GO AHEAD DUBLIN SENIOR 2 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP
GO AHEAD DUBLIN SENIOR TWO FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP
By Daire Walsh
St Brigid’s find themselves on the verge of reaching the knockout rounds of the Go Ahead Dublin Senior Two Football Championship as a result of their 1-16 to 0-9 triumph over St Anne’s in Group One of the competition at Bohernabreena on Saturday.
Following an impressive 1-14 to 1-5 win against Trinity Gaels in the opening round at Drumnigh, Brigid’s were on the look out for a second consecutive victory on the road. They didn’t have it all their own way, however, and the visitors were forced to be content with a one-point lead (0-7 to 0-6) at half-time.
Crucially, Brigid’s had the wind advantage on the restart and this proved crucial for the Russell Park outfit in the end. After Paddy Lysaght shook the net on 39 minutes, the floodgates opened for the two-time Senior One champions.
Sean Egan, Philly Ryan (who represented Tipperary earlier this year having previously donned the blue of Dublin), Mal Tighe, Cian McEntire and Mark Donnelly all chipped in with points as Brigid’s came through their latest championship test with flying colours. Anne’s did have a fine performer in the shape of ex-Dublin minor Scott Fulham (he finished with five points from placed-balls) and having recorded a 1-21 to 2-14 win over Ballyboughal on September 12, they remain in the hunt for a coveted knockout spot.
Their final game of the group will see them take on Trinity Gaels, who suffered a 1-17 to 1-13 reversal to Ballyboughal. This was a morale-boosting success for the latter and they will now look to get one over on Brigid’s in a couple of weeks’ time.
Courtesy of a 4-18 to 1-13 win over Naomh Mearnog at Hyde Park, title holders Cuala are guaranteed a place in the last-eight.
A forthcoming clash between Mearnog and Naomh Maur will decide who joins them in qualifying from Group Two. Maur’s will enter that contest in fine spirits, having overcome St Peregrine’s on a score of 3-22 to 1-1 in Rush.
SFC2 semi-finalists in the past two seasons, Templeogue Synge Street made it two wins from two in Group Three with a 2-13 to 0-13 victory at the expense of Erin’s Isle in Dolphin Park on Saturday. Thanks in no small part to a goal from four-time All-Ireland senior winner and 2020 All Star Niall Scully, TSS moved six points clear on the stroke of 20 minutes.
Yet Isles deserve credit for the way they dug in throughout the course of the action. The Finglas men kept themselves in the frame for large stretches, but with Killian O’Gara also grabbing a goal, the hosts ultimately came out on top.
Because the second-placed Isles are set to meet the third-ranked Sylvester’s in the final round – both of whom they have defeated to date – TSS are already in the bowl for the quarter-final draw. Syls offered themselves a fighting chance of joining Mike Fitzpatrick’s southsiders when claiming a narrow 1-12 to 1-11 success against Fingallians in Broomfield.
In Group Four, Parnell’s edged out St Mary’s Saggart at Pairc Mhuire to make it two wins in succession for the Coolock side. Harry Gardiner got the all-important goal in a 1-9 to 0-11 triumph.
They will round off their group stage campaign against Naomh Olaf, who secured their first victory of the Championship against Fingal Ravens in Rolestown (1-15 to 0-14).