ANDREW Kerin’s dramatic 56th minute goal earned Ballyboden southside derby honours, keeping his side just about in the running for a playoff place with a game to go, denting Kilmacud Crokes’ similar ambitions.
Kerin punched in a rebound after a superb David Nestor – the second time that equation yielded a major – to complete his hat trick last Saturday evening at Silver Park.
They nabbed the win in spite of both Michael Daragh Macauley and Conal Keaney being shown red cards for second offences and, despite a numerical disadvantage, they trailed by a point until Kerin’s goal.
Playing with the hill and the breeze, Boden made the early running as Macauley punched the turnover ball into Kerin’s path and he finished classily for the first goal.
It went point for point for much of the first half, thereafter, as Pat Burke landed a couple while Paul Mannion, among a number of returning Dublin stars, cleared the bar three times.
Macauley and Keaney scored two classy points each before an excellent interchange between the latter and Daniel Davey paved the way for a shot that ricocheted off Nestor. Kerin reacted brilliantly to palm in under pressure, making it 2-6 to 0-6 at half-time.
Crokes, now with the elements in their favour, stormed back into contention, out-scoring Boden 1-6 to a point in the next 22 minutes.
Mannion was at the heart of matters, scoring two more points as did Burke, punishing Boden’s indiscipline at times. Were it not for Darragh Nelson’s excellent defensive work, a couple of Darragh Walsh saves and some unruly shooting, Crokes might have been in front long before Kevin Nolan from centre-back arrived late to slam home his side’s goal.
That came with nine minutes left and when Macauley departed a minute later, it looked set fair for a home win.
But Kerin once again pounced on a ricochet on his way to bat home. Keaney saw red for a deliberate foul soon after, breaking down Crokes’ attempts to get back on terms as Boden hung on for the win.
