Ballyboden St Endas Win the Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Football Final

Image Courtesy Paul Barrett

Ballyboden St Enda's 1-16

Na Fianna 1-12

A powerful final quarter hour or so helped to secure a landmark win for Ballyboden St Enda's and a fifth Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship title at Parnell Park.

Tied at 0-9 apiece with 43 minutes on the clock, it was anyone's game as the two clubs that met in Round 1 of their group campaign squared off again in the final.

It turned out that Ballyboden were the ones who were able to apply the afterburners, reeling off 1-4 without response between the 48th and 61st minutes to effectively secure their first win at the grade since 2019.

Ballyboden won with plenty to spare when the sides met in their first group game in early August.

There wasn't anything like that gap between them this time and Eamonn O'Reilly's Ballyboden were mightily grateful for Cein D'Arcy's 53rd minute goal, leaving them seven ahead at that stage.

Dublin forward Colm Basquel was terrific for 'Boden too, scoring two points and winning no less than five frees over the hour that leading scorer Daire Sweeney, who struck 0-8, was able to convert.

Ballyboden will now advance to a Leinster club quarter-final tie against the Wexford representatives on November 16, a competition they have won twice before in 2015 and 2019.

Rain fell throughout this final, mitigating against a repeat of the high scoring August encounter when the teams tallied 7-32 between them.

Former Clare star Keelan Sexton played in that game but missed out this time for Na Fianna while ex-Dublin attacker Ryan Basquel and Kieran Kennedy were late withdrawals on the Ballyboden front.

All eyes were on Sweeney for 'Boden after his terrific 2-8 in the dramatic semi-final win over 2024 champions Cuala.

He slotted five first-half points this time but also winced at three wides as heavy rain and gusting winds took their toll.

Na Fianna had the first-half wind advantage, and it was significant, but they only really got it going for a 10 minute spell midway through the half.

They scored six of their seven first-half points in that period, pinning 'Boden in on their own kick-out and punishing them with a series of scores.

Conor McHugh's peach of a point from the left wing was the pick of the bunch and the dual star played in ex-Dublin footballer Ciaran Reddin for another.

But the Mobhi Road men spent much of their time funnelling back and protecting the D as the likes of Jonny Cooper and Eoin Murchan dug in.

Na Fianna's James Doran, their matchwinner in the previous two games, was also foiled with a goal attempt by a terrific Peter Healy tackle.

Former All-Star Basquel grabbed an early point for 'Boden as they initially opened up a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage.

Wearing number 11 but flitting between the two attacking lines, Basquel also won two frees that Sweeney converted while Ryan O'Dwyer nailed a beauty from the left wing too.

But it remained anyone's game at 0-7 to 0-7 at half-time and they were level again at 0-8 and 0-9 apiece after the restart.

Ballyboden defender Healy then showed his attacking ability, capitalising on the stiff wind for a 44th minute two-pointer.

The influential O'Dwyer added a point and suddenly the southsiders led by three, 0-12 to 0-9.

Sweeney stretched the gap to four with his seventh point and now there was real daylight between them.

The D'Arcy goal left 'Boden 1-14 to 0-10 clear and while Na Fianna rallied late on with a goal from sub Sexton, it was far too late to suggest they might reel in the opposition like they did in the quarter and semi-finals.

Scorers - Ballyboden St Enda's: Daire Sweeney 0-8 (7f); Cein D'Arcy 1-0; Peter Healy (tp), Colm Basquel, Ryan O'Dwyer 0-2 each; Alex Gavin, James Holland 0-1 each. Na Fianna: Conor McHugh 0-5 (2f); Brian O'Leary 0-4 (3f); Keelan Sexton 1-0; James Doran 0-2; Ciaran Reddin 0-1.

Ballyboden St Enda's: Hugh O'Sullivan; Brian Bobbett, Shane Clayton, Cathal Flaherty; Alex Gavin, Peter Healy, Patrick Warren; Cein D'Arcy, James Holland; John McGuire, Ryan O'Dwyer, James Madden; Ross McGarry, Colm Basquel, Daire Sweeney.

Subs: Ryan Baines for Clayton (3), Callum O'Dwyer for McGuire (45), Kieran Kennedy for Warren (51), Harry Donaghy for Healy (58), Darren O'Reilly for Madden (60).

Na Fianna: David O'Hanlon; Fiachra Potts, Adam Rafter, Jonny Cooper; Niall McGovern, Eoin Murchan, Oscar Donohoe; James Doran, Killian Deeley; Conor Early, Brian O'Leary, David Quinn; Conor McHugh, Ciaran Reddin, Sean Caffrey.

Subs: Vinny Flynn for Deeley (34), Keelan Sexton for Caffrey (46), Darragh Kennedy for McGovern (49), Diarmuid Clerkin for Quinn (51), David Lacey for Reddin (56).

Referee: Darren Delaney (Wanderers).