AIB Leinster Club SFC: Ballyboden reach decider

AIB Leinster Club SFC Semi-Final

Ballyboden St Enda's 2-19 Tullamore 0-10

By Kevin Egan at Glenisk O’Connor Park

Ballyboden St. Enda’s overpowered and outplayed Tullamore in what was a surprisingly one-sided Leinster semi-final, where the South Dublin side were all, but locked into next Saturday evening’s provincial final decider by half-time.

Ballyboden could even afford to go 17 minutes without scoring after half-time before once again taking over, finishing the game with seven points unanswered to frank their credentials as serious contenders for Leinster and All-Ireland honours.

A strong breeze favoured the away side while Tullamore were rocked by the loss of centre back and county star John Furlong due to injury with just 17 minutes played, but there was so much more than that to Ballyboden’s dominance.

After Tullamore got off to a bright start with points from Niall Furlong and Harry Plunkett to take an early lead, a slick attacking move saw Colm Basquel slip in Ross McGarry for a goal, and Ballyboden didn’t look back.

Ryan Baynes won two turnover balls in defence, Céin Darcy claimed a pair of Tullamore kickouts and up front Ryan O’Dwyer led the line brilliantly, kicking four points from an array of different angles and ranges.

In the physical exchanges the Dublin champions were vastly superior, and their second goal came from pressure on Luke Plunkett, leading to an overhold and a lightning fast breakaway move. A handpass over the top into O’Dwyer saw him through on goal where he was brought down by Michael Brazil.

Colm Basquel placed the penalty perfectly into the bottom right corner and there was no let-up, with Ballyboden moving on to lead by 2-12 to 0-4 at the interval.

Just as Ballyboden had put a tight squeeze on the Tullamore kickout in the first half, the home side did the same after half-time, and for the third quarter they chipped away gradually at the lead.

A series of wides and the lack of a two-point threat undermined their chances of really putting pressure on the opposition but Niall Furlong and Australia-bound Cillian Bourke both fared well, adding points and winning frees that Harry Plunkett converted.

A narrow-angle shot for the net from Luke Bourke was parried to safety by Hugh O’Sullivan to deny Tullamore a goal that they badly needed and once Ballyboden finally broke out of their own half, they hit two points in a minute from Daire Sweeney and then slipped right back into their scoring groove, easing over the finish line for a comfortable win.

Scorers for Ballyboden St. Enda’s: Daire Sweeney 0-9 (1tp, 0-3f), Ryan O’Dwyer 0-5, Ross McGarry 1-1, Colm Basquel 1-0 (pen), Ryan Basquel 0-3 (0-1f), Céin Darcy 0-1.

Scorers for Tullamore: Harry Plunkett 0-5f, Niall Furlong 0-2, Cillian Bourke 0-2, Luke Plunkett 0-1.

Ballyboden St Enda's: Hugh O’Sullivan; Ryan Baynes, Cathal Flaherty, Brian Bobbett; James Holland, Patrick Warren, Peter Healy; Céin Darcy, Alex Gavin; Ross McGarry, Colm Basquel, Patrick Dunleavy; Ryan Basquel, Ryan O’Dwyer, Daire Sweeney.

Subs: Harry Donaghy for Gavin (36), Luke O’Donoghue for Dunleavy (51), Callum O’Dywer for C Basquel (52), Kieran Kennedy for Healy (56), Darren O’Reilly for R Basquel (58).

Tullamore: Corey White; Declan Hogan, Daire McDaid, Ben Heffernan; Cormac Egan, John Furlong, Oisín Keenan Martin; Cillian Bourke, Aaron Leavy; Diarmuid Egan, Michael Brazil, Niall Furlong; Mike Fox, Harry Plunkett, Luke Plunkett.

Subs: Luke Bourke for J Furlong (17), Liam Dillane for Brazil (52), Shane Dooley for L Plunkett (60+3).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).