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Aran Waters celebrates scoring the match-winner. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Boding well

Waters the hero as Ballyboden snatch victory at the death

Dublin club scrape past Portlaoise in thrilling provincial final, making it four years in a row for sides from the capital.

Ballyboden St Enda’s (Dublin) 2-9

Portlaoise (Laois) 1-11

ARAN WATERS EMERGED as the Ballyboden St Enda’s super sub with a dramatic 60th-minute point to secure a maiden AIB Leinster club senior football championship final win for the Dublin club.

Waters was only on the field 18 minutes when he booted what proved to be the winner in Tullamore, securing a first win for the Firhouse Road outfit.

The victory means that the Leinster title will remain in Dublin for a fourth consecutive year following previous wins by St Vincent’s and Ballymun Kickhams.

But it was a particularly painful defeat for seven-time winners Portlaoise who had a great opportunity to tie up the scores deep into injury-time when Paul Cahillane presided over a 13-metre free.

The ex-Laois forward struck his kick surprisingly high and wide though and Boden escaped with victory having lost a Leinster club hurling final previously at the same ground in the late 2000s.

Their reward for this win is a February 13 All-Ireland semi-final clash with the London or Munster champions.

They led similarly at half-time by 2-4 to 1-6 following goals from Andrew Kerin, who top scored overall with 1-2, and Dublin midfielder Michael Darragh Macauley.

Portlaoise were well in the game though and a strong third-quarter display left them two ahead approaching the 50th minute mark.

Brian McCormack had a great effort for a goal tipped on to the post by Boden’s star Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan.

They still led by a point with 57 minutes on the clock but Colm Basquel kicked a leveller for Boden before Waters struck for what was eventually the winning point. Though Cahillane should have saved Portlaoise’s blushes.

Scorers: Ballyboden St Enda’s — Andrew Kerin 1-2, Conal Keaney 0-4 (0-4f), Michael Darragh Macauley 1-0, Sam Moloney 0-1, Colm Basquel 0-1, Aran Waters 0-1. Portlaoise — Paul Cahillane 1-2 (0-2f), Brian McCormack 0-2, Craig Rogers 0-2 (0-1f), Brian Smyth 0-2, Eoghan Whelan 0-1, Brian Glynn 0-1, Cahir Healy 0-1

Ballyboden St Enda’s:
1. Paul Durcan; 2. Bob Dwane, 4. Shane Clayton, 3. Stephen Hiney; 5. Stephen O’Connor, 6. Darragh Nelson, 20. Robbie McDaid; 8. Michael Darragh Macauley, 9. Declan O’Mahony; 17. Daniel Davey, 10. Darren O’Reilly, 11. Colm Basquel; 14. Conal Keaney, 13. Sam Moloney, 15. Andrew Kerin.
Subs: 12. Sean Gibbons for Davey (33), 7. Aran Waters for O’Reilly (42), 21. Shane Durkin for O’Connor (47), 19. Donagh McCabe for O’Mahony (63).

Portlaoise: 1. Graham Brody; 4. David Seale, 3. Cahir Healy, 2. John Delaney; 5. Eoghan Whelan, 6. Kieran Lillis, 7. Brian Mulligan; 8. Dean Cullen, 9. Conor Boyle; 10. Gareth Dillon, 15. Brian Smyth, 17. Brian Glynn; 13. Brian McCormack, 14. Paul Cahillane, 11. Craig Rogers.
Subs: 12. Conor Dunphy for Cullen (13), 19. Colin Finn for Whelan (24-26), 18. Ricky Maher for Dillon (52).

Referee: John Hickey (Carlow)

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