BALLYBODEN ST ENDAS 1-8
ST PATRICKS 0-7

St Patricks came close to pulling off a major shock in the Leinster Club Championship when they fell just short against Ballyboden St Endas in Drogheda on Sunday afternoon.

The Lordship side will undoubtedly reflect on this as a missed opportunity as they pushed the Dublin side all the way. However, the concession of a soft goal and failure to take their chances sealed the fate of the Louth champions.

The visitors arrived with a strong reputation as they carried the lofty title of Dublin champions and second favourites for the All-Ireland title. However, over the course of the hour they looked a rather ordinary side and the Pats will be disappointed that they didn't come away with the victory.

It might have been different had Paddy Keenan's 'goal' in the final minute been allowed. However, what would have been the equaliser wasn't allowed to stand as Pats were introducing a sub when Karl White took a quick free kick to set up Keenan.

Many observers had predicted a comfortable afternoon for Ballyboden but the signs of encouragement were there for the Pats in the early stages. After six minutes they took the lead through a Karl White free and the same player added a second before Keenan made it three on 11 minutes.

Despite playing against the wind, the visitors got themselves back into the game with a point from Conal Keaney before Andrew Kerin landed two frees to tie things up.

The wet ball and heavy underfoot conditions were making it difficult for both sides to make an impression on the scoreboard but just before the break Danny O'Connor landed a fine point to send his team in leading by 0-4 to 0-3 at half time.

The Pats were in a good position at that stage but the game turned inside 30 seconds four minutes into the second half. Having lost possession in their own half the Pats conceded a point to a Kerin free but worse was to follow from the restart. Sean Connor's short kick-out didn't find his target and Ballyboden won the ball and set up Colm Basquel to find the net and put his side 1-4 to 0-4 in front.

The Pats raised their game and hit back from a Keenan free but despite enjoying good possession they failed to get the scores on the board and couldn't get closer than two points.

It looked as if Keenan had rescued a draw only for his late strike to be ruled out, with a point from the resultant free providing scant reward and reducing the gap to 1-6 to 0-7.

With time running out, Pats needed to win possession but it was Ballyboden who got forward and landed two late points from Keaney to seal victory.

BALLYBODEN: Conor Dooley; Bob Dwan, Stephen Hiney, Shane Clayton; Stephen O'Connor, Darragh Nelson, Aran Waters; Michael Darragh Macauley, Declan O'Mahony; Sean Gibbons, Colm Basquel 1-0, Darren O'Reilly; Conal Keaney 0-3, Sam Molony, Andrew Kerin 0-5. Subs: Donagh McCabe for D O'Mahony, Robbie McDaid for S O'Connor, Daniel Davy for S Gibbons, Conor McCormack for S Molony, Shane Durkin for D O'Reilly.

ST PATRICKS: Sean Connor; Kevin Toner, Darren O'Hanlon, Patrick Kirk; Owen Zamboglou, Dessie Finnegan, Eoghan Lafferty; Paddy Keenan 0-4, Eamonn Breen; Aidan McCann, Karl White 0-2, Danny O'Connor 0-1; Conor Grogan, Eoin O'Connor, Daragh Lafferty. Subs: Ross Murphy for O Zamboglou, Alan O'Connor for D Lafferty.

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