Ballinteer St John’s crowned Dublin Under 21 ‘A’ Football Champions

Image courtesy Paul Lundy

BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S 1-16

ST JUDE’S 1-10

Ballinteer St John’s delivered a dominant second-half performance as they overcame St Jude’s by six points in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Under 21 ‘A’ Football Championship final at a heavy O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon.

In doing so, they completed their second success at this level in four years and the victory came a week after their hurling counterparts had claimed the Under 21 ‘B’ title.

Both sides arrived battle hardened into Saturday’s final with St John’s having recovered from a nine-point deficit on their way to pipping holders Ballyboden St Enda’s at the post while St Jude’s displayed immense character in their narrow victories against Lucan Sarsfields and Castleknock respectively.  

A tight encounter was anticipated and so it proved initially with scores at a premium as a brace of Joey Quirke frees edged Ballinteer in front towards the end of the first quarter.

Eoin Kenny (free) and James O’Loughlin replied for St Jude’s, who pounced for the game’s opening goal in the 25th minute through a well-taken Oisín Costello effort before a two-pointed free from Kenny stretched their lead to four points towards the end of the half.

Leading by 1-6 to 0-5 at half-time, the fear from a St Jude’s perspective was that they hadn’t made the most of the elements in their favour in the first-half as they kicked a number of poor wides and that concern was realised within a minute of the restart as Quirke raised a green flag for St John’s.

A two-pointed free by John Clair three minutes later saw Ballinteer regain the lead but St Jude’s refused to buckle from these concessions with full-back and captain Sean Kirwan an inspirational presence throughout while Eoghan Costello delivered a typically assured and measured display at centrefield.  

James Maher was another to impress for the Templeogue outfit as he more than held his own dealing with the talented Mark McNally but Ballinteer gradually put further daylight between the teams courtesy of Patrick Coleman’s superb two-pointer early in the final quarter.

Coleman was central to St John’s getting on top at this time as he excelled at midfield with the hard-working Conor Quinn and Matthew Gardiner at centre-back also featuring prominently for the Marlay Park side.

St Jude’s were terribly unfortunate to see Oisin Gough’s goal attempt cannon to safety off the upright in the 53rd minute and as they chased the game in the closing stages, their opponents were able to pick off insurance scores through Jack Long, McNally and substitute Dylan Bannan.       

Scorers – Ballinteer St John’s: J Quirke 1-5 (0-5f); J Long, M McNally 0-3 each; J Clair (F2), P Coleman (P2) 0-2 each; D Bannan 0-1. St Jude’s: O Costello 1-1; E Kenny 0-4 (1 F2, 2f); J O’Loughlin 0-2; E Costello, R Bagnall, S Kirwan 0-1 apiece.

Ballinteer St John’s: R Murray; E Naughton, C McDonnell, F Nolan; A O’Reilly, M Gardiner, C Graham; P Coleman, D Gaffney; M McNally, J Clair, C Quinn; J Long, J Quirke, C Minogue. Subs: M Power for Gaffney (40), S Ryan for Minogue (43), D Bannan for Clair (55), O McHugh for Quirke (64).

St Jude’s: J Moore; C Langan, S Kirwan, M Power; A McGuinness, J Maher, R Bagnall; E Costello, I Ó Casaide; J Browne, E Kenny, O Costello; T Tisdall, B Shouldice, J O’Loughlin. Subs: O Gough for Browne (35), P Nolan for McGuinness (42), T Bassett for Power (50), J Slattery for Tisdall (52), O McLoughlin for O’Loughlin (57).  

Referee: Jim Hussey (Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels).