Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-21; Cuala 2-22
It will be a while before Cuala come to terms with just how ruthless Ballyboden were in this smash ‘n grab victory over the county, provincial and All Ireland club champions in the semi-final at Parnell Park on Sunday.
The Dalkey outfit looked set for a second successive final appearance when leading by seven points with only five minutes left on the stopwatch and appeared to be cruising to victory.
But they reckoned without Enda’s forward Daire Sweeney, whose first goal set alarm bells ringing in the holders’ defense and whose second strike, in added time, had the crowd on the edge of their seats
Sweeney’s first goal cut the margin to four and when Ross McGarry and Calum O’Dwyer tacked on points, it was squeaky bum time for Cuala rearguard.
The aforementioned O’Dwyer then turned provided as his mazy run culminated with a pass to Sweeney who lashed the ball home from close range to dethrone the champions.
All this drama came at the end and after 55 minutes where Cuala, buoyed on the scoreboard by the O’Callaghan brothers Con and Niall who scored 0-13 between them, looked to have plenty in hand.
Even when facing the breeze, they led at half-time by 1-14 to 0-11, the goal coming from Conor O’Brien in the 10th minute.
Even in the third quarter when Colm Basquet got in for a goal, giant midfielder in red Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne steered home to raise a green flag and cancel out any lasting effect at the other end.
It all seemed to be going to plan until Enda’s tore up the script and wrote their own outrageous ending - one that sees them face Na Fianna in a final that few would have predicted. While Na Fianna are All Ireland hurling champions and Ballyboden are previous All Ireland club football winners, neither appeared to have the current pedigree of holders Cuala and three time winners Kilmacud. But as they say, that’s football for you!
Na Fianna 3-11; Kilmacud Crokes 1-16
Na Fianna is a club on a roll again. Following the hurlers' All Ireland winning exploits at senior club level last year, the footballers have got the scent of success in their nostrils and this win, on top of a great comeback in the quarter-final against Ballymun, suggests they are a team with a mission this season.
They are now in the Dublin final following this victory over the much-fancied Kilmacud Crokes sides who they edged out by the narrowest of margins at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.
In an exact replica of their Kickhams win, Na Fianna skipper James Doran stood up when the need was greatest towards the end of the game to score the winning points which obviated the need for extra-time which many thought would be the inevitable outcome.
Such a finish is the way to end any contest but the Mobi Road crew also got the injection of a great start when they got in for two goals in the opening 15 minutes, as a penalty from David Quinn, who ended up with two green flags to his account, and another from early sub Darragh Kennedy, gave them a great flight path on which to soar.
They would have been home and hosed much earlier in the contest but for the excellence of former All-Star and Galway player Shane Walsh. As well as getting his side’s only goal five minutes before the break, he accounted for 11 of his team’s points total.
Playing with the wind, the South siders were five points to the good at the interval 1-11 to 2-3 but once Quinn got in for his second goal shortly in the resumption, it was a case of which side would finish the stronger in a genuine first-among-equals clash.
Kilmacud made their break for glory and thanks to Walsh looked like they might get over the line before a brace of points from Conor McHugh and another from Ciaran Reddin set it up for their captain to sally upfield and land the decisive score of the afternoon in this game.
Slaughtneil 3-24; Kevin Lynch's 1-10
This wasn’t a contest but a Slaughtneil slaughter as the winners had 20 points to spare at the finish of this totally one-sided affair at Owenbeg on Sunday.
Twenty points up at the break, you can be sure the winners took their foot off the pedal in the second half as they cruised to an eventual 20 points winning margin against a game side that were simply outclassed in virtually every position on the pitch.
This facile triumph came without factoring in what the increased strength of the side would be had Sean Cassidy, Conor Coyle and Jack Cassidy, three starters from the Slaughtneil side that reached the All Ireland club semi-final a year ago, been available on this occasion.
The truth is that in collecting their 13th successive Derry senior hurling title, Slaughtneil won’t know how strong they are until tested in the upcoming Ulster championship.
The champions led 3-14 to 0-3 at the interval with the full-forward line of Brendan Rogers, Chrissy McKaigue, although named at midfield, and Shea Cassidy scoring 3-9 of their side’s first half tally.
The second half was a mere formality, Lynch's never quitting but never managing to reach the level of their opponents, Mullan's last gasp goal at least reward for their continued endeavor.
