MUN MARCH ON IN STYLE
Dublin SFC Group 4
Ballymun Kickhams 4-18
Clontarf 1-6
Daire Walsh
BALLYMUN Kickhams underlined their Dublin SFC title credentials with a convincing 21-point win against Clontarf at Balgriffin last night.
With Karl Keely, Leon Young, Ted Furman and Conor Kavanagh all finding the back of the ‘Tarf net, Ballymun comfortably secured their second consecutive Group Four victory.
Although Dean Rock missed out through injury, ‘Mun were able to call on a host of (past and present) inter-county stars.
Inside the opening three minutes of the contest, the 2017 finalists created serious daylight over their northside rivals with a brace of well-worked goals. After wing-back Karl Keely fired past Ross O’Hanlon – following a piercing run by All-Star James McCarthy – Kavanagh set-up Young for a simple palmed finish from close-range.
Paddy Small split the uprights at the end of another move, before Clontarf eventually opened their account through Patrick Broin. However, thanks to unanswered scores by Paddy Small (two) and Fiach Andrews, ‘Mun remained in control.
PACE AND POWER
Minus the services of injured Dublin star Jack McCaffrey, ‘Tarf struggled to contain the pace and power of their highly-rated opponents. Morale-boosting efforts by Craig McConnell, substitute Conor McGinn and Kevin Lillis (free) briefly lifted their spirits, only for Furman (two), Andrews and Whelan to propel ‘Mun towards a 2-8 to 0-4 interval advantage.
Clontarf reduced their deficit with a Patrick Mohan point straight after the restart, but ‘Mun’s impressive haul of 1-5 without reply subsequently placed the outcome beyond doubt.
In addition to points from Young, Paddy Small (0-2) and Andrews, Furman registered a superb 1-1 salvo.
After Lillis brought this scoring blitz to the end with a sharp score from play, Kavanagh grabbed ‘Mun’s fourth goal with a delicate chip over the stranded O’Hanlon.
It had turned into a damage limitation exercise for ‘Tarf, although a magnificent three-pointer by Lillis was a notable highlight in the final-quarter.
Yet, fespite taking their foot off the gas to a certain extent, Ballymun ended the proceedings in style with placed-ball contributions from Furman (two frees) and goalkeeper Evan Comerford (’45’).
Scorers – Ballymun Kickhams: T Furman 1-6 (0-2f), P Small 0-5 (1f), L Young 1-1, K Keely, C Kavanagh 1-0 each, F Andrews 0-3, J Whelan 0-2, E Comerford 0-1 (’45’). Clontarf: K Lillis 1-2 (0-1f), P Broin, P Mohan, C McConnell, C McGinn 0-1 each.
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: E Comerford; P McMahon, E Dolan, A Hubbard; K Keely, J Small, J Burke; A Elliott, J McCarthy; F Andrews, L Young, J Whelan; P Small, T Furman, D Rock. Subs: A George for Hubbard, C Hulton for Andrews (both 44), C O Tighe for McCarthy (46), D Conlon for Young (52), Hubbard for Furman (60, BC).
CLONTARF: R O’Hanlon; C Cronin, A O’Halloran, D Monaghan; L Howley, J Carroll, P Broin; A Foley, M Walsh; P Mohan, N Doran, M Mac Donnacha; M Hughes, C McConnell, K Lillis. Subs: C McGinn for Monaghan (17, BC), F Dodd for Broin (44-49, blood), Broin for Howley (49), D Twomey for Hughes (52), B Forde for Mohan (54).
Referee: B Tiernan (O’Dwyers).