AFL DIV. 2 ROUNDUP – 18TH JULY

ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: JULY 18

By Daire Walsh

Fingallians moved to the summit of the Adult Football League Division Two table with a 2-16 to 2-10 victory over rivals Fingal Ravens at Lawless Park on Wednesday night.

With previous divisional pace-setters Templeogue Synge Street suffering a 0-15 to 3-12 reversal at the hands Scoil Ui Chonaill on the Clontarf Road, the Swords men are now a point in front of the southsiders.

They will face each other on Saturday week (July 28) in a Round 12 encounter at Dolphin Park, which could go a long way towards determining who finishes in pole position at the end of this hotly-contested second-tier competition. Though they had a number of points to spare over Ravens in the end, there had been little to separate the sides for the vast majority of the contest.

Courtesy of a well-constructed Patsy O’Neill goal, Fingallians led 1-9 to 2-2 at the midway stage. Danny Campion and Derek Rodgers led by example throughout the opening period and continued to drive the hosts forward on the resumption.

Despite being short a number of first-team regulars – most notably veteran Dublin footballer Paul Flynn – Fingallians made considerable waves in attack. TJ Howard raised a green flag to bring his final tally up to 1-6 and Shane Howard also posted three points over the course of the hour.

A resilient Ravens managed to cut the gap to a single point on the stroke of 50 minutes, raising the possibility of a surprise triumph for the Rolestown side. However, the home team ultimately produced a powerful final-quarter rally to claim a sixth consecutive Division Two success.

Skerries have been in the hunt for promotion for much of the season – and though they remain in contention, they suffered a fifth defeat in seven at home to St Mary’s, Saggart (5-14 to 2-9).

Following their own 3-13 to 0-8 win over St Anne’s at Monastery Road, Round Tower Clondalkin have moved up to third in the table – only two points adrift of Fingallians.

After registering a brace of goals in the same venue against Whitehall three days earlier, Micheal Walsh also rattled the net for an in-form Towers. With former county stars Derek Murray and Ian Ward delivering impressive displays, they led 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval.

The forceful play of midfielder Conor Flannery also aided the home team’s cause, as they sought a seventh league victory of 2018. Jason Joyce joined Walsh in securing a third major in the space of two games, while netminder Gary Cleary kick-started a fast-paced move that eventually led to a goal from marauding corner-back Niall Byrne.

Towers are now gathering pace ahead of their trip to Glenauline Park and St Patrick’s, Palmerstown on July 28. Pat’s, on the other hand, lifted themselves away from danger with a narrow 2-10 to 1-11 triumph against Raheny at St Anne’s Park.

In the same venue on Wednesday, Ballyboughal had the measure of Clontarf in a high-scoring affair (1-18 to 0-15). They lie fifth in the table – just behind Skerries on score difference.

Whitehall enjoyed a commanding 3-21 to 0-9 win over Naomh Mearnog at Collins Avenue, and at nearby Blunden Drive, O’Toole’s picked up their first point of the present campaign by sharing the spoils with Na Fianna ‘B’ – 2-12 to 1-15 the final score.

AFL DIV. 1 ROUNDUP – 18TH JULY

ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: JULY 18

By Daire Walsh

St Vincent’s held onto top spot in the Adult Football League Division One table with a hard-earned 0-17 to 2-8 victory over Naomh Olaf at Pairc Ui Bhriain on Wednesday evening.

The Marino men dropped points for just the second time this season against neighbours Na Fianna last Sunday – a 1-15 to 2-12 draw on home soil following a previous defeat to Ballyboden St Enda’s on June 13. They were facing an Olaf’s that came into round 11 on the back of five consecutive reversals, leaving them second-from-bottom in the top-tier.

The Sandyford outfit last tasted success in an away clash with Ballymun Kickhams at the end of May. Points from Adam Baxter, Enda Varley and Tomas Quinn allowed Vins to create early breathing space, before Dublin U20 attacker Tom King forced Olaf’s into the reckoning with a well-taken goal.

Though they led by the bare minimum at the break, Vins remained in the ascendancy after the restart thanks to strong scoring contributions from Varley, Cian O’Brien and Adam Giblin. However, with Dublin senior panellist David Byrne driving them forward, Olaf’s secured their second goal of the proceedings.