GAA RESULTS
Saturday 4 October
Antrim SHC semi-final
Naomh Eoin 1-26 Ruairi Og Cushendall 1-22 (AET)
Carlow SFC semi-final
Banglestown Gaels 1-11 Rathvilly 0-14
Galway SHC quarter-finals
Craughwell 2-24 Sarsfields 3-19 (AET)
Turloughmore 5-16 Oranmore Maree 0-21
Kerry SFC
East Kerry 3-23 Templenoe 1-10
Austin Stacks 4-29 Milltown/Castlemaine 0-17
Mid Kerry 3-8 Dr Crokes 0-15
Leitrim SFC semi-final
Leitrim Gaels 4-14 Mohill 3-7
Louth SFC quarter-final replay
Naomh Mairtin 1-16 St Patrick's 0-12
Monaghan SFC quarter-final
Magheracloone 2-14 Corduff Gaels 1-5
Offaly SHC semi-final
Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-24 Birr 1-20
Roscommon SFC semi-final
Padraig Pearses 5-20 St Faithleach's 1-14
Tipperary SFC quarter-final
Upperchurch-Drombane 1-11 Aherlow 0-5
Wexford SFC quarter-final
Gusserane 1-27 Glynn-Barntown 2-8
Sunday 5 October
Clare SHC final
Eire Og Ennis 0-17 Clooney-Quin 0-12
Derry SHC final
Slaughtneil 3-24 Kevin Lynchs 1-10
Tyrone SHC final
Eire Og Carrickmore 2-15 Eoghan Ruadh 0-18
Wicklow SFC final
Baltinglass 1-20 Carnew Emmets 0-15
Carlow SFC semi-final
Old Leighlin 3-10 Palatine 0-17
Down SFC semi-finals
Carryduff 0-20 Burren 1-9
Kilcoo 1-15 Clonduff 0-17
Dublin SFC semi-finals
Na Fianna 3-11 Kilmacud Crokes 1-16
Ballyboden St Enda's 3-21 Cuala 2-22
Fermanagh SFC semi-finals
Ederney 2-10 Erne Gaels Belleek 2-11
Derrygonnelly Harps 3-16 Teemore Shamrocks 0-8
Kerry SFC
Dingle 2-19 Na Gaeil 1-13
Spa 3-18 South Kerry 3-13
Kenmare Shamrocks 4-15 North Kerry 1-12
Kildare SFC semi-finals
Naas 1-20 Celbridge 0-13
Athy 2-14 Sarsfields 2-13
Leitrim SFC semi-final
Ballinamore SOH 1-21 Fenagh St Caillin's 1-21 (AET)
London SFC semi-finals
Tir Chonaill Gaels 1-16 Round Towers 0-6
North London Shamrocks 1-16 Fulham Irish 0-16
Louth SFC quarter-final replay
Dundalk Gaels 1-17 St Fechins 2-13 (AET)
Monaghan SFC quarter-final
Scotstown 1-22 Latton O'Rahillys 0-11
Roscommon SFC semi-final
St Brigid's 0-16 Clann na nGael 1-11
Tipperary SFC quarter-finals
Clonmel Commercials 0-25 Moyle Rovers 1-19 (AET)
Loughmore-Castleiney 3-18 Ballina 0-11
Kilsheelan-Kilcash 2-9 JK Brackens 0-7
Wexford SFC quarter-finals
Kilanerin 5-17 Crossabeg-Ballymurn 2-12
Shelmaliers 0-21 Naomh Eanna 1-11
Antrim SHC semi-final
Loughgiel Shamrocks 3-20 Dunloy Cuchulainns 2-22
Cork SHC semi-finals
Midleton 0-29 Blackrock 1-25 (AET)
Sarsfields 1-22 St Finbarr's 2-18
Galway SHC quarter-finals
St Thomas' 1-19 Tommy Larkins 0-19
Clarinbridge 1-18 Loughrea 2-14
Laois SHC semi-finals
Clough/Ballacolla 3-23 Ballinakill 0-23
Camross 1-19 Rathdowney/Erill 0-13
Limerick SHC semi-finals
Na Piarsaigh 2-20 Kilmallock 1-17
Doon 2-21 Ballybrown 0-14
Meath SHC semi-finals
Kiltale 2-20 Kilmessan 0-13
Ratoath 5-18 Trim 0-22
Offaly SHC semi-final
Shinrone 4-18 Belmont 0-22
Westmeath SHC semi-final
Lough Lene Gaels 2-18 Raharney 2-17
