KEANEY CLASS PUTS ’BODEN IN SEVENTH HEAVEN
VETERAN Dublin star Conal Keaney was as good as his word in powering Ballyboden St Enda’s to county success. The 36-year-old struck four points from play as ’Boden ended a five-year wait for county honours and secured their seventh title. And boss Joe Fortune revealed after the game that Keaney promised victory in yesterday’s replay. ‘I got a call from him during the week,’ said Fortune. ‘We had a little girl on Tuesday and Keaney was the first one to text. He said, “I know the performance level wasn’t good enough the last day. We’ll win it this week”. He’s an immense character.’ Paul Ryan’s 37th-minute goal, a 21-metre free rifled into the net, was crucial as it put Ballyboden into a lead they would not relinquish. Ryan fired 1-5 in total while Dublin footballer Colm Basquel came off the bench to score a late insurance point. Ballyboden will return to Parnell Park next Sunday for a Leinster Championship clash with Westmeath’s Clonkill. It was more agony for Anthony Daly’s Crokes, who’ve now lost three finals in a row by three points. ‘Scoring the 21 was typical Ryaner,’ said Daly. ‘I could sense he was going to go for it. That was a huge turning point.’ Ballyboden got a great start and went 1-6 to 0-4 clear after 20 minutes but only added another point in the half. Crokes led 1-9 to 1-7 at halftime but points from Keaney and Ryan levelled it up after the break.
Then came Ryan’s goal and they never trailed again.
BALLYBODEN: G Maguire; S Durkin, L Corcoran, D O’Connor; D Curran, S Lambert (M Travers 55), J Madden; N McMorrow, D Curtin (S O’Connor h-t); N Ryan (P Doherty 34), C Keaney, C Dooley (J Roche 50); C McCormack (C Basquel 59), P Ryan, A Mellett. Scorers: P Ryan 1-5 (1-4f, 1 sl); C McCormack 1-1; C Keaney 0-4; A Mellett 0-2; P Doherty; J Roche; C Basquel 0-1. KILMACUD CROKES: M Collins; B O’Carroll, C MacGabhann, N Corcoran (J Clinton 35); D Kelly, R O’Dwyer (D Jones 38), R O’Carroll (D Butler 45); L McMullan, F Whitely; S McGrath, C Conway, S Veale; R Hayes, M Howard (A Considine 24), O O’Rorke. Scorers: O O’Rorke 1-7 (6f), M Howard 0-3 (2f); C MacGabhann (1f), F Whitely, C Conway, R Hayes, A Considine 0-1. Referee: J O’Buachalla (Setanta).