Ballyboden too strong for Kildare's Athy in Leinster Club final

Ballyboden St Enda's were crowned Leinster Club champions with a comfortable win over Kildare champions Athy, at Croke Park this afternoon.

It was a game that the Dublin champions were well worth their win, at one stage in the second half they pulled clear by 14 points but in fairness to Athy they kept at it and while they never really put Boden under pressure in the second half they can certain hold their heads high after giving it their all.

Ballyboden opened impressively and opened a four point lead after just eight minutes; one of those being a 3x3 infringement by Athy.

Slowly the Kildare champs came into the game Sean Moore openening for the boys in a red with a free, quickly followed by an Kevin Freely free.

On 18 minutes the sides were level, Kevin Feely pointing a two-pointer and a few minutes later Athy hit the front, through Niall Kelly.

Points from Ross McGarry and a Daire Sweeney free had the Dublin champs back in front and then on 26 minutes a long ball put Ryan Basquel in on goal and while James Roycroft saved, the ball spun out of his grasp and over the line.

Ross McGarry and Colm Moran exchanged points before the break, Roycroft denying Colm Basquel as the half-time whistle arrived, Ballyboden leading Athy 1-7 to 0-7.

The early stages of the second half saw Ballyboden dominate culiminating in a second goal from Patrick Dunleavy, in fairnesss Athy got a bit of a break when Ben Purcell found the net but it was too little, too late.

Final score: Ballyboden St Enda's 2-18 Athy 1-14.

Scorers: Ballyboden St Enda's, Daire Sweeney 0-5 (3 frees), Rosss McGarry 0-5, Patrick Dunleavy 1-0, Ryan Basquel 1-0 Ryan O'Dwyer 0-2, Colm Basquel 0-3 (1 two-pointer), , Céin D'Arcy 0-2, Peter Healy 0-1.

Athy, Kevin Feely 0-7 (1 two-pointer, 3 frees); Sean Moore 0-4 (1 two-pointer free, 1 free), Ben Purcell 1-0, Niall Kelly 0-1 (free), Colm Moran 0-1, Ronan Kelly 0-1.

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S: Hugh O'Sullivan; Brian Bobbett, Cathal Flaherty, Peter Healy; Patrick Dunleavy, Alex Gavin, Patrick Warren; Céin D'Arcy, James Holland; Ryan Baynes, Colm Basquel, Ryan Basquel; Ross McGarry, Ryan O'Dwyer, Daire Sweeney. Subs: Callum O'Dwyer for Ryan Basquel (46 minutes); Harry Donaghy for Patrick Warren (49 minutes); Shane Clayton for Ryan Barney (54 minutes); Kieran Kennedy for Colm Basquel (59 minutes); Darrend O'Reilly for Ryaan O'Dwyer (60 minutes);

ATHY: James Roycroft; Sean Moore, Michael Spillane, Darren Lawler; Padraic Spillane, Cathal McCarron, Mark Hyland; Kevin Feely, David Hyland cpt; Brian Maher, Barry Kelly, Conor Doyle; Ronan Kelly, Colm Moran, Niall Kelly. Subs: Ben Purcell for Ronan Moran (40 minutes); Sean Bride for Mark Hyland (46 minutes); Conor Kelly for Barry Kelly (46 minuts); Cian Keaveney for Brian Maher (53 minutes); Kieran Farrell for Conor Doyle (56 minutes);

REFEREE: Alan Coyne.