AIB Leinster Club SFC Quarter-Final

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S (DUBLIN) 1-11 NEWTOWN BLUES (LOUTH) 0-5

By Dan Bannon at the Gaelic Grounds

Having fended off Thomas Davis to win the Dublin SFC Championship last week, Ballyboden St Enda's are going from strength to strength and are through to Leinster Club Championship semi-final.

Ballyboden grinded out a result and got over the line, finishing stronger, outscoring the Blues by 1-6 to no score in the last 18 minutes to secure victory. They did not have all their own way, however.

The sides were level on five occasions heading into the final quarter, with St Enda's struggling at times to break down a disciplined Blues defence which was very well supported by Andy McDonnell from midfield with Kevin Carr, Emmett Carolan and Fergal Donohoe making things awkward for Ballyboden. It took the Dublin side 12 minutes to register a point, through corner back Cathal Flaherty who himself saw red later in that half.

The Basquel brothers traded frees with Ciaran Downey and Andy McDonnell leaving it at an uninspiring 0-3 each at the interval. With St Enda's down to fourteen men, and the score level, the Blues maybe felt an upset was on the cards.

The Blues’ failed to score after the 45th minute and their challenge began to unravel in that last quarter losing Emmett Carolan and Colm Judge to black cards and Alan Conor to a straight red card before the finish.

The introduction of Conal Keaney for Ballyboden proved crucial, as the former county man kicked two excellent points with that trademark left foot. Colm Basquel kicked 1-3 in this period including shot that deceived Jay Lowney in the Blues goal to put further gloss on the scoreboard. They face Westmeath champions Garrycastle next.

Scorers for Ballyboden St Enda’s: Colm Basquel 1-4 (2fs), Ryan Basquel 0-3 (1f, 1 pen), C Keaney 0-2, Ross McGarry 0-1, Cathal Flaherty 0-1.

Scorers for Newtown Blues: A McDonnell 0-2 (2fs), C Downey 0-1 (1f), Rob Carr 0-1, Colm Judge 0-1 each.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: Darragh Gogan; Bob Dwan, Shane Clayton, Cathal Flaherty; Brian Bobbett, Robbie McDaid, Kieran Kennedy; Aran Waters, Declan Mahoney; Darren O’Reilly, Colm Basquel, Alan Flood; Ross McGarry, Ryan Basquel. Warren Egan.

Subs: Conal Keaney for Warren Egan (44), James Holland for Darren O’Reilly (44), Tom Hayes for Alan Flood (47), Michael Dara MacCauley for Aran Waters (53), Sean Gibbons for Declan Mahoney (56).

NEWTOWN BLUES: Jay Lowney; Kevin Carr, Fergal Donohoe, Alan Connor; John Connolly Emmet Carolan, Ian Connor; Andy McDonnell, John Kermode; Ian Connor, Ciaran Downey, Rob Carr, Colm Judge, Conor Brannigan, Jamie Kelly.

Subs: Conor Moore for Jamie Kelly (22), Johnny McDonnell for Conor Brannigan (46), Niall Costelloe for Emmet Carolan (52, BC), Cormac Reynolds for Ian Connor (52), Ronan Levins for Colm Judge (57, BC).

REFEREE: David Coldrick (Meath).