Ballyboden lift the cup
AIB ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CLUB FOOTBALL FINAL: BALLYBODEN ST ENDAS 2-14 CASTLEBAR MITCHELS 0-7
By Arthur Sullivan at Croke Park
Ballyboden St Enda's are the All-Ireland senior football club champions for the first time in their history after a ruthless 13-point demolition of Castlebar Mitchels in the final at Croke Park on St Patrick's Day.
The Rathfarnham club, who won only their third-ever Dublin title late last year, become the fourth Dublin club, after UCD, St Vincent's and Kilmacud Crokes, to win the All-Ireland senior title.
For Castlebar Mitchels, it was another difficult All-Ireland final day. This was their third defeat out of three appearances in All-Ireland senior finals, and coming just two years after they lost to St Vincent's in the 2014 final, represents a crushing blow for their supporters, who travelled in genuine hope to Croke Park.
Two goals in the first quarter, from Colm Basquel and Andrew Kerin, paved the way for 'Boden, who led by nine points after a thoroughly dominant 20 minutes. In truth, they were by far the better side on the day, taking the game to a nervous Castlebar from the first minute, and ruthlessly punishing the Mayo champions' uncertainty on the scoreboard.
Castlebar's edgy angst was in stark contrast to the cool confidence and slick teamwork of Ballyboden, who hardly put a foot wrong in an outstanding first half display that left them almost out of sight at the break. The Castlebar comeback never materialised in the second half, as Ballyboden eased to the finish line.
The Dublin champions led by eight points at half-time after a first half display that was ruthless, clinical and devastating to Castlebar's dreams.
Taking full advantage of the nervousness and skittishness of Castlebar early on, Ballyboden St Enda's got the dream start when after just 90 seconds, Colm Basquel swept through unmarked after a breakway move and with the outside of his right foot, eased the ball past Rory Byrne and into the net.
When that was followed in the next 10 minutes by points from corner-back Bob Dwan, midfielder Michael Darragh Macauley and elusive forward Ryan Basquel, the Firhouse Road side led by six points and had the Mitchels completely on the rack.
Ballyboden St Enda's were outstanding in the first half, fighting furiously for and winning the 50:50 breaks, and breaking with speed and clinical efficiency. With Andrew Kerin, Conal Keaney and Ryan Basquel operating in a staggered three-man full-forward line, the Dubliners were packing big numbers into their defence and then breaking rapidly to support the three men up front.
Castlebar were rash in their shooting, seeing numerous scoreable shots inexplicably blocked down, and they were clumsy in defence, with Tom Cunniffe guilty of a number of awkward challenges, one of which on the rampaging Aran Waters led to a 15th minute penalty for Ballyboden St Enda's.
Kerin took a staggered run up for the penalty before stroking the ball into the bottom left corner to leave his side nine up against the bereft Mayo champions.
On 19 minutes, Castlebar broke through for a goal chance, a golden opportunity to get back into the game, but Ballyboden St Enda's goalkeeper Paul Durcan made a wonderful save from Neil Lydon, pushing his goalbound shot onto the post. Neil Douglas scored the resulting '45' to get Castlebar's first score, with 20 minutes on the clock.
The sides traded two more points each before the break, Douglas and Lydon on target for Castlebar, and attacking Ballyboden defenders Dwan and Stephen O'Connor both keeping cool heads when finding themselves with chances.
Five minutes into the second half, Colm Basquel had a glorious chance to put the result beyond doubt but he opted to go solo with a goal chance when he should have passed to one of his unmarked teammates either side of him. Dwan eventually got a point out of the move when the ball was recycled to him - his third of a Man of the Match display - and when Shane Durkin followed it moments later, Ballyboden led by 10 points, 2-7 to 0-3.
Castlebar's despair increased. Their shooting became more erratic, and they took off marquee figures Richie Feeney and Neil Douglas as they tried to chase the game in the final 20 minutes. However, Conal Keaney's well taken score on 42 minutes extended the 'Boden lead to 11, minutes after they lost talisman Macauley to an injury.
A second point from Durkin, via the intervention of HawkEye, extended Ballyboden's scoring run but points from Aidan Walsh (free) and Paddy Durkan, who was one of his side's best players on the day, gave the Castlebar supporters something to cheer about, however small, as they saw their All-Ireland dreams melt away again.
Points from Darren O'Reilly and Kerin had Ballyboden 2-11 to 0-6 ahead with five minutes to go, and although Castlebar kept battling and found scores through substitutes Aidan Walsh and James Durkan in the final quarter, it was mere windowdressing as Ballyboden saw out their victory with the same confidence and control that they had displayed from minute one.
They closed out the win with points from the superb Shane Durkin, Kerin and Colm Basquel, securing a stunning 13-point winning margin in the process, and they returned to the southern Dublin suburbs with the Andy Merrigan Cup for the first time ever.
Scorers for Ballyboden St Enda's: A Kerin 1-2 (1-0 pen), C Basquel 1-1, B Dwan 0-3, S Durkin 0-3, MD Macauley 0-1, R Basquel 0-1, S O'Connor 0-1, C Keaney 0-1, D O'Reilly 0-1
Scorers for Castlebar Mitchels: A Walsh 0-2 (2f), N Douglas 0-2 (1 '45), N Lydon 0-1, P Durkan 0-1, J Durkan 0-1
**BALLYBODEN ST ENDAS: **Paul Durcan; Bob Dwan, Stephen Hiney, Stephen O'Connor; Robbie McDaid, Darragh Nelson, Shane Durkin; Michael Darragh Macauley, Aran Waters; Darren O'Reilly, Colm Basquel, Daniel Davey; Ryan Basquel, Conal Keaney, Andrew Kerin. Subs: Cathal Flaherty for Darragh Nelson (Temp, 25-31), Simon Lambert for MD Macauley (35), Sam Molony for R Basquel (60), Daniel Daly for D O'Reilly (60), Donogh McCabe for A Waters (61), Seán Gibbons for R McDaid (63).
CASTLEBAR MITCHELS: Rory Byrne; Tom Cunniffe, Alan Feeney, Donie Newcombe; Paddy Durkan, Eoghan O'Reilly, Ray O'Malley; Ger McDonagh, Barry Moran; Shane Hopkins, Neil Lydon, Neil Douglas; Stephen Keane, Richie Feeney, Danny Kirby. Subs: Fergal Durkan for S Hopkins (25), Ronan Burke for R Feeney (37), Cian Costello for S Keane (37), Aidan Walsh for N Douglas (41), Seán Conlon for R O'Malley (46), Ronan Burke for D Newcombe (51).
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