This set the game up for a grandstand finale, only for Vins to regain control with the help of some outstanding defensive work by Jarlath Curley and substitute James McCusker. Quinn was also on hand to convert a series of frees in the closing moments – ensuring the northsiders extended their unbeaten run to four games.

Kilmacud Crokes currently lead the chasing pack, after they recorded a comprehensive 4-14 to 3-9 triumph at the expense of St Sylvester’s at Silver Park. Both sides had been in action last Friday – against Ballinteer St John’s and Ballymun respectively – meaning they had an extended period to prepare for the challenge that lay ahead.

Cian O’Connor has been in fine form for Crokes throughout the present campaign and he finished the night with an impressive haul of 1-5 to his name. While Syls played with the same attacking edge that helped to overcome the challenge of Ballymun, their Stillorgan counterparts continued to pick off scores as the play developed.

Courtesy of additional three-pointers from Mark Vaughan, dual player Bill O’Carroll and teenage star Jonathan Quinlan, Crokes claimed their eighth league win of 2018 in clinical style.

They are two points adrift of Vincent’s with just four matches remaining, but third-place Ballyboden St Enda’s are also expected to have a considerable say in the direction of the Division One trophy.

On a bright summer evening at Pairc Ui Murchu, Anthony Rainbow’s charges were commanding 3-17 to 0-13 victors over St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh. Ahead of their visit to Somerton Park on Saturday week for a night-time encounter with Castleknock, ‘Boden find themselves a single point behind defending champions Crokes.

Meanwhile, Na Fianna returned to winning ways at home to Ballinteer St John’s – which consequently helps them to remain in fourth spot. Michael Deegan and Sky Blues underage star James Doran found the net for the Glasnevin side – who were searching for their first triumph in four outings.

Goals from David Devereux and Aodhan Clabby offered hope to their opponents, but Na Fianna eventually finished with seven points to spare (2-19 to 2-12).

Maur’s made it four wins on the bounce by defeating Lucan Sarsfields on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-13 in Rush. With Ciaran Archer leading the way in front, Maur’s brought a 0-9 to 0-7 cushion into the interval.

Two second half goals – including one from Danny Byrne – placed the hosts in the driving seat, before Lucan rallied to set-up an exciting conclusion.

Maur’s held firm to claim maximum points, though, and are now just behind Na Fianna on score difference.

Elsewhere, Thomas Davis got the better of St Jude’s (1-15 to 2-7) and Ballymun Kickhams enjoyed a home success over Cuala – 0-14 to 1-7.

AFL DIV. 1 MATCH REPORT: ST. BRIGIDS V CASTLENOCK

ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

ST BRIGID’S 1-10

CASTLEKNOCK 0-10

By Daire Walsh

Lorcan McCarthy was in devastating form at Russell Park last night as St Brigid’s claimed local bragging rights over a spirited Castleknock in Division One of the Adult Football League.

Though there was little to separate the teams initially, McCarthy’s 14th-minute was the catalyst for Brigid’s to enter the interval with a six-point cushion (1-8 to 0-5) at their disposal. It has been a difficult campaign to date for Castleknock, who began the evening rooted to the bottom of the top-tier table.

They can take encouragement from a much-improved second half display, when midfielder Shane Boland’s dead-ball accuracy offered them a fighting chance of success. However, Kevin Bonner’s hosts ultimately dug deep to secure a hard-earned triumph – their fifth of the 2018 league season.

While Brigid’s had recorded three wins on the bounce prior to their narrow defeat at the hands of St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh last weekend, Castleknock had just one win from their previous seven encounters.

This came against Cuala on June 13, but resulting reversals to southside duo Thomas Davis and St Jude’s has left them with a lot of ground to make up in the closing weeks of the current campaign.

They deployed Peter Sherry as a sweeper in a bid to curb the attacking influence of their neighbours – and it proved to be an effective tactic during the first-quarter. After Brigid’s half-forward Cathal Doyle opened the scoring early on, his opposite number – Paul Burke – responded at the far end.

Indeed, following a series of missed opportunities by their opponents, full-forward Tommy Corcoran edged Castleknock in front with a sweet point off his left-foot. Collie Carr and McCarthy were also off-target as the action progressed, before Brigid’s finally moved into the ascendancy in the 14th-minute.

