be their first final since losing out to Cuala in 2020.

Full-back Paddy Dunleavy and Shane Durkin both limped off with injuries but Curtin assured that they will be fit for the final.

Gilroy and Vincent's will reflect on a giant missed opportunity as while the McBrides, Rian and Darach, struck 1-8 between them, an overall wides tally of 18 undermined the team's bid for a first final place since 1993.

Timmy Hammersley, an All-Ireland medallist with Tipperary in 2010, scored five of 'Boden's extra-time points though the 35-year-old was still a full six years younger than ex-Dublin star Conal Keaney who also came on.

Na Fianna, runners up in 2021 and 2022, will hope that it is a case of third-time lucky on final day.

After gaining sweet revenge on holders Kilmacud Crokes in the quarter-finals, and opening up a 0-9 to 0-1 lead against Lucan Sarsfields in their last four encounter, a comfortable win appeared likely.

But Na Fianna were ultimately made to work for their 0-18 to 0-14 win by a resurgent Lucan managed by Kilkenny great Charlie Carter.

Lucan, with former Cork player Chris O'Leary among the scorers, hit five points in a row to trail by just 0-6 to 0-10 at half-time.

Free-taker Sean Harkness finished with six points for Lucan but they will rue the 14 wides they blasted overall.

Na Fianna were powered by former All-Star Liam Rushe at centre-back while the Curries, Sean and Colin, struck 0-11 between them. Andrew Jamieson Murphy chipped in with four points from play for Na Fianna.