Picture Courtesy John Kirwan
Ballyboden St Enda’s claimed the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Under 21 ‘A’ Football Championship title as they accounted for Na Fianna by 1-13 to 0-6 at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon.
The final margin of victory was an accurate barometer of the control that Boden exerted for the large part, as they assumed command in the second quarter and rarely looked troubled from that juncture.
The win secured a second successive crown for the Firhouse Road outfit with the hugely influential performance of Michael McDonald at midfield a key factor in their comfortable success.
An early free by the lively Callum O’Dwyer saw Boden edge in front and while Liam Fay replied for Na Fianna in the 5th minute,St Enda’s edged back in front six minutes later through Ciaran Duggan.
Ollie Brophy, who excelled over the hour, doubled the Ballyboden lead at the start of the second quarter and two points in quick succession by the towering McDonald opened up a four-point lead by the 19th minute.
A Seámus Smith at the opposite end free briefly stalled that momentum but McDonald added another point to keep his side on the front foot.
A missed penalty failed to discourage St Enda’s and after Na Fianna’s Ben O’Connell and Ballyboden’s Leon Murphy had exchanged scores, O’Dwyer fired home an excellent goal in the 28th minute to leave his team well-placed at 1-7 to 0-3 by the interval.
A brace of O’Dwyer frees in the third quarter enhanced his team’s dominance and they eased home by the final whistle through further scores from Daniel McCarthy, Mark McGlynn and James Greally.
Meanwhile, on Sunday afternoon,St Brigid’s finished strongly to edge a wasteful Thomas Davis by 0-10 to 0-7 in their Under 21 ‘B’ FC decider at Russell Park.
The visitors enjoyed the benefit of the elements in the first-half but failed to avail of the wind at their backs as they racked up thirteen wides during that period.
In contrast, St Brigid’s were far more economical over the hour with six points from Scott Daly augmented by further scores from Conor Watt (0-2), Jack O’Neill and Darren McLaughlin.
Trailing by 0-4 to 0-3 at the interval, Thomas Davis managed to restore parity by the 55th minute, thanks largely to two excellent saves from their goalkeeper Glen Brogan.
However, with full-back Colin Healy, the midfield pairing of O’Neill and McLaughlin and captain Andrew Waldron all to the fore, St Brigid’s pushed for home through a brace of Daly points and Watt’s insurance score.
U21’A’ FC final: Ballyboden St Enda’s1-13 Na Fianna0-6
U21’B’ FC final: St Brigid’s Thomas Davis.
