Multiple Mayo connections as Ballyboden secure Leinster honours

There's always a Mayo connection somewhere, and that was the case on the double when Ballyboden St Enda's won the Leinster senior title in Croke Park on Saturday evening.

On the field, Burrishoole's Ryan Baynes played a central role as the Dublin champions overcame a resilient Athy side, and on the sideline, Eamon O'Reilly, a man with a proud Belmullet father wore the bainisteoir's bib.

For Baynes it was a win steeped in relief, pride, and the sense of belonging he has built with his adopted club.

Speaking after the final whistle, the Burrishoole man admitted that the occasion brought a different kind of pressure, even for a club with Ballyboden’s pedigree.

“Delighted to get over the line. There’s a lot of pressure put on the Dublin clubs. They’ve a history of winning Leinster, but there are great teams in it who can trip you up.”

Athy certainly looked capable of doing just that. The Kildare champions forced Ballyboden to dig deep and Baynes acknowledged that his side were well aware of the threat.

“We knew they were going to be strong—they went well on their side of the championship, so we're just delighted to get over the line.”

For the Ballyboden contingent, lifting silverware in Croke Park added an extra layer of satisfaction. Baynes, like many players who grow up dreaming of big days in GAA headquarters, savoured the setting. “Nice to win in Croker as well,” he said with a smile.

Yet beyond the venue and the medal, Baynes emphasised the importance of the group around him. Settling into a new club is rarely straightforward, but he credits the tight-knit nature of the squad for making the journey feel natural.

“Winning the final with Boden was unreal,” he said. “We’re all such a close bunch. We see each other all the time, and the bonds we form mean as much as anything, to be honest, because we’re so close.”

For a Mayo man finding success in Dublin colours, the victory marks another step in a rapidly rising club career—one grounded in hard work, camaraderie, and with a Leinster title now firmly in hand.

Reilly, the team manager was a proud man after the final whistle and took aim at critics who classed his group as a manufactured 'super club.'

“People talk about super clubs all the time. What makes a super club is super people and we've got super people right throughout the club.

"There’s all these negative connotations around big clubs in Dublin, but clubs here are massive communities. Ballyboden gives us identity in a huge city, and we’re so grateful to be part of that.”

The winning manager has proud Belmullet lineage. His grandparents Pat 'Rua' and Mary lived to be 101 and 96 years of age respectively and were known far and wide for their love of culture and sport.

Eamon's father, Tom, made his name in the red of Belmullet alongside his cousin Willie Joe Padden, before moving to Cavan where he became a central figure for Shannon Gaels. He went on to become chairman of Cavan GAA and a member of the Ulster Council.

Eamon himself, played for Shannon Gaels before relocating to Dublin and he is now busily preparing his team for the upcoming All-Ireland semi-final against Munster champions, Daingean Uí Chúis.

“Dingle is an unbelievably solid club with serious footballers. It’ll be a massive challenge. We haven’t earned the right to talk about All-Irelands,” O'Reilly stated.