MUN DEFY NA FIANNA
Goals in either half propel Kickhams towards victory over hosts
DUBLIN MFL DIVISION 1
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS……………………… 2-12
NA FIANNA…………………………………….. 0-10
Daire Walsh
BRIAN ASHTON and Sergei Runin recorded goals in either half at Mobhi Road on Sunday morning, when Ballymun Kickhams overcame Na Fianna in a lively MFL Division 1 encounter.
The impressive David Lacey contributed a 0-9 haul for the hosts, but with Ashton, Runin and Tony McCaul all in fine form throughout, it was Eoin Dolan’s visitors who ultimately claimed the points on offer.
Both sides have had mixed campaigns to date, but even though there had been some overnight rain, conditions were perfect for this encounter.
Ballymun full-forward Daniel Foye was acting as a sweeper in the heart of his team’s defence, with Na Fianna’s Eoin McLoughlin performing a similar role at the opposite end of the field.
Dublin minor goalkeeper Evan Comerford has already made significant strides for Ballymun at senior level, and his superbly struck ’45’ broke the deadlock with three minutes gone on the clock. However, the influential David Lacey replied with a brace of excellent scores from play, and courtesy of a routine free from the inside forward, Na Fianna had developed an early two-point cushion.
Yet, Ballymun narrowed the gap with a terrific point on the run by half-back Cian Fagan, and when Tony McCaul was hauled down by Na Fianna’s Darragh Beegan, Runin dispatched a subsequent penalty beyond the reach of opposition netminder Dave O’Hanlon.
This was a timely-boost for the Pairc Ciceam outfit, and following back-to-back scores from centre-fielder Cameron McCormack and corner-forward Darragh Conlon, they created a little bit of daylight between the teams.
Na Fianna were still dangerous when they broke forward, though, and another 0-2 salvo from Lacey ensured that they remained in contention. Tony McCaul registered a spectacular 27th minute point for Ballymun, but after Seafra Fitzgerald was on target for Na Fianna, their lead had been reduced to two points (1-5 to 0-6) by the midway stage.
Indeed, Na Fianna reduced their deficit to a minimum with yet another successful Lacey free upon the resumption, and although Kickhams regained momentum with scores from Tony McCaul and Comerford (free), Lacey’s seventh point swiftly followed.
It was Ballymun who dominated the remainder of the third-quarter, however, and in addition to a point by hard-working centre-forward Shane Leahy, a 1-1 contribution from wing-forward Ashton left Na Fianna with a mountain to climb in the closing moments.
A close-range place-kick by Lacey 15 minutes from the end provided some respite to Na Fianna, but despite unloading their substitutes’ bench, they couldn’t produce the scores they needed to work their way back into the reckoning.
Ballymun, on the other hand, were composed in possession at all times, and another brace of outstanding points from long-range by Comerford was supplemented by Conlon’s second score of the tie. The always-dangerous Lacey ended his side’s scoring drought with a final point in stoppage-time, but it wasn’t enough to deny Ballymun Kickhams their comprehensive victory.
MATCH FILE
Scorers – Ballymun Kickhams: B Ashton 1-1, E Comerford 0-4 (2 ’45’, 2f), S Runin 1-0 (pen), T McCaul, D Conlon 0-2 each, C Fagan, C McCormack, S Leahy 0-1 each. Na Fianna: D Lacey 0-9 (7f), S Fitzgerald 0-1.
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: E Comerford; S Tuke, R Kelly, E Hill; C Fagan, C Cullen-Fleming, R Pepper; S Runin, C McCormack; B Ashton, S Leahy, A McCaul; T McCaul, D Foye, D Conlon.
Subs: J Mulhall for A McCaul (55).
NA FIANNA: D O’Hanlon; E McLoughlin, N Loftus, D Beegan; E O’Dea, F Mullan, J Stewart; J Doran, D Ryan; S Ronayne, D McHugh, S Fitzgerald; S O’Gorman, T Regan, D Lacey.
Subs: S O’Leary for Ronayne, C Casserly for Regan (both 41), F Potts for Stewart (43), J Tierney for McLoughlin (51), K Doran for O’Gorman (53), P Gleeson for Loftus (56).
MENTORS – Ballymun Kickhams: E Dolan, A Hubbard, P O’Dea, P Ashton. Na Fianna: H Gallagher, M Sheehan, D McGowan, J Caffrey, S Connell, A Caffrey.
REFEREE: Barry Tiernan (O’Dwyers).
WIDES – Ballymun Kickhams: 7 (2+5). Na Fianna: 3 (1+2).
CONDITIONS: Dry and breezy conditions with sunny intervals.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Brian Ashton (Ballymun Kickhams).