Skerries goals kill off UCD
SKERRIES HARPS…………………… 2-10
UCD………………………………………. 0-10
By Daire Walsh
EARLY goals from Harry Dawson and Paul Cashman ultimately proved to be the difference between the teams at O’Toole Park, where Skerries Harps progressed to the next stage of the Dublin SFC with a much-deserved victory over an exam-depleted UCD.
The northsiders had made a dream start with a second minute penalty from Dawson, and this was followed by Cashman’s outstanding goal just two minutes later.
Dave Billings’ charges did eventually settle with three unanswered points from lively corner-forward James McEntee (two) and Luke Kelly.
Skerries re-discovered their groove in the second-quarter, however, and fine contributions from Dawson (free), Mark Boylan and the ever-influential Bryan Cullen (0-2) helped them towards a 2-4 to 0-4 mid-way buffer.
A brace of McEntee efforts either side of a Kelly free offered the Belfield men a fighting chance upon the resumption, but subsequent scores from Dawson (two) and Boylan provided Harps with breathing space during the closing stages.
Scorers – SKERRIES HARPS: H Dawson 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), P Cashman 1-2, B Cullen, M Boylan 0-2 each. UCD: L Kelly (3f), J McEntee 0-5 each.
SKERRIES HARPS: S Davies; D Ward, M Oliver, D McNamee; E Smith, E McGinley, J Smith; B Cullen, M Boylan; T Ryan, H Dawson, P Cashman; S Hickey, B Davey, D Forde. Subs: R McGarry for Oliver (15, BC), C O’Brien for Davey (h-t), O O’Leary for Hickey (39), G Cullen for O’Leary (57).
UCD: P Gallagher; N O’Reilly, R Tierney, G Ryan; J Turbet, S McEntee, O McElhinney; L Kelly, J Barry; S Cadan, C Downey, N Coney; J McEntee, M O’Hanlon, R Burke. Subs: N McInerney for McElhinney (h-t), L McHugh for Coney (57).
REFEREE: P Fitzsimons (Liffey Gaels).