Ballyboden face Kilcoo in All-Ireland Club semi-final
BALLYBODEN St Enda’s will bid to secure their place in the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship Final for the second time in four years when they face Down side Kilcoo in Breffni Park this coming Saturday.
Anthony Rainbow’s men have enjoyed a great year so far, capturing the Dublin Championship crown after seeing off a giant-killing Thomas Davis outfit in the decider.
Ryan Basquel will have a key role to play for Ballyboden St Enda’s on Sunday (Photo by John Kirwan)
That was followed by their march to the Leinster Championship prize that culminated in a late surge that propelled them past the challenge of Éire Óg in the final.
The Firhouse Road side very nearly added the AHL Division One title to their roll of honour despite topping the table in the regular season only to be pipped by Ballymun Kickhams in the title play-off.
That marked the team’s only defeat all season and they will be hoping to continue their good run against a Kilcoo side that landed the Ulster title following their 2-11 to 2-9 triumph over Naomh Connell.
Coached by former Derry player Conleith Gilligan, Kilcoo boast quality talent in the likes of Aidan and Darryl Branigan, and intercounty players Jerome and Ryan Johnston and Paul Devlin.
They have played their part in Kilcoo winning seven of the last eight county championships in Down.
Boden, winners of the All-Ireland Club title in 2016, are not short of top-drawer talent themselves with brothers Colm and Ryan Basquel among their stand-out performers along with Dublin inter-county player Michael Darragh Macauley.
Bob Dwan at full back has also been enjoying a great season while, included in a lethal forward line, are also Darren O’Reilly, Warren Egan and Dublin Under 20 star Ross McGarry.
TAGS sports