Though an effort on goal dropped well short of the posts, a lax clearance from Morven Connolly presented the alert Carr with a gilt-edged chance. His subsequent strike was superbly turned away by the Castleknock netminder, only for McCarthy to slot home the rebound.

This was a major set-back for ‘Knock – who had appeared comfortable in defence up to that point. McCarthy, on the other hand, grew in confidence as a result.

He registered a brace of scores either side of a Carr point off a tight-angle, creating significant daylight between the teams in the process. In the absence of county star Paddy Andrews, he acted as the focal point of a hight-functioning forward line.

He was ably-assisted by the midfield pairing of Laois footballer John O’Loughlin and former Dublin hurler Daire Plunkett – as well as the ever-industrious Carr and Barra O Coilean.

O’Loughlin was an influential figure for Laois in their journey to this year’s Leinster SFC decider and finished off a patient move on 27 minutes to supplement McCarthy’s additional 0-3 salvo.

Although they were struggling to contain a rampant Brigid’s outfit, Castleknock did regain focus before the break. After Boland ended a 19-minute scoring drought with a pointed free, centre-back Tom Shields split the uprights at the end of a lung-bursting run.

Boland’s second of the half in stoppage-time provided ‘Knock with further cause for optimism, though it was McCarthy and Brigid’s who drew fist blood on the resumption. They then had a golden opportunity to put the game to bed on the stroke of 40 minutes, when McCarthy picked out raiding half-back Patrick Maguire in front of goal.

However, much to Castleknock’s relief, his fierce drive crashed off the underside of the crossbar and away to safety. This kept the visitors in the frame, and they slowly – but surely – cut into the Brigid’s lead.

A triple half-time substitution – Darren O’Connor, Sean Gibbons and Michael Galvin replaced the half-forward line of Niall Millmore, Jamie Tunney and Paul Burke – gave them a new lease of life and they halted the Brigid’s momentum with a succession of turnovers in the middle-third.

A Boland free was preceded by an O’Connor contribution from play, leaving five points between the sides heading into the final-quarter. Brigid’s continued to create a number of chancedl, but it was the right boot of Boland that enjoyed the greater success rate.

He raised white flags in the 51st and 55th minutes to set-up a tantalising finale. Brigid’s lost centre-forward Mark Cahill to a black card on the hour mark and almost immediately conceded a 10th point to Boland – his sixth of the proceedings.

Brigid’s held their nerve, though, and McCarthy ended a lengthy barren spell for his side with an insurance point deep into injury-time.

Results elsewhere on the night lifts the victors up to sixth place, while Castleknock remain a point adrift of second-from-bottom Naomh Olaf with a game still in hand.

Scorers – St Brigid’s: Lorcan McCarthy 1-7 (0-3f), John O’Loughlin, Cathal Doyle, Collie Carr 0-1. Castleknock: Shane Boland 0-6 (5f), Tom Shiels, Paul Burke, Tommy Corcoran, Darren O’Connor 0-1 each.

ST BRIGID’S: Stephen Moore; Alan Daly, Gavin Kane, Fiachra O’Meara; Sean Egan, Niall Davey, Patrick Maguire; Daire Plunkett, John O’Loughlin; Mark Donnelly, Mark Cahill, Cathal Doyle; Barra O Coilean, Lorcan McCarthy, Collie Carr. Subs: Cian McCarthy for Donnelly (48), Donnelly for Carr (55), Carr for Cahill (60).

CASTLEKNOCK: Morven Connolly; Graham Hannigan, Tom Quinn, Colm Neville; Rob Shaw, Tom Shields, Greg Gibbons; James Sherry, Shane Boland; Niall Millmore, Jamie Tunney, Paul Burke; Peter Sherry, Tommy Corcoran, Kevin Kindlon. Subs: Darren O’Connor for Millmore, Sean Gibbons for Tunney, Michael Galvin for Burke (all half-time), Kevin Stevenson for Corcoran (44).

Referee: James King (Garda/Westmanstown Gaels).

MOURNE BOYS HOLD ON

Goals prove key as Dublin suffer setback in Gerry Reilly U16 battle

GERRY REILLY U16 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

DOWN……………………….3-9

DUBLIN……………………..1-13

Daire Walsh

ADAM Crimmins and Ronan Connor goals either side of half-time proved crucial on Saturday afternoon at Abbotstown, where Dublin fell to a narrow defeat against Down in the Gerry Reilly U16 Football Tournament.

