Dublin SFC Final

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S 0-15 THOMAS DAVIS 0-9

By Paul Keane at Parnell Park

The Basquel brothers, Colm and Ryan, dovetailed superbly at Parnell Park to secure a fourth Dublin SFC title success for Ballyboden St Enda's.

Part of Jim Gavin's Allianz League Dublin squad earlier this year, the attacking duo contributed 0-9 between them as 'Boden edged the battle of the south-side neighbours.

Thomas Davis, in their first county final since 1991, battled all the way, but were ultimately undone by the big game experience and superior scoring ability of the 2016 All-Ireland winners.

Just three points separated the teams with under 20 minutes to go but 'Boden finished strong, outscoring the Tallaght men by 0-7 to 0-4 from there to double their advantage to six by full-time.

All-Ireland U-20 finalist Ross McGarry impressed for the Anthony Rainbow managed side too, scoring 0-4, as they claimed their first title since 2015.

They'll be back in action next Sunday against Louth champions Newtown Blues in the quarter-finals of the Leinster club championship.

It was a rare defeat in championship football for Kiltipper Road outfit Thomas Davis, just their second in two highly successful seasons.

The club dropped down to the new Tier 2 within Dublin's senior championship for 2018 and won that championship before storming through to reach this year's SFC 1 final.

They took out holders Kilmacud Crokes in last month's semi-finals though returned to Parnell Park as underdogs against 'Boden and played catchup throughout in scoring terms.

Ballyboden's Colm Basquel, who featured in Dublin's last three National League games in spring before spending the summer in the US, hit the game's opening score.

His brother, Ryan, who played in Dublin's opening two league games, was their primary scorer for the rest of the half with four points, three from frees.

It wasn't classic football with five of the nine points scored in the first-half coming from placed balls.

Thomas Davis marked tightly and hit hard, displaying an ultra commitment which left 'Boden to work so hard for any attacks they created.

Dublin's five-in-a-row hero Michael Darragh Macauley won one of the frees that Ryan converted and Colm Basquel won another while ex-Dublin midfielder Declan O'Mahony boomed over a long ranger.

Ballyboden had four points on the board before Thomas Davis finally opened their account through former Dublin panellist Ryan Deegan who converted a free.

Their only point from play in the opening half came from David Keogh though it was admittedly a beauty as he screwed one over off the outside of his right boot.

Keogh tried a similar kick minutes later that didn't come off and it underlined their general difficulties in attack as 'Boden hit the break with a 0-7 to 0-2 lead.

The quality improved in the second-half and Davis reduced their arrears to three points with scores from free-taker Eoin Kirby, ex-Clare forward Shane McGrath and Keogh in the third quarter.

But they couldn't kick on and it was 'Boden who brought all their big game experience to bear in the final 20 minutes or so with the Basquels and McGarry turning the screw in attack with a series of crucial scores.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: Ryan Basquel 0-6 (3fs), Ross McGarry 0-4, Colm Basquel 0-3 (2fs), Declan O'Mahony 0-1, Alan Flood 0-1.

THOMAS DAVIS: Eoin Kirby 0-4 (4fs), David Keogh 0-2, Ryan Deegan 0-1 (f), Shane McGrath 0-1, Eanna O'Toole 0-1.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: Darragh Gogan; Bob Dwan, Shane Clayton, Cathal Flaherty; Darragh Nelson, Robbie McDaid, Aran Waters; Michael Darragh Macauley, Declan O'Mahony; Sean Gibbons, Colm Basquel, Darren O'Reilly; Warren Egan, Ryan Basquel, Ross McGarry.

Subs: Alan Flood for Gibbons (h/t), Tom Hayes for Egan (48), Brian Bobbett for Macauley (50), Kieran Kennedy for McDaid (40-45), Kennedy for Dwan (57), James Holland for Nelson (58), Conal Keaney for O'Reilly (60).

THOMAS DAVIS: Robbie Crilly; Aaron Shorten, Peter Quinn, Brian Kirby; Adam Fallon, Cian Murphy, Sean Kennedy; Brendan Kirby, Oisin Kelly; Ryan Deegan, Eoin Kirby, David Keogh; Shane McGrath, Ciaran Farrelly, Eoin Lambert.

Subs: Eanna O'Toole for Kelly (8), Sean Reilly for Lambert (h/t), Lambert for Brian Kirby (55), Mark Nolan for McGrath (55).

REFEREE: John Higgins (Na Fianna).