AFL1 ROUNDUP – 1ST JULY
ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: JULY 1
Kilmacud Crokes and St Brigid’s enjoyed big wins on Saturday evening, as the latest round of the Adult Football League Division One took place across the county.
Crokes made the journey out to Broomfield for an encounter with St Sylvester’s, hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the top-flight to six games.
Indeed, during a bright opening for the Glenalbyn men, a speculative long delivery by wing-back Ross McGowan drifted into the back of the Syls net. This score was supplemented by a 0-5 salvo from the outstanding Mark Vaughan, and even though Ed Walsh was in fine form for the home team, Crokes brought a commanding 1-10 to 1-4 lead into the break.
The 42nd-minute dismissal of Pat Duggan did hamper the visitors to an extent, and Walsh capped a productive individual display with a final tally of 0-8.
Yet, the ever-impressive Vaughan registered a 0-9 haul for their opponents, while Ross O’Carroll, Craig Dias and Cian O’Connor also made massive contributions to Crokes’ eventual 1-16 to 0-11 success.
This victory ensures that they are currently at the top of the table, but following their narrow triumph against St Vincent’s, Brigid’s are just behind them on score difference.
Well-worked scores by Darren Freeman, Philly Ryan and Daire Plunkett had helped Brigid’s to develop a 0-8 to 0-3 interval cushion, but with Joe Feeney and Nathan Mullins to the fore, Vincent’s significantly reduced their deficit.
Brigid’s responded to this flourish with a crucial goal from Ryan, and despite conceding four successive points (including efforts by Feeney, Mullins and Albert Martin), a dramatic stoppage-time free from Freeman ultimately guided Brigid’s towards a hard-earned 1-11 to 0-13 win.
Meanwhile, Skerries recorded their fourth draw of the 2017 league campaign at home to Na Fianna (0-9 apiece). Tomas Brady provided a constant threat to the Skerries defence, but Dylan McNamee, Colin Daly, Gerry Daly and Bryan Cullen were leading lights throughout for the hosts.
Colin Daly was sent-off during a frenetic conclusion to the contest, but after Glen O’Reilly and Brady also received their marching orders, Skerries finished with a numerical advantage. They were facing into a three-point deficit with just 10 minutes remaining, until a late rally restored parity just in time for the final whistle.
Castleknock and Lucan Sarsfields were also inseparable at Somerton Park, thanks to a last-minute Lucan ’45’ from Philip Greene.
Cuala recorded their first win of this year’s competition at the expense of fellow strugglers Clontarf at St Anne’s Park (2-10 to 1-9), while St Jude’s bounced back from a recent reversal against St Brigid’s with a 0-16 to 2-5 win over Thomas Davis.
Ballyboden St Enda’s marked the re-opening of Pairc Ui Murchu in an entertaining encounter with Ballymun Kickhams, but Paddy Carr’s men finished with one point to spare (4-7 to 2-12) over the defending champions.
By Daire Walsh