Ballyboden just one step away from completing the double

DUBLIN SHC SEMI_FINAL/Ballyboden, St Enda's 1-17 O'Toole's 1-10:BALLYBODEN ST Enda's will strive to complete a championship double this weekend, after they saw off O'Toole's challenge in the county semi-final replay in Parnell Park last night.

The football title is already in the bag and now just Craobh Chiaráin stand in their way in the hurling final on Sunday.

O’Toole’s never mustered the comeback that saw them come from nine points down to draw the first day, even though Kevin Flynn rattled the net from a penalty in the final minute of the game.

The holders took control in the opening 20 minutes as they led 0-9 to 0-3 and it got even better for ’Boden when Simon Lambert scrambled home an injury-time goal, to extend their interval lead – 1-11 to four points. David Sweeney’s initial shot hit the crossbar, but Lambert followed up to leave his side in complete control going into the break.

Paul Ryan tacked over four of that first-half haul, three frees and one 65, with Sweeney and Conal Keaney also finding their range from either wing.

Only Peadar Carton (0-2), Andrew Morris and midfielder Ger O’Mara scored for the northsiders in the first 30 minutes and even the move of Kevin Flynn to the 40 couldn’t ignite the O’Toole’s forward unit.

A scrappy start to the second half only yielded one point in five minutes with Morris reducing the margin with an O’Toole’s free. Goalkeeper Brendan McLoughlin put two 21-yard frees and an 80-yard effort over the bar.

Conor Whyte forced a great save from Dublin goalkeeper Gary Maguire with 15 minutes to go, but O’Toole’s just couldn’t muster the goals they needed with Maguire pulling off another two excellent saves before the end.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: G Maguire; S Perkin, J Duffy, M O’Sullivan; M Travers, D Spain, T Sweeney; S Durkin, D O’Connor; C Keaney (0-1), D Curtin (0-1), D Sweeney (0-3) ; P Ryan (0-8, seven frees, one 65), S Lambert (1-2), N McMorrow (0-1). Subs: E Carrol (0-1) for D Curtin (ht), A Ryan for M O’Sullivan (33 mins), J Doody for S Durkin (55 mins), M Griffin for N McMorrow (57).

O’TOOLE’S: B McLoughlin (0-3, three frees); K Ryan, P Brennan (0-1), C Mulligan; P Carton, M Carton, D Webster; C Whyte, G O’Mara (0-1); D Farrelly, M Cunningham, A Morris (0-3, two frees); L Ryan, K Flynn (1-0, pen), P Carton (0-2). Subs: R Walker for M Cunningham (ht), G Morris for D Farrelly (47 mins), M Griffin for C Whyte (49).

Referee: T Lambe (St Vincent’s).