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PTSB DUBLIN SENIOR 1 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 1
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 5-12
ST OLIVER PLUNKETT’S/EOGHAN RUADH 0-9
By Daire Walsh
A strong first half performance was the catalyst at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon as Ballyboden St Enda’s overcame the challenge of St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh to make it three wins from three in Group 1 of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship.
Already guaranteed a spot at the quarter-final stage of this year’s top-tier competition, the starting line-up for defending champions Ballyboden showed a number of changes from the one that defeated Castleknock in Parnell Park a fortnight earlier. Yet those who came into the team have plenty of senior club championship experience under their belts and they helped the southsiders to establish a 4-6 to 0-2 interval lead.
Substitutes Luke Hughes, Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith and Conor Walsh offered Plunkett’s some fresh impetus on the resumption, but Ballyboden continued to play with confidence at the opposite end of the pitch and ultimately preserved their 100% record in the group with considerable aplomb.
On a bright day for football, Boden broke the deadlock in the second minute when Ryan O’Dwyer fired over a point at the end of a patient move. While Plunkett’s equalised with a Ted Furman score after the lively Conor Tyrrell had rattled the post, Boden were in for their maiden goal on four minutes.
Following a fine stop by Plunkett’s netminder Gavin Broughan off a James Madden shot, Warren Egan was ideally placed to kick the rebound to the net. In the wake of this green flag effort, 11 minutes would pass before the next score of the game arrived.
Plunkett’s had a number of opportunities during this period, but it was eventually left for Boden to increase their advantage when Madden converted off an advanced mark at the end of the opening quarter.
This was quickly supplemented by a two-point free from Dublin senior footballer Colm Basquel and at the end of another fast-paced attack by Eamon O’Reilly’s title holders, Paddy Curry was on hand to palm the ball into the opposition net. Boden were suddenly nine points clear as a result, but things became even brighter for the southside outfit as the half progressed.
Ross McGarry finished to the net from a 22nd minute move that he had initiated and moments later the elusive Egan cut inside from the left-flank to drill home his second goal (and Ballyboden’s fourth) of the game.
McGarry also swung over a fine point off his left boot, in advance of Ben McSweeney doing likewise at the far end to finally interrupt Boden’s attacking flow. This only provided Plunkett’s with a temporary respite, however, as McGarry added another point to his personal tally to leave Ballyboden in a seemingly insurmountable position at the break.
Paul Quinn and Ciaran O’Reilly were introduced after the restart by the Boden management and this energetic duo immediately combined to set up midfielder Michael McDonald for a point inside the opening 60 seconds of the second half.
The aforementioned Hughes and Irinel Popa found the range for Plunkett’s either side of a Quinn score, but Ballyboden impressively reinforced their authority when O’Dwyer struck a successful two-point free on 44 minutes.
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