Senior football County final v Kilmacud Crokes on 22 October 2023
Ballyboden St Endas 0 – 9
Kilmacud Crokes 1 – 14
Report by Paddy Walsh
The senior footballers’ championship journey came to a disappointing end in Parnell Park on Sunday when Kilmacud Crokes proved to be too strong on the day. Crokes were first to score after two minutes but Ross McGarry cancelled that out two minutes later. Crokes again went ahead but this time it was Colm Basquel to level the scores. Crokes then added two more points. When Céin D’Arcy made a good catch in midfield he passed to Colm Basquel who scored a point. Crokes continued to find it easier to score than Boden and added two more points to go three points ahead. Ryan Basquel cancelled these out (1 free) but Crokes finished the half strongly with a point on 25 minutes and had a goal chance saved by the Boden defenders which was deflected for a 45. When Shane Walsh missed the subsequent 45, it was the first wide for Crokes while Boden had at least six wides.
Crokes were again first to score in the second half with a point after three minutes which Colm Basquel cancelled out with a pointed free. A three-minute spell, from the 7th to the 10th minute, finished the game as a contest when Crokes scored a goal and two points to put 7 points between the sides. The goal came when Boden turned over the ball in their half. The ball was played forward to Shane Walsh who finished to the net, giving Darragh Gogan no chance. For the remainder of the game, Crokes protected their lead and managed to score four more points with Boden responding with three points from Ross McGarry, Ryan Basquel (free) and Daire Sweeney.
TEAM: Darragh Gogan; Shane Clayton; Brian Bobbett; Cathal Flaherty; Kieran Kennedy; James Holland; Alex Gavin; Céin D’Arcy; Michael Darragh Macauley; Luke O’Donoghue; Ross McGarry; Warren Egan; Ryan O’Dwyer; Ryan Basquel; Colm Basquel. SUBS USED: Michael McDonald; Darren O’Reilly; Daire Sweeney; Ryan Baynes; Leo McHugh.
Thanks to John Kirwan for photos.