Senior footballers produce big win over Ballinteer to set up quarter-final date with Crokes

Senior football v Ballinteer St John’s in championship at O’Toole Park on 7 September 2024

Ballyboden St Endas 4 – 13

Ballinteer St John’s 2 – 8

By Paddy Walsh

This do-or-die game was always going to be tense and so it proved. Playing with the hill, Boden was first to score when Ryan O’Dwyer pointed after two minutes. Almost immediately, after a poor turnover, Ballinteer broke through for a well taken goal. Daire Sweeney converted a free two minutes later but within another minute Ballinteer had added another goal, again after a bad turnover. Colm Basquel pointed a free and shortly after Hugh O’Sullivan made a good save to deny Ballinteer another goal. There were no scores over the next 10 minutes until Ballinteer scored a point after 16 minutes. Colm Basquel replied with a converted free four minutes later. Then, after 24 minutes, Ross McGarry delivered a long ball into the goal area. After the goalkeeper fumbled the ball, Ryan O’Dwyer finished to the net to bring the sides level. Ballinteer added two points (1 free) to restore their lead but as the end of the half approached Ryan O’Dwyer and Daire Sweeney (free) brought the sides level again with a score of 1 – 6 to 2 – 3.

In the first minute of the second half, a Colm Basquel free dropped short and went directly to Daire Sweeney who finished to the net. This score seemed to give renewed energy to the team. However, Hugh O’Sullivan was called on again to make a good save. Ballinteer got a point back after five minutes. Some indecision by the umpires led to the awarding of a point to Boden (by Cein D’Arcy) but subsequently, this was disallowed. On 10 minutes, Hugh O’Sullivan delivered a long clearance to Alex Gavin who then found Daire Seeney and he popped the ball over the bar. Ballinteer converted a free but a minute later Daire Sweeney finished to the net having been set up by James Holland. St John’s scored another point on 14 minutes, but this was followed by a very productive 10-minute period for Boden. Points by Daire Sweeney, James Holland, Ryan O’Dwyer (2) and Colm Basquel put Boden 9 points ahead. Ballinteer pointed a free, but John McGuire cancelled this out. With the game in added time, Cein D’Arcy set up Colm Basquel for a tap-in goal. Ballinteer now needed to score goals, but the Boden defence remained steadfast and conceded just a point before the final whistle sounded to give Boden a satisfying victory.

Boden will now take on Kilmacud Crokes in the quarter-finals, with dates and times still to be determined.

TEAM: Hugh O’Sullivan; Harry Donaghy; Ryan Baynes; Shane Clayton; Alex Gavin; James Holland (0 – 1); Cathal Flaherty; Michael McDonald; Donagh McCabe; Luke O’Donoghue; Cein D’Arcy; Ross McGarry; Ryan O’Dwyer (1 – 4); Colm Basquel (1 – 3); Daire Sweeney (2 – 4). SUBS USED: Evan Nugent; Ciarán Duggan; Michael O’Gara; John McGuire (0 – 1); Ciarán O’Reilly.

Thanks to John Kirwan for photos. Click here to see more.