Ballyboden St Endas defeat Faughs in O'Toole Park - PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship

PTSB DUBLIN SENIOR 1 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 2

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 1-24

FAUGHS 2-15

By Daire Walsh

Darragh Kenny was in fine scoring form at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon as Ballyboden St Enda’s picked up their first win in Group 2 of the 2026 PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship.

Following consecutive two-point reversals to Lucan Sarsfields and St Brigid’s in recent weeks, Boden were searching for a victory to ignite their bid for a knockout spot in the capital’s top-tier hurling competition. Ably-assisted by David Gleeson and former Tipperary hurler Timmy Hammersley (three points each), Kenny amassed an impressive tally of 1-11 over the course of the action.

Chris Bennett did help himself to a healthy total of 1-8 for Faughs, but the Wellington Lane-based outfit weren’t able to build on their recent triumph over neighbours St Jude’s in the same venue. They have also lost out to St Brigid’s in this year’s championship, but their quest for a place in the knockout rounds is very much alive heading into the final two games of Group 2.

Eager to pick up their first points of the campaign, Boden began brightly and created some daylight when Kenny found the range either side of a fine effort from the in-form Gleeson. While Faughs were taking their time to settle into the proceedings, they were back on level terms by the sixth minute after a long-distance free from netminder Eoghan McNamara landed in towards the opposition square and wing-forward Brian Murray was on hand to pull to the net in clinical style.

This was an early set-back for Boden, but the Firhouse Road side quickly reinforced their authority with a brace of points from Hammersley. Yet Faughs kept themselves in touch with Bennett’s maiden score via a close-range free, before Liam Mostyn and Ciarán Nagle both raised white flags in response to Kenny and centre half-back Jack Lambert at the opposite end.

This brought the contest up to the 20-minute mark and despite plenty of endeavour from both teams, there was some wayward shooting on display that was preventing the tie from gaining a consistent rhythm.

Nevertheless, in the wake of traded points between dead-ball specialists Kenny and Bennett, a ‘65’ from the former moved Boden two in front on 25 minutes. Faughs were beginning to find some inroads in attack, however, and suddenly took the lead for the very first time when a 0-2 salvo by Bennett was supplemented by a superb Murray score from inside his own half.

There was still enough time on the clock for Kenny to convert a free that meant the sides were inseparable at the interval (0-10 to 1-7) and it remained a tight affair initially on the resumption. Faughs midfielder Colm McCabe cancelled out Hammersley’s third of the day within the opening 60 seconds of the restart and Kenny did likewise from another place-ball strike after Bennett had briefly squeezed Faughs back into the driving seat.

Another single by the dependable Bennett gave the Tymon Park men a slight edge and even though substitute Niall McMorrow and Kenny (free) responded impressively for Boden, Faughs bolstered their prospects once again on 43 minutes as Bennett confidently juggled the ball in advance of bagging his side’s second goal of the game.

This had Faughs in a strong position approaching the final-quarter, but instead of allowing their heads to drop, Boden flexed their attacking muscles and took control of their own destiny. Thanks to successive points from Gleeson, Kenny (two) and McMorrow, the seven-time champions were much in the ascendancy again.

Although this scoring sequence was briefly disrupted by James O’Brien – who was deployed in a deep role by Faughs for much of the action – a point apiece courtesy of defensive duo Lambert and Jim Kennedy preceded a brace from McMorrow’s fellow substitute Luke McDwyer to leave Boden within sight of the two points on offer.

Bennett did his utmost to keep Faughs in the reckoning, but the final outcome was effectively placed beyond doubt when a 1-1 salvo from play by Kenny moved Boden eight points clear with just three minutes of normal time remaining.

Faughs did manage to outscore their opponents 0-3 to 0-1 in the closing moments thanks to contributions from Bennett and O’Brien (two) – the latter also fired a penalty just beyond the target – but Gleeson’s third of the day ensured it was a pleasing afternoon at the office for Ballyboden.

Scorers – Ballyboden St Enda’s: D Kenny 1-11 (0-8f, 0-2 ‘65’), D Gleeson, T Hammersley 0-3 each, J Lambert, L McDwyer, N McMorrow 0-2 each, J Kennedy 0-1.Faughs: C Bennett 1-8 (0-7f), B Murray 1-1, J O’Brien 0-3 (1f), C McCabe, C Nagle, L Mostyn 0-1 each.

Ballyboden St Enda’s: C O’Donoghue; L Mulligan Lynch, J Kennedy, B McGuire; D Durkin, J Lambert, F Ryan; D Ormsby, F Codd; J Norris, J Madden, E Behan; D Kenny, T Hammersley, D Gleeson. Subs: J Roche for Mulligan Lynch (27), N McMorrow for Ormsby (35), L McDwyer for Norris, J O’Driscoll for Codd (both 40), P Christie for Hammersley (48).

Faughs: E McNamara; C Leahy, S McDonald, J Kenny; A Mostyn, C Byrne, C Kenny; C McCabe, C Dowd; N Fitzgibbon, C Nagle, B Murray; L Mostyn, C Bennett, J O’Brien. Subs: C Brennan for Fitzgibbon (h-t), O Walsh for C Kenny (42), F Heavey for McCabe (52), D Pryce for Leahy (58), E Brennan for Bennett (60).

Referee: Dean Alford (Round Tower Clondalkin).