Lucan Sarsfields and Ballyboden St Enda’s advance to the Dublin senior hurling final

Lucan pip 14-man Craobh Chiaráin while Balllyboden prove too strong for St Brigid’s

Lucan Sarsfields’ Paddy Ward scores his side’s opening goal in the sixth minute past goalkeeper Stephen Chester of Craobh Chiaráin. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Lucan Sarsfields’ Paddy Ward scores his side’s opening goal in the sixth minute past goalkeeper Stephen Chester of Craobh Chiaráin. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Lucan Sarsfields 1-13 Craobh Chiaráin 1-9
Ballyboden St Enda's 2-17 St Brigid's 1-9

Lucan Sarsfields advanced to the Dublin senior hurling championship final following their hard-earned 1-13 to 1-9 victory over 14-man Craobh Chiaráin at Parnell Park last night.

A brace of early frees from Tommy Somers set Lucan on their way and in the sixth minute Paddy Ward netted from close range after Chris Crummey’s surging run.

Craobh kept in touch via three Alan McCrabbe frees but they fell further behind as Aidan Roche adorned a superb display with four points from play in the opening half. Crummey’s point in the 22nd minute pushed Sarsfields seven points clear but a late Keith Elliott score offered some hope for Chiaráins at half-time.

And, within five minutes of the restart, Craobh’s Robbie Mahon burst onto a pass from McCrabbe before flashing home a goal from 14 yards.

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Cause suffered
However, their hopes suffered as a result of the 39th-minute dismissal of full-back Eugene Farrell, with Lucan taking advantage to tag on points through Somers and substitute Kevin O'Reilly.

Craobh battled on and two sublime points by McCrabbe put them just two points behind entering the final 10 minutes.

Their efforts proved in vain, though as Johnny McCaffrey and O’Reilly added late scores to confirm Lucan’s progress.

In the second semi-final, first-half goals from Shane Durkin and Maurice Nagle helped favourites Ballyboden St Enda’s earn a convincing 2-17 to 1-9 victory over St Brigid’s.

John O'Loughlin handed Brigid's a dream start when netting inside three minutes but Boden pulled away through Durkin's and Nagle's strikes and second-half scores by Niall McMorrow, Paul Ryan, Gavin Corrigan and Conal Keaney.
LUCAN SARSFIELDS: D Quinn; J Bellew, P Kelly, M McCaffrey; S McClelland, R Lambert, B Aird; J Byrne, J McCaffrey (0-1); T Lee, C Crummey (0-2), T Somers (0-3, three frees); A Roche (0-4), K Fitzgerald, P Ward (1-0). Subs: K O'Reilly (0-3, two frees) for Ward (30), M May for Byrne (47), C Dooley for Somers (54).

CRAOBH CHIARÁIN: S Chester; S Ennis, E Farrell, Damian O'Reilly; D Kelly, Derek O'Reilly; S McDonald; P O'Boyle, R Mahon (1-2); M McGuirk (0-1), F Usanga, K Elliott (0-1); G Kelly, C McGowran, A McCrabbe (0-5, three frees). Subs: S Kirwan for Damian O'Reilly (19), G Ennis for McGuirk (28), K Hetherton for McDonald and J Ryan for Ennis (58).

Referee: Gearóid McGrath (Setanta)