Ballyboden St Endas defeat Castleknock in PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 1-21 CASTLEKNOCK 0-14

Ballyboden St Enda’s moved into top spot in Group 1 of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship when getting the better of Castleknock by ten points at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

St Enda’s controlled large parts of the opening quarter as they pushed four points ahead but a trio of Eoin Sawyer scores left Castleknock enjoying a deserved 0-8 to 0-7 lead by the turnaround. 

Their fortunes changed immediately after the break as Ballyboden took charge following a Ryan Basquel goal and seven second-half points from Daire Sweeney saw them ease home long before the end.  

There was an entertaining start to proceedings as Callum O’Dwyer kicked an excellent two-pointer to open the scoring only for Conor Chawke to match that effort as he restored parity in the 2nd minute. 

That proved an isolated moment of encouragement for Castleknock, who played second fiddle in the first quarter as Boden restored their two-point advantage thanks to scores from Ryan Basquel (free) and Ciaran Duggan.  

The latter added his second point in the 7th minute and while not at their fluent best, the holders extended their lead through a well-taken Ross McGarry score. 

‘Knock gradually began to offer a threat of their own with Eoin Sawyer fisting over the crossbar and Chawke could well have netted at the end of the first quarter but he shot too close to Hugh O’Sullivan, who parried the ball to safety. 

However, they gained reward for their great pressure with Sawyer and Kevin Stephenson reducing their deficit to just two points by the 23rd minute. 

Shairoze Akram halved that margin three minutes later after a strong burst from wing-back and Rob Shaw did likewise from the opposite flank to leave the sides deadlocked. 

With Boden spurning a number of presentable chances of adding to their tally, failing to score from the 14th minute in the process, it was left to Sawyer to kick the final score of the half to ensure his side a marginal lead at the break.      

A two-pointer from Colm Basquel within a minute of the restart saw St Enda’s regain the lead and the momentum swung firmly in their favour in the 34th minute as Ryan Basquel calmly slotted home after a strong surge from deep by Céin D’Arcy. 

Daire Sweeney added further pressure on Castleknock as he kicked two points in quick succession but those scores were soon cancelled out with Senan Forker and Ben Galvin both on target for the Dublin 15 outfit. 

Back came Ryan Basquel with a two-pointer from play while another Sweeney brace left eight points between the teams by the end of the third quarter. 

Chawke, Dylan Clarke and Galvin all clipped over points to reward Castleknock’s refusal to accept their fate but Boden had too much in the tank as Aran Waters and Sweeney (free) raised further orange flags by the final whistle. 

Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: R Basquel 1-4 (0-1f, 1 P2); D Sweeney 0-7 (2f, 1 F2); C Duggan, C Basquel (P2), A Waters (P2), C O’Dwyer (P2) 0-2 each; C D’Arcy, R McGarry 0-1 apiece. Castleknock: C Chawke 0-4 (1f, 1 P2); E Sawyer 0-3; B Galvin 0-2; R Shaw, S Akram, S Forker, K Stephenson, D Clarke 0-1 apiece.

Ballyboden St Enda’s: H O’Sullivan; B Bobbett, C Flaherty, R Baynes; A Gavin, J Holland, A Waters; C D’Arcy, H Donaghy; R McGarry, R Basquel, C Duggan; C O’Dwyer, C Basquel, D Sweeney. Subs: E Nugent for Gavin (29), P Curry for O’Dwyer (52), W Egan for Duggan (58), D McCabe for Holland (61), M McDonald for Waters (61).  

Castleknock: J Vahey; A Hughes, T Quinn, E Walsh; R Shaw, C Kilkenny, S Akram; S Forker, K Stephenson; B Galvin, C Chawke, D Clarke; L Cahill, G McDermottroe, E Sawyer. Subs: D Leonard for Walsh (44), N Millmore for McDermottroe (50).

Referee: Brian O’Connor (Garda Westmanstown Gaels)