Ballyboden senior hurlers face Cuala in last eight

A 3-15 to 1-16 defeat to Na Fianna in Parnell Park by Ballyboden St Enda’s now see them face Cuala in the quarter-finals of the competition.

The contest was delicately poised approaching the break but a moment of ill-discipline from influential midfielder Niall Ryan was punished with a red card, allowing their opponents to dictate play after the break.

It was Ballyboden that impressed initially through points from Ryan, Niall McMorrow and Aidan Mellett but a sluggish Na Fianna seized the initiative following Sean Currie’s 17th minute goal.

AJ Murphy’s three points from play in the first-half helped Na Fianna trail by just 0-9 to 1-5 at the turnaround and Currie added four points in the third quarter to leave his side six points clear.

A Pearce Christie goal in the 47th minute should have acted as a springboard for a St Enda’s rally but their defence was marked absent from the resultant puck-out with Ciaran Stacey firing home impressively.

Three points by substitute Timmy Hammersley kept Boden in the hunt but an excellent Sean Baxter goal sealed a five-point win for Na Fianna with the margin not large enough to overtake Ballyboden into second place in Group 2.

Those results confirmed that Kilmacud will face Na Fianna in what is a repeat of the last two county finals while Ballyboden will encounter Cuala, as teams look to join St Vincent’s and Lucan Sarsfields in the last four.

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