Ballyboden survive late challenge

 Ballyboden 2-9 Camross 1-11With their accepted inexperience and reputed flakiness it was never certain how Ballyboden St Enda's would handle the threshold of a Leinster club hurling final. Since winning their first Dublin title the word on the street was they're just as likely to be well beaten as to win handily.

This result fell evenly between the two. While Ballyboden never looked like being well beaten, they were forced to survive a stirring challenge from the Laois champions Camross. The one-point victory margin was handier than it should have been, as the least Camross deserved was a draw.

For the last 15 minutes Ballyboden were like riders on the storm, as Camross raised a ferocious fight back to reduce a six-point deficit to just one. That, however, was as close as they got, and so Ballyboden progress to meet four-time All-Ireland champions Birr in the Leinster final in Portlaoise in two weeks' time.

The huge disappointment for Camross was evident on the final whistle, as they fell to their knees in disgust.

The Laois champions conceded two goals inside the first eight minutes, handing Ballyboden a glorious head start, from which they just couldn't be caught. Still, Camross had come to Parnell Park without much hype, despite boasting Leinster titles from 1977 and 1996. They've been rebuilding under long-term manager Frank Keenan, who can take obvious credit for unveiling the most exciting prospect in the county in wing forward Zane Keenan.

Sure, Ballyboden have skilful hurlers, and at times are a treat to watch, but Keenan - one of the manager's four sons on the panel - was by far the most dazzling player on display here, as his 0-8 contribution partly attests.

Keenan's sideline strikes and accuracy from frees and play effectively kept Camross in the game. Ballyboden had the greater spread of scoring power, and they needed it. Conal Keaney wasn't at his best and hit a couple of poor wides, while the equally talented David Curtin and David Sweeney only played well in patches.

If anything, the best of Ballyboden's hurling came in the opening quarter. Paul Ryan, a late addition to the starting line-up, shot a brilliant goal from some 20 yards out after two minutes, and followed up with his first of three points from play. On eight minutes Sweeney made an explosive run and finished with an equally impressive goal, and could have had a second shortly afterwards had Carmoss goalkeeper Tadhg Doran not made a fine save.

Still, Keaney followed up with a point, and Ballyboden were looking very good at 2-2 to 0-3.

That balance soon shifted as Camross fought hard for every ball - easily winning more possession, but with their first touch letting them down. Keaney and Curtin came out the field as the Dublin champions tried to cope with the enthusiasm of their opponents, and another point from Ryan, followed by a smashing score from Keaney on the call for half-time, left Ballyboden with a comfortable 2-6 to 0-5 advantage.

Throughout the second half, Ballyboden's reputation for blowing hot and cold was reinforced. It was fast turning into the Zane Keenan show, as he hit two early scores, matched only by a sweet volley-like point from Ryan. But that was against the run of play, and when Camross corner forward Niall Holmes added two points in quick succession on 45 minutes, followed by another gem from Keenan, suddenly the Ballyboden lead was down to three - 2-7 to 0-10 - and looking very shakey.

Camross smelled victory, and went hunting for the goal that could make it. Substitute Oliver Dowling saw his shot coming off the butt of the post, and when Emmet Carroll fired over a score at the other end it seemed Ballyboden were safe again.

Not quite - and Dowling's next run at goal on 28 minutes saw the ball spill out to Joe Phelan, who somehow snapped it into the net. With the tension palpable, Curtin briefly calmed Ballyboden nerves again, but only until Keenan lined up for a free some 40 yards out. With a characteristic thump it went straight over the bar, when Keenan clearly meant to try put the sliotar under it. There was time for a couple more pucks and that was it. A great finish - and Ballyboden aren't finished yet.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S:G Maguire; C Ryan, S Hiney, M O'Sullivan; S Perkins, T Sweeney, B Kennedy (0-1);M Travers, S Lambert; D Curtin (0-2, frees),E Kinsella, M Griffin; P Ryan (1-3), C Keaney (0-2), D Sweeney (1-0). Subs:J Duffy for Kennedy (39 mins); E Carroll (0-1)for Griffin (43 mins); S Daly for C Ryan (47 mins); J Doody for Kinsella (60 mins).

CAMROSS:T Doran; L Cuddy, P Cuddy, P Guilfoyle; T Byrne, F Keenan, D Keenan; C Delaney, F Hogan; D Delaney, S Higgins, Z Keenan (0-8, four frees, three sidelines);K Cuddy, D Culleton, N Holmes (0-3). Subs:J Doran for L Cuddy (14 mins); J Phelan (1-0)for D Delaney (half time); O Dowling for Culleton (42 mins).

Referee: B Gavin(Offaly).