Boden go the extra extra mile
THE TENACITY of Ballyboden St Enda’s was again evident in Parnell Park on Sunday as they beat Coolderry of Offaly 5-28 to 5-25 in an epic Leinster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final that stretched over two periods of extra-time
After throwing away a nine-point lead in the second-half, Ballyboden where forced to scrap tooth and nail to force extra-time and finish their opponents deep into extra-extra-time.
Colm Basquel was on fire for Ballyboden St Enda's in their thrilling victory over Coolderry on Sunday. Photo by John Kirwan
Ballyboden senior hurling manager Joe Fortune praised his side’s drive and desire as they made only their second ever provincial hurling decider.
“I suppose the thing that got us over the line is the spirit that the lads have and their willingness to put it all on the line for the lads around them,” he told The Echo.
“They got together as a group towards the end there to pull the game around and, to be honest, it’s just their never-say-die attitude and pure heart that got them over the line.”
“There were a lot of questions over Ballyboden at the start of the year, people questioning their legs and their heart and now look – we’ve made it to the provincial final.
“It’s a massive win for the team and a huge win for the club as well because it’s the first Leinster final in 11 years for the club, so we’ll put our heads down and recoup the bodies ahead of that now,” said Fortune.
A hat-trick of goals and points from Colm Basquel guided Boden over the line with the ever-present Paul Ryan on target from frees, while Coolderry’s Brian Carroll chalked up an astonishing 2-16.
The Firhouse Road men set the pace from early on as Niall Ryan’s effort found the back of Coolderry’s net before Basquel doubled his side’s lead with another goal.
Inside three-minutes, Boden were 2-1 to 0-0 up with the Dublin senior footballer tacking on a point seconds after his goal.
However, the Offally side clawed their way back after Carroll and Kevin Connolly got their team up and running as they hit six points without reply.
Paul Ryan converted a brace of frees and Boden captain Simon Lambert also helped nudge them further in front with a massive point from half-back.
Stalwart Dublin hurler Conal Keaney rifled the ball into the corner of the goal just before the break before Basquel, David Curtin, and David O’Connor pointed to send Boden into a half-time with lead of 3-8 to 0-10.
When Curtin was found in space by Keaney and pointed just after the interval, Boden went nine points clear of the Offaly champions.
Basquel, in his first ever senior club hurling start, ripped Coolderry’s defence right open with his blistering pace and released a thunderbolt to the net.
However, Coolderry shut Boden’s advances down and three goals from Conor Molloy, Declan Parlon, and Carroll restored parity before they shot into the lead with a point from Connolly.
Just when it seemed like Ballyboden would crash out of the Championship, Basquel was fouled and Ryan pointed to force extra-time.
That period saw Basquel find the net once again to conclude his hat-trick, but a Carroll goal in response brought the game into a second period of extra-time as the match was drawn 5-22 to 4-25.
In that extra-extra-time spell, four men where sent to the stands, Carroll, Kevin Brady, and goalkeeper Stephen Corcoran for Coolderry while Keaney was shown a second yellow.
The ever-present Paul Ryan finished the game with 0-14 after firing over three points from as many frees won by the tricky Basquel to send them into the final on December 2.
Eight-time winners, Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny will face Boden in Dr Cullen Park in Carlow, and Boden boss Fortune is aware of the task that stands between them and Leinster glory.
“There is massive Kilkenny talent in that squad with the likes the Fennelly’s, the Reid’s and they have a hurling legend in charge of them too [Henry Shefflin].
“They are a huge club but I am conscious that we must focus on ourselves and go out there to play our own game on December 2nd,” said Fortune.
