AFL DIV. 1 ROUNDUP – 27TH JUNE

ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: JUNE 27

By Daire Walsh

St Vincent’s held off a spirited fightback from Ballymun Kickhams at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn on Wednesday night to retain top spot in the Adult Football League Division One table.

Following a recent away reversal to Ballyboden St Enda’s, Vins were aiming for a return to winning ways on their home patch. This was the first match between the two sides since last year’s Senior Football Championship decider, when the Marino men edged out Ballymun with three points to spare (1-8 to 0-8).

Vins enjoyed a dream start to this round eight contest – wing-back Michael Concarr breaking forward to rattle the back of the ‘Mun net inside the opening two minutes. Eamon Fennell, Tomás Quinn and Cian O’Brien were also on target for Brian Mullins’ rampant outfit – who already had six wins under their belt prior to this encounter.

Dublin senior panelist Paddy Small was a lively presence in the Ballymun attack, but the visitors were nevertheless staring into a five-point deficit – 1-7 to 0-5 – as the half-time whistle sounded. Ted Furman and Small (who lined out alongside his brother John) subsequently pointed on the resumption, before the in-form Adam Baxter fired past Sky Blues netminder Evan Comerford for his side’s second goal of the evening.

A third Vins major courtesy of marauding corner-back James McCusker – instigated by a super Fennell catch – looked set to place the outcome beyond doubt, only for ‘Mun to work their way back into the frame.

With Carl Keely and John Small pushing forward at every available opportunity, they sensed a fourth league win of 2018 was still up for grabs. After he was upended inside the square, Furman coolly slotted home a penalty to reduced the gap to two points (3-8 to 1-12).

However, Vins dug deep in the closing stages to claim the spoils amidst sweltering heat in the northside venue.

They are now one point clear of Kilmacud Crokes, who were commanding 2-22 to 1-10 victors over Lucan Sarsfields at 12th Lock. This is the Stillorgan side’s third win on the bounce, keeping their quest for a second consecutive league title very much alive.

Meanwhile, third-place Ballyboden St Enda’s kept up the heat on Vincent’s and Crokes with an accomplished 0-16 to 1-8 win over Ballinteer St John’s at Marley Park.

Thanks to a brace of Collie Carr goals at Broomfield, Brigid’s recorded back-to-back victories for the first time – at the expense of a game St Sylvester’s side. An early Carr three-pointer helped the Navan Road crew to build up a head of the steam and there was also strong contributions from Barra Collins and Lorcan McCarthy.

The reliable figure of Micheál McCarthy kept Syls in touch, though Brigid’s still brought a 1-4 to 0-5 cushion into the break. This was wiped out after the restart when the hosts raised a green flag at the end of a powerful move, but Brigid’s quickly regained focus.

An outstanding double save by goalkeeper Stephen Moore denied Syls when the game was in the melting pot and Carr’s second goal of the tie offered some breathing space to the visiting team. Although Syls continued to fight for at least a share of the spoils, Conor Brennan and Mal Tighe split the posts late on to ultimately guide Brigid’s towards a 2-13 to 1-12 triumph.

St Jude’s moved up to fifth with a nail-biting 4-3 to 2-8 success against Cuala in Shankill, while Naomh Maur moved away from the foot end of the table by defeating Na Fianna on a scoreline of 0-16 to 0-15.

Elsewhere, Thomas Davis climbed up to seventh with a hard-earned 0-19 to 0-13 victory against Naomh Olaf at Pairc Ui Bhriain.