Following an impressive victory over Kildare at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge three days earlier, this result certainly comes as a set-back for the Sky Blues.

While a final Group B game against Antrim on Saturday week keeps them in contention for the knock-out rounds, the Mourne men’s ability to pick off scores at vital junctures ultimately put paid to their chances of success in the National Games Development Centre.

DEADLOCK

Down kick-started their own campaign with a narrow triumph over the Saffrons (2-9 to 3-4) and they broke the deadlock courtesy of Joe O’Boyle’s well-worked point. Indeed, at the end of an enterprising move 12 minutes in, Dermot Donaldson fired to the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Dublin eventually found their feet with back-to-back efforts from Rogers and Luke Curran (son of the legendary Paul), before Connor converted a routine free at the opposite end.

There was a sense that Dublin were beginning to find their feet as the half developed, and unanswered scores by Rogers, Conor Tyrell, Adam Mulligan and Oliver Brooks helped them to hit the front on 25 minutes.

There was plenty of life left in the Down challenge, however, and Crimmins was on hand to palm home John McGovern’s pass from the subsequent attack. Even though Rogers cancelled out Paudraig Clancy’s first of the day, a Crimmins point ensured Down were three points ahead – 2-4 to 0-7 – at the midway stage.

Dublin were still well in the reckoning on home soil, but it was the visitors who carried momentum forward into the second period. Thanks to two scores in as many minutes by the dynamic duo of McGovern and Connor, they created further daylight between the teams.

After Ballyboden’s Ryan O’Dwyer was upended close to the posts, Rogers eased the Dublin concerns with a pointed free. Yet, on the stroke of 40 minutes, it was Down who appeared to hold all the aces.

Supplementing a Clancy single, Connor finished off a devastating counter-attack to move his side into a seemingly unassailable 3-7 to 0-8 advantage. This gap remained in place when Curran and McGovern traded points – though the St Catherine’s forward added to his personal tally on the three-quarter mark.

The Dublin bench was beginning to make an impact in humid conditions at the northside venue, as Fionn Duncan’s curled strike preceded a Rogers point in the 53rd-minute. Down remained firmly in the ascendancy when McGovern split the uprights on the run, only for Dublin to launch a final assault on their goal.

After Rogers’ sixth of the day narrowed the gap, Conroy (St Pat’s, Donabate) broke through the Down defence to secure a magnificent major. This raised the possibility of a ‘smash and grab’ for the Sky Blues, but they ran out of time in their bid to claim a second consecutive group stage win.

MATCH FILE

Scorers – Down: R Connor 1-2 (0-1f), A Crimmins 1-1, D Donaldson 1-0, J McGovern 0-3, P Clancy 0-2, J O’Boyle 0-1. Dublin: A Rogers 0-6 (2f), K Conroy 1-0, L Curran 0-3 (1f), A Mulligan, O Brooks, C Tyrell, F Duncan 0-1 each.

DOWN: M Croskery; C Laird, S Donegan, E Swail; T Savage, N Sloan, R Campbell; L Mallon, D Donaldson; MD Hynes, J O’Boyle, P Clancy; R Connor, A Crimmins, J McGovern. Subs: C Biilham for Sloan (26), J McCann for Savage (30+2), C McAvoy for Donaldson (36), J Cairns for Clancy, L Ruane for Connor (both 52), Donaldson for O’Boyle (56).

DUBLIN: J Casey; D Lynch, B Millist, E Gannon; L Byrne, K Conroy, D Robertson; L Murphy, A Mulligan; R O’Dwyer, A Rogers, D O’Dowd; L Curran, O Brooks, C Tyrell. Subs: F Duncan for Byrne (5), C Monaghan for Gannon (8), A Mezynski for Mulligan, D Fagan for Robertson (both 37), L Cullen for Brooks (52).

MENTORS – Down: Joe Tunney, Mark Poland, John Morgan, Kieran Mooney, Conor Fitzpatrick. Dublin: Mark Fee, Jim Lehane, Paul Casey.

Referee: Darragh Sheppard (Round Tower Lusk).

WIDES – Down: 3 (3+0). Dublin: 7 (2+5).

CONDITIONS: Dry and sunny throughout, but a strong breeze at times.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Alex Rogers (Dublin).