Second-half surge carries Ballyboden to Leinster crown
Patrick Dunleavy and Ross McGarry of Ballyboden St Enda's celebrate their second goal of the game. Pic ©INPHO/James Lawlor
A merciless third quarter by Ballyboden St Enda’s brought them a third Leinster senior football title in Croke Park this evening.
Athy were blown away in those opening 14 minutes of the second half. Kevin Feely’s point from play was their only score in response to 1-6 for the Dublin champions. Among that haul was Patrick Dunleavy’s goal and a Colm Basquel two-pointer.
Another three points without reply after Dunleavy’s 44th minute goal helped to ensured Athy’s late rally would fall short. Athy substitute Ben Purcell slipped in a goal after he was put through by Ronan Kelly in the 54th minute following a rare Ballyboden mishap.
It was part of 1-3 without reply for Athy but they were merely playing for honour in a final where Ballyboden’s incessant movement and support play left them playing second fiddle.
Before throw-in, it was confirmed Athy goalkeeper Shane Jackman would again be missing and James Roycroft would deputise.
He could count himself unfortunate to have conceded the first-half goal by Ryan Basquel. He did enough to parry the strike but on the slick surface it spun over the goal-line despite Cathal McCarron’s best efforts to prevent it in the 26th minute.
Roycroft later pulled off a great denial against Colm Basquel but the Ballyboden goal was typical of the exciting, if at times sloppy, football both teams were producing in that half.
Colm Moran was dispossessed at the other end and direct football from Ballyboden gave Basquel the momentum to aim at the net. Ross McGarry’s outside of the boot pass into space for Basquel was a peach.
It was the difference between the sides at half-time. Ballyboden had started with impetus and were four points to no score ahead after 10 minutes.
Athy missed three scoring chances in the opening 10 minutes but were eventually off the mark with a Seán Moore point in the 13th minute. Feely followed it up with another placed ball and then landed a two-pointer to square the game in the 18th minute.
Athy went ahead when Ryan Baynes fouled Ronan Kelly for a second time and Niall Kelly slotted over the free. Ballyboden broke a 14-minute spell without a score when McGarry came in off the right and curled over a point.
Athy defender Darren Lawler was caught out for a free which Daire Sweeney converted and while Ronan Kelly restored parity once more Ballyboden struck the next two scores including Basquel’s goal.
Colm Moran at least put one score between the sides going into the dressing rooms, 0-7 to 1-7, but Ballyboden stretched five ahead when Ryan O’Dwyer and Daire Sweeney topped up their personal tallies. Peter Healy dummied to widen the gap to six in the 38th minute.
Feely brought his own contribution to four points but a McGarry point followed by Colm Basquel’s two-pointer made it a double-score game, 1-13 to 0-8. When Dunleavy palmed in a second Ballyboden goal, it was curtains.
R. McGarry (0-5, 1 free); D. Sweeney (2 frees), C. Basquel (1 tp) (0-4 each); R. Basquel, P. Dunleavy (1-0 each); R. O’Dwyer, C. D’Arcy (0-2 each); P. Healy (0-1)
K. Feely (0-7, 4 frees, 1 tp); S. Moore (0-4, 1 tpf, 1 free); B. Purcell (1-0); N. Kelly (free), R. Kelly, C. Moran (0-1 each).
H. O’Sullivan; C. Flaherty, B. Bobbett, R. Baynes; P. Warren, P. Healy, P. Dunleavy; C. D’Arcy, A. Gavin; R. McGarry, J. Holland, R. O’Dwyer; R. Basquel, C. Basquel, D. Sweeney.
C. O’Dwyer for R. Basquel (47); H. Donaghy for P. Warren (49); S. Clayton (c) for R. Baynes (54); K. Kennedy for C. Basquel (60); D. O’Reilly for R. O’Dwyer (60+1).
J. Roycroft; M. Spillane, P. Spillane, D. Lawler; M. Hyland, C. McCarron, S. Moore; K. Feely, D. Hyland (c); B. Maher, B. Kelly, C. Doyle; R. Kelly, C. Moran, N. Kelly.
B. Purcell for C. Moran (42); S. Bride for M. Hyland (47); C. Kelly for B. Kelly (48); C. Keaveney for B. Maher (54); K. Farrell for C. Doyle (57).
A. Coyne (Westmeath).
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