ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: FEBRUARY 18

By Daire Walsh

With their sights set on an automatic return to the top-flight, it proved to be a productive weekend for Clontarf and Skerries Harps in the Adult Football League Division Two.

A local derby encounter with Scoil Uí Chonaill was the perfect test of ‘Tarf’s 2018 credentials, and they dug deep to secure a 1-10 to 0-7 win. Scoil – held a two-point advantage (0-4 to 0-2) at the midway stage in this opening round contest.

In the continued absence of inter-county star Jack McCaffrey, ‘Tarf needed someone to step up to the mark on the resumption. When the sides met two years ago in the league, it was a late Kevin Lillis point that ultimately decided a close-run affair.

The former Dublin minor footballer once again led the way for his side in this encounter, as his second half goal propelled Clontarf to a morale-boosting success.

Blunden Drive was the venue for a showdown between O’Toole’s and Skerries, whose relegation play-off defeat to Cuala last October signalled their return to the second-tier.

They hit the ground running against their northside counterparts, though, and eventually claimed an emphatic 2-13 to 0-8 triumph.

Elsewhere, Templeogue Synge Street and St Mary’s, Saggart also made perfect starts to their own league campaigns at the expense of St Patrick’s, Palmerstown and St Anne’s respectively.

Fresh from his excellent performance against Donegal in the Allianz League at Croke Park, Dublin star Niall Scully lined out in the half-back line for Templeogue. However, they still maintained considerable firepower in attack, with Killian O’Gara amassing an outstanding personal tally of 1-6.

Pat’s have enjoyed some compelling battles with TSS in the past, but at the end of their clash in Dolphin Park, the home team had all of 14 points to spare (3-12 to 0-7).

Mary’s also produced a memorable performance on home soil against Anne’s, and their 2-17 to 0-7 success ensures they are just ahead of Templeogue on score difference at the summit of the table.

Raheny are just behind the league’s pace-setters in third place, after they overcame the challenge of newly-promoted Ballyboughal (3-12 to 1-6).

Naomh Mearnóg also emerged from the weekend’s action with flying colours – a 2-13 to 0-16 home win over Fingallians giving them cause to rejoice.

Early goals by Alan Doyle and Niall Murphy offered Mearnog a strong platform in Portmarnock, and with Shane Carthy, Oisin Taylor, Michael Gibbs and Matthew Shortall also finding the target, they led by seven points (2-7 to 0-6) at the break.

A plucky Fingallians kept themselves in contention during an engrossing second half, and brought the gap down to three points on the hour. However, thanks to earlier contributions from Carthy, Taylor and Jamie Storey, MearnUg came out on top.

Meanwhile, Whitehall Colmcille came through a tricky home assignment against Fingal Ravens (0-12 to 0-9) and Na Fianna ‘B’ played out a low-scoring draw with Round Tower Clondalkin at St Mobhi Road (0-8 apiece).