DONEGAL GOALKEEPER PAUL DURCAN was a key figure in helping Dublin club Ballyboden St Enda’s to their first ever AIB Leinster Club SFC Final this afternoon.
By Cóilín Duffy
The South Dublin club claimed a 1-11 to 0-9 win over Westmeath champions St Loman’s at Cusack Park, Mullingar.
Durcan (pictured above) who flew in from Qatar for the game made some vital saves over the course of the hour, including a block on a David Windsor goal shot after 22 minutes, when Ballyboden were just a point in front.
The sides were level on three occasions inside 21 minutes, with a Colm Basquel point edging Boden ahead before Durcan’s well placed save.
Boden gathered momentum with Sam Moloney netting the only goal of the contest, as they claimed a 1-7 to 0-6 interval lead.
St Loman’s relied hugely on the accuracy of John Heslin from dead-balls, with the place-kicker firing seven points, including six from frees over the hour.
A trio of Conal Keaney points helped Ballyboden to a six-point lead early on the restart, but scores were at a premium in the second half.
Boden went 15 minutes without a score, but crucially Loman’s only managed two points – both frees from Heslin.
A Michael Darragh Macauley fisted point broke the Boden dead-lock with 12 minutes remaining, and they held firm until the end.
St Loman’s finished with 14 players, after a red card for Ken Casey.
Ballyboden St Enda’s now face Portlaoise in the final on December 6th, with the decider fixed for O’Connor Park in Tullamore.
