Boden stopped at final hurdle to defending champions Crokes

BALLYBODEN St Enda’s senior footballers championship journey came to an end at the weekend when they fell victim to county and All-Ireland Club Champions Kilmacud Crokes in the county decider in Parnell Park.

Crokes, who have now won the title for the last three years, put together a solid second half performance as they brushed aside the challenge of Boden to emerge eight-point winners.

It was a different Crokes side that took to the field from the one that beat Raheny in the semis with one of the highlights of the match a cracking goal from Galway star Shane Walsh.

Crokes were first to score after two minutes but Dublin panellist Ross McGarry cancelled that out two minutes later with a good Boden score.

Kilmacud again went ahead but this time it was Colm Basquel hit back to level the scores before Crokes adding two more points.

Colm Basquel replied with a good Boden point but Kilmacud always looked dangerous going forward in the first half and tagged on two more scores from Shane Horan and Paul Mannion.

Crokes went three points clear after tagging on a few more scores before Ryan Basquel cancelled these out, however Crokes finished the half strongly with a point on 25 minutes and then they had a goal chance saved by the Boden defenders which was deflected for a 45.

Ballyboden defender Brian Bobbett in action

When Shane Walsh missed the subsequent 45, it was the first wide for Crokes while Boden had at least six wides at that stage.

The second half saw Crokes start brightly with a good point after three minutes which Colm Basquel cancelled with a pointed free soon after.

A three-minute spell from the 7th to the 10th, finished the game as a contest when Crokes scored a goal and two points to put them seven points between the sides with Walsh hammering past Darragh Gogan.

For the remainder of the game Crokes protected their lead and managed to score four more points with Boden responding with three points from Ross McGarry, Ryan Basquel (free) and Daire Sweeney.

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