Waiting game for Boden in Senior Two Hurling C’ship

AFTER taking three points from a possible four in the Dublin Senior Hurling Championship Senior Two/Three play-offs, Ballyboden St Enda’s fate remains “in the lap of the gods”.

The Firhouse Road side find themselves in the play-off scenario as Dublin GAA are restructuring to introduce a third senior tier with a new fourth tier also being introduced, accounting for the intermediate ranks.

It has resulted in a three-team play-off between St Enda’s, Cuala and Clontarf with only the top team guaranteeing a spot in Senior Two in 2022.

The other two teams will play their championship in Senior Three later this year.

Clontarf will welcome Cuala to St Anne’s Park this weekend and a win for the hosts will be the best-case scenario for Ballyboden.

However, if Cuala beat Clontarf by a margin of four-points, the Firhouse Road men will take up residence in Senior Three this year.

On Sunday, at Pairc Ui Mhurchu, Ballyboden carded a 0-17 to 1-11 victory over Clontarf after sharing the spoils with their Dalkey counterparts a week previous.

Boden’s Darragh
Kenny takes to the air in
an effort to win a
high ball.
Photos by John Kirwan

“We’ve done our bit and I’m satisfied that we got our win,” Richie Sweetnam, manager of Ballyboden St Enda’s, told The Echo.

“Look, we got that draw in the first game and it real wasn’t ideal for anyone because it put a whole new spin on the outcome.

“So we have to wait and see what happens [between Cuala and Clontarf]. It’s in the lap of the gods now.

“We’ve worked hard to be in there in Senior Two. We had a very good year last year making it to the semi-final of the championship, just as Clontarf did, before we were beaten by the eventual champions Castleknock.

“We definitely want to stay in Senior Two for the simple fact that we’re competing at the near-highest level – a step up and you’re in with our Senior One lads.

“The players, particularly the young lads, get great exposure competing at a very high standard of hurling and there is so much for them to learn at this level.

“These lads are more than capable of competing at that highest level, seeing what it’s all about and having a good go at it” he insisted.

In the recent clash with Clontarf, the likes of Finian McDonagh, Mark Lambert and Davey Keogh got on the scoresheet while Fionn Maguire and Feargal Ryan held firm around the central positions to help secure that crucial win.