DUBLIN SHC FINAL: Ballyboden St Enda's 3-12 O'Toole's 0-9:BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S became the first Dublin club in 82 years to win a five-in-a-row of county hurling championships at Parnell Park yesterday.
Three expertly-taken goals were the difference for the defending champions as they became the first side since the Garda team of 1925-1929 to win an elusive quintet of crowns.
It’s an amazing feat for a team who only won their first ever Dublin senior title at the start of this run in 2007.
In a disappointing final, Boden were ruthless at taking goal chances while an inexperienced O’Toole’s hit 15 wides. The champions face Clonkill of Westmeath in the Leinster Championship next Sunday.
“We placed no great significance on the number five, it’s all about going out and giving a performance,” insisted Ballyboden manager Liam Hogan.
“They were nervous and jittery for the first 10 minutes but after that they tuned in and kicked on and it was a really good team performance.
“Goals win games and O’Tooles never looked like scoring a goal and that was the real difference.”
O’Tooles started strongly with centre back Kevin Ryan prominent and a strong work ethic unsettling the champions. Shane Durkin was influential at midfield for a sluggish Ballyboden who were struggling to make their possession pay off.
But they got a crucial break in the 19th minute when a brilliant line ball from Stephen Nolan caused havoc in the O’Tooles defence and Emmet Carroll fired to the net. That score seemed to ease the burden on Boden.
Championship top scorer and All Star nominee Paul Ryan hit five wides in the opening stages – but before half-time he converted a difficult free from the left wing and then crashed an unstoppable 20-metre free to the net in the 30th minute. St Enda’s went in 2-6 to 0-4 ahead at the break.
A point off the first touch of substitute Paul O’Donoghue gave O’Tooles a strong start but Boden hit back in the 33rd minute when Dublin player Conor McCormack expertly finished to the net. Paul Ryan smashed a penalty off the crossbar. As rain started to fall O’Toole’s began to lose their shape and their wides tally steadily grow as their challenge wilted.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: G Maguire; S Nagle, D Spain, M O'Sullivan; M Travers, S Nolan (0-1, free), D Curran; D Curtin, S Durkin (0-1); J Doody, C McCormack (1-1), D O'Connor (0-2); P Ryan (1-3, 1-2 frees, 0-1 65), S Lambert (0-1), E Carroll (1-2). Subs: N McMorrow for Carroll (46 mins), T Sweeney (0-1) for Doody (47 mins), P Buckeridge for Nagle (52 mins), S O'Connor for M O'Sullivan, M Weldon for P Ryan (both 54 mins).
O'TOOLES:B McLoughlin; R Walker, M Cunningham, G O'Meara; P Brennan, K Ryan, J Bastow; G Morris, Peadar Carton (0-1); M Carton (0-1), A Morris (0-4, 0-2 frees), L Ryan (0-1); C Mulligan (0-1), Patrick Carton, D Webster. Subs: P O'Donoghue (0-1) for Pat Carton (h-t), C Carton for Webster (38 mins).
Referee:G McGrath.
