Drama

Captain Paul Geaney hit 0-8 off the bench for the Kerry champions.

Dingle (Kerry) 1-26 (1-3-20) Ballyboden St-Enda’s (Dublin) 1-24 (1-2-20)

(After extra-time)

A MARATHON ENCOUNTER on a bitterly cold January evening concluded with Dingle qualifying for the big club football show in Croke Park after producing an amazing comeback success.

It was an extraordinary outcome at the close of extra-time, considering Ballyboden’s position of supremacy for long stages earlier in the game. They were vastly superior in the opening period, holding a nine-point cushion at the break, and then Colm Basquel’s 36th minute goal sent them ten clear, 1-15 to 0-8.

But Dingle, driven on by their outstanding marquee duo of Tom O’Sullivan and Paul Geaney — introduced at half-time as he was unable to start due to a calf injury — hauled themselves back into contention. O’Sullivan floated over a series of stylish points with the outside of his left boot, raising six white flags in the second half of normal time alone.

Tadhg Browne netted a crucial goal in the 44th minute after being fed by Conor Geaney, and it was Paul Geaney who drew the West Kerry outfit level, at 1-20 apiece, when he lofted over a stunning score with his left foot for an 63rd minute two-pointer.

The drama was not quite done. There was still time for an opportunity for Ballyboden to win out but Colm Basquel dragged his free across goal and wide, necessitating extra-time.

Ryan O'Dwyer and Conor Geaney. Nick Elliott / INPHO Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO

Ballyboden made an early burst, ignited by Daire Sweeney’s contribution at the start of that period, to go ahead 1-23 to 1-20, but from there Dingle took charge. Dylan Geaney pointed to chip away at Ballyboden’s advantage, leaving it 1-23 to 1-21 halfway through extra-time.

Mikey Geaney and Paul Geaney fired the scores to restore parity by the 73rd minute, and  while the excellent Ross McGarry nudged Ballyboden back ahead with a fisted score, Paul knocked over a two-point free and Mark O’Connor was also on target to seal a famous victory.

Colm Basquel celebrates his second-half goal for Ballyboden. Nick Elliott / INPHO Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO

Dingle entered the game in the position of outsiders, a case that hardened when they started without their captain and talisman Geaney. Ballyboden St-Enda’s began with confidence, Ryan O’Dwyer clipping over a two-pointer for the game’s opening score. That set the tone for a flying start as they raced ahead 0-4 to 0-0 by the fifth minute and were seven clear by the time Matthew Flaherty sparked a cheer for the Dingle travelling support with a 14th minute point.

As if to underline their superiority, Ballyboden responded within seconds of that score as Ross McGarry was on target at the opposite end. The scores kept coming for the Dublin champions with Ryan Basquel, Dwyer, and Daire Sweeney divvying up eight points between them in that opening half, while wing-back and Kerry native Pa Warren burst forward to register three excellent points.

Ballyboden goalkeeper Hugh Sullivan provided a strong platform for his team with the quality of his kickouts, while Basquel and Warren rounded out the half with the last two points to send them soaring clear at 0-14 to 0-5 by the break. Dingle had to fight hard for scores, dangermen Dylan and Conor Geaney both held from play in the first half as Ballyboden’s highly-organised defensive unit restricted the space available to them.

The Ballyboden lead should have been greater with Gavin Curran making a significant block to deny James Holland a goal, while Ryan O’Dwyer and Ryan Basquel struck shots wide as the pressure intensified on the Dingle rearguard. 

They importantly kept a clean sheet in the first half but were eventually breached when Basquel raised the green flag six minutes into the second half.

It had the look of a game-clinching score, even with so much time left, but gradually Ballyboden were worn down by a heroic Dingle effort with O’Sullivan and Geaney spearheading the revival that propels them to a showdown on 18 January against Scotstown or St Brigid’s.

Ballyboden St Enda's Alex Gavin and Billy O'Connor of Dingle Nick Elliott / INPHO Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Dingle: Paul Geaney 0-8 (1 2pt play, 1 2pt free, 0-2f), Tom O’Sullivan 0-6 (1 2pt play), Tadhg Browne 1-1, Dylan Geaney 0-4 (0-1f), Conor Geaney 0-2, Matthew Flaherty 0-2, Niall Geaney 0-1, Mikey Geaney 0-1, Mark O’Connor 0-1.

Scorers for Ballyboden: Ryan O’Dwyer 0-7 (1 2pt play), Daire Sweeney 0-5 (0-2f, 1 2pt free), Colm Basquel 1-2, Ross McGarry 0-4, Patrick Warren 0-3, Ryan Basquel 0-2, Brian Bobbett 0-1.

Dingle

1. Gavin Curran

6. Conor Flannery, 7.  Patrick O’Connor, 2. Brian O’Connor 

3. Tom Leo O’Sullivan, 4. Tom O’Sullivan, 5. Aidan O’Connor

8. Mark O’Connor, 9. Billy O’Connor

15. Niall Geaney, 14. Matthew Flaherty, 10. Tadhg Browne

13. Conor Geaney, 12. Dylan Geaney, 18. Cathal Bambury

Subs

• 11. Paul Geaney for Bambury (half-time)
• 20. Mikey Geaney for Flaherty (52)
• 17. Sean Óg Moran for Aidan O’Connor (52)
• 19. Ned Ryan for Billy O’Connor (54)
• 14. Flaherty for Conor Geaney (73)
• 18. Bambury for Browne (76)

Ballyboden St Enda’s

1. Hugh O’Sullivan

3. Cathal Flaherty, 2. Brian Bobbett, 21. Shane Clayton

7. Pa Warren, 6. James Holland, 5. Patrick Dunleavy

8. Cein D’Arcy, 9. Alex Gavin

 22. Harry Donaghy, 11. Colm Basquel, 13. Ross McGarry

12. Ryan Basquel, 14. Ryan O’Dwyer, 15. Daire Sweeney

Subs

• 17. Kieran Kennedy for Warren (34)
• 18. Callum O’Dwyer for Sweeney (50)
• 23. John McGuire for Ryan Basquel (56)
• 10. James Madden for Holland (58)
• 15. Sweeney for 18. O’Dwyer (start of extra time)
• 19. Ryan Baynes for Donaghy (start of extra time)
• 6. Holland for Clayton (70)
• 26. Luke O’Donoghue for Gavin (73)
• 18. Callum O’Dwyer for Ryan O’Dwyer (77)

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).