Keaney keeps Ballyboden in the mix

Ballyboden St Enda's 0-11 Kilmacud Crokes 0-11:IN THE end it was far from dramatic. Almost seemed like neither team wanted to win, so All-Ireland champions Kilmacud Crokes are still alive. Ballyboden St Enda's owe a debt of gratitude to some hurler named Conal Keaney.

There was a familiar look to Kilmacud last night after struggling to reach this juncture and very nearly losing to Ballymun Kickhams in the last eight.

For starters, Mark Vaughan was back in harness after a few difficult months recuperating from a troublesome back complaint.

Ross O’Carroll put hurling matters aside to return at fullback with Dublin under-21 captain Cian O’Sullivan moving to the corner and Kevin Nolan out to wing back.

Johnny Magee was a noticeable figure on the line while his brother Darren and Niall Corkery went about reducing the influence of Declan O’Mahony in midfield.

Matters begun tamely enough but we suspected that would never last. Poised at 0-3 to 0-2 in Crokes’ favour, Wexford’s Adrian Morrissey was hit hard over the sideline by two heavy Ballyboden challenges.

But the Stillorgan side didn’t see sense in being dragged into that kind of contest with Vaughan quickly posting his third free and Liam Óg Ó hEineacháín profiting from a Magee burst before Morrissey recovered to give the champions a four point lead.

Then Keaney came alive with some clever distribution to set up Michael MacAuley before blasting a score, off balance, that few in the country could rival.

Morrissey at least came close with a fine point of his own before a Keaney free and Liam Óg effort, from an acute angle, left matters at 0-8 to 0-5 at the break.

Talk of this being the final were rubbished by St Jude’s in the previous semi-final but from the opening exchanges it still appeared like Crokes’ title to vacate.

Longford replaced Wexford in the second half but we presume Morrissey was injured. Either way, Kavanagh wasn’t long gathering possession and opening his account.

In response, Kenny Naughton added another long range point for Ballyboden before Keaney brought matters back to two scores with a simple free that also saw O’Sullivan cautioned. The game still had not settled into any discernible pattern when Keaney popped up with another point.

Such is Crokes reservoir of talent that they can see off most teams with a single purple patch, confidant in the fact that previous form no longer holds any relevance. All they need is for one marquee forward to catch fire.

The monotony continued with Ray Cosgrove putting Kilmacud two clear with a free only for Keaney to pull them back level with placed balls, including an impressive 45.

The snails pace suited Ballyboden better. They refused to allow the champions a platform in midfield although they were hardly adventurous themselves.

Eventually Crokes gambled, hauling off Vaughan and putting Johnny Magee onto the opponents square alongside Kavanagh.

Keaney drew a free off Nolan and then, from 40 metres out, banged it over for the lead. However, in injury time, Kavanagh collided with Mark O’Sullivan to level matters up.

The replay takes place next Tuesday night at 7.30pm. It can’t not be better viewing.

KILMACUD CROKES: D Nestor; C O’Sullivan, Ross O’Carroll, C Lambe; B McGrath, P Griffin, K Nolan; D Magee, N Corkery; P Burke, L Óg Ó hEineacháin (0-2), A Morrissey (0-2); M Vaughan (0-3, 0-2 frees), D Kelleher, R Cosgrove (0-2, 0-1 free). Substitutes: B Kavanagh (0-2, 0-1 free) for A Morrissey (half-time), J Magee for M Vaughan (50 mins)˜.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: D Walsh; C Dolan, I Clarke, M O’Sullivan; C Smith, D Kieran, D Nelson; M MacAuley (0-1), D O’Mahony; P Galvin, C Keaney (0-8, 0-5 frees, 45), S Durkin; K Naughton (0-1), D Davey, A Kerin (0-1). Substitutes: J O’Hara for P Galvin (38 mins), S Lambert for A Kerin (43 mins), D Shovlin for K Naughton (59 mins).

Referee: D Gaynor (St Peregrines).