LEINSTER SHC QUARTER-FINALS: Ballyboden St Enda's 2-12 Clonkill 1-13BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S were made to fight all the way by Westmeath champions Clonkill at Mullingar yesterday afternoon.
On a very pleasant afternoon for hurling, it was clear from an early juncture that the home side were going to be competitive and the teams were level at 0-4 apiece after 20 minutes, with the winners’ All Star goalkeeper Gary Maguire already needing to be at his best on a couple of occasions, including pulling off a brilliant save early on from Brendan Murtagh. In the 24th minute, an error from Stephen Nulty in the Clonkill goalmouth gifted Conor McCormack a goal.
Two minutes later, a great move ended with a rasping shot to the net from Simon Lambert, and the Dubliners looked comfortable as they led 2-7 to 0-6 at the break.
However, Clonkill – who won the All-Ireland intermediate title in 2008 – came right back into contention with a wonderful goal from their marquee player Murtagh within three minutes of the restart. Ballyboden St Enda’s were relying on the accuracy of Paul Ryan from placed balls to keep their noses in front as the 5/1 underdogs went in search of a famous victory.
Indeed, it needed heroic defending from their half-back line in particular – where Malachy Travers excelled throughout – to keep Clonkill at bay.
With Ballyboden St Enda’s a goal to the good in the 58th minute, Darragh Spain produced a great block on the impressive Eoin Price who had a goal on his mind.
Late points from Andrew Mitchell (a free) and Murtagh (a marvellous score from play) left the bare minimum between the sides, ahead of three minutes of added-time.
Clonkill went all out in search of an equaliser, but a Ballyboden St Enda’s counter-attack ended with a late free for Paul Ryan which the corner forward converted for an insurance point.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: G Maguire; S Nagle, D Spain, M O'Sullivan; M Travers (0-1), S Nolan, D Curran; D Curtin, S Durkin;, J Doody, S Lambert (1-1), D O'Connor (0-1); E Carroll, C McCormack (1-1), P Ryan (0-8, five frees, one 65). Subs: N McMorrow for Doody (39 mins), T Sweeney for Carroll (41), D Sweeney for Nagle (53), P Buckeridge for Curran (59).
CLONKILL: S Nulty; S Cleary, A Price, J Fagan; K Reilly, P Dowdall, A Mitchell (0-3, one free, one 65), E Price, L Folan, A Price (0-1), A McGrath (0-3, three frees), A Dowdall (0-1), S Loughlin, B Murtagh (1-5, one free), E Loughlin. Subs: C Scally for A Price, inj, (39), L Donoghue for Folan (50).
Referee: F Smith (Meath).
