Ballyboden St Endas beaten in the All-Ireland Club SFC Semi-Final

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 1-24 

DINGLE 1-26 AET

Dingle recovered from a ten-point deficit to eventually pip Ballyboden St Enda’s by two points after extra-time in their thrilling AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship semi-final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon. 

The Kerry champions led for just six of the eighty-plus minutes of high-octane and enthralling football but that proved just enough against a Ballyboden side that will rue some missed opportunities in the closing stages. 

The pace of the Leinster Champions proved too much for their opponents in the first-half with four Ryan O’Dwyer points and a trio of scores by Patrick Warren helping build a well-deserved and healthy 0-14 to 0-5 advantage at the interval.

Dingle came roaring back into the contest upon the restart and while Colm Basquel’s goal early in the second-half looked pivotal at the time, the Kerry outfit clawed their way back into the contest as the sides finished deadlocked at 1-20 apiece by full-time. 

While Colm Basquel spurned a presentable chance to open the scoring, that honour was left to Ryan O’Dwyer, who kicked a delightful two-pointed score in the 3rd minute. 

James Holland could well have netted two minutes later but was well blocked by Gavin Curren when through on goal but Boden gained some reward from that attack as Brian Bobbett popped over from the rebound. 

Warren added to the St Enda’s lead with an excellent score on the run and the wing-back soon doubled his personal tally to leave the Dublin champions five points clear by the 7th minute. 

The procession towards the Dingle goal continued as Colm Basquel spilt the uprights three minutes later and Holland will regret firing wide from close range after O’Dwyer was initially denied the opening goal of the contest. 

Matthew Flaherty eventually opened the Dingle account when pointing in the 14th minute and he added another two minutes later but the Munster champions were unquestionably missing the presence of late absentee Paul Geaney up front. 

Ballyboden were suffering no such difficulties in attack as Daire Sweeney replied with two points in quick succession with a classy O’Dwyer score stretching their lead to seven points early in the second quarter. 

Points at the opposite end by Niall Geaney, Dylan Geaney (free) and Tadgh Browne offered sporadic cause for optimism to Dingle but a Ryan Basquel brace, augmented by points from O’Dwyer and Warren extended the Ballyboden lead to nine points by half-time. 

Dingle were buoyed by the introduction of Paul Geaney for the second-half and they immediately looked a more threatening side as Dylan Geaney’s two scores sandwiched an O’Sullivan effort. 

However, O’Dwyer settled Ballyboden with his fifth point from play in the 35th minute and from the resultant kick-out, McGarry raced clear down to the left before finding Basquel, who blasted to the roof of the net from eight metres. 

Dingle’s response to this setback was admirable as Paul Geaney and O’Sullivan clipped over points and after Conor Geaney had struck the upright, they finally pounced for a deserved goal through Browne in the 44th minute. 

With their lead reduced to five points by the start of the final quarter, Boden’s attack were living off relative scraps but still carried sufficient threat to boost their tally through the rampant O’Dwyer, McGarry and Basquel. 

O’Sullivan’s brilliance for Dingle ensured those scores were required as he kicked six second-half points and Paul Geaney’s dramatic two-pointed score in added time left the sides deadlocked at full-time.  

Scores proved harder to find in extra-time with the returning Sweeney edging his side back in front through a 65th minute free and his well-taken two-pointer four minutes later left two points between the teams by the short turnaround. 

That narrow buffer was eroded as Mikie Geaney and Paul Geaney pointed within three minutes and while McGarry briefly restored the Boden lead, a two-pointed free from Paul Geaney and a Mark O’Connor point saw Dingle complete a remarkable comeback.   

Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: R O’Dwyer 0-7 (1 P2); C Basquel 1-2; D Sweeney 0-5 (1 F2, 2f); R McGarry 0-4; P Warren 0-3; R Basquel 0-2; B Bobbett 0-1. Dingle: P Geaney 0-8 (1 P2, 1F2, 2f); T O’Sullivan 0-6 (1 P2); T Browne 1-1; D Geaney 0-4 (1f); M Flaherty, C Geaney 0-2 each; N Geaney, M Geaney, M O’Connor 0-1 apiece.

Ballyboden St Enda’s: H O’Sullivan; B Bobbett, S Clayton, H Donaghy; P Dunleavy, C Flaherty, P Warren; C D’Arcy, A Gavin; R O’Dwyer, J Holland, R McGarry; R Basquel, C Basquel, D Sweeney. Subs: K Kennedy for Warren (35), C O’Dwyer for Sweeney (51), J McGuire for R Basquel (56), J Madden for Holland (59), R Baynes for Donaghy (60+2),Sweeney for C O’Dwyer (61), Holland for Clayton (71), L O’Donoghue for Gavin (73), C O’Dwyer for R O’Dwyer (77).

Dingle: G Curran; P O’Connor, TL O’Sullivan, B O’Connor; A O’Connor, C Flannery, T O’Sullivan; M O’Connor, B O’Connor; T Browne, N Geaney, D Geaney; C Bambury, M Flaherty, C Geaney. Subs: P Geaney for Bambury (half-time), M Geaney for Flaherty (52), SMoran for A O’Connor (52), N Ryan for B O’Connor (54), Flaherty for C Geaney (73),Bambury for Browne (76).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).