Holders Boden edge out Cuala

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 0-15 CUALA 0-14

Finn McGarry was the Boden saviour as his point five minutes from kept the reigning holders dreams of retaining the Dublin SHC alive in this quarter-final at O’Toole Park on Sunday.

Boden led 0-12 to 0-6 at the break with Shane Durkin to the fore while up front Paul Ryan struck some fine scores to ensure St Enda’s held the upperhand.

Late points in the opening period from Niall McMorrow, Ryan and David Curtin ensured their half-time supremacy.

However, Cuala improved in the second half with points from sub Niall McCarthy and Barry Connolly cutting into the deficit.

Inside the final quarter the Dalkey men had reduced to the deficit to the minimum following scores from Cian Waldron, Connolly and Paul Butler while in defence Cian O’Callaghan excelled.

It was a battle right to the finish with McGarry’s 55^th minute point giving Boden just about enough breathing space as Cuala went close to forcing the game into extra-time.

SCORERS – BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: P Ryan 0-9 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), D Curtin, N McMorrow 0-2 each, S Durkin, F McGarry 0-1 each. Cuala: B Connolly 0-6 (0-5f), C Waldron 0-3, S Moran, P Butler 0-2, N Carthy 0-1.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: G Maguire; J Msdden, S Hiney, C Robinson; S Durkin, S O’Connor, J Desmond; N McMorrow, F McGarry; S Lambert, D Curtin, D O’Connor; P Ryan, C Keaney, G Corrigan. Subs: D Curran for Desmond (40), C O’Neill for Lambert (44), C McCormack for Corrigan (50), J Roche for McGarry (55), E O’Neill for Curtin (60).

CUALA: S Brennan; R Reid, Cian O’Callaghan, S Barron; R Tierney, O Gough, S Stapleton; S Moran, C Sheanon; C Waldron, C Cronin, P Butler; S Treacy, D Treacy, B Connolly. Subs: S Timlin for Barron (16), N Carthy for Sheanon (ht), Con O’Callaghan for Cronin (50), K Braine for Waldron (56).

REF: D Harrington (St Sylvester’s).