AFL DIV. 2 ROUNDUP – 27TH JUNE
ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: JUNE 27
By Daire Walsh
Templeogue Synge Street moved back to the summit of the Adult Football League Division Two table with a determined 1-10 to 0-12 success over Clontarf at Dolphin Park on Wednesday evening.
The southsiders had occupied to top-two spots in the second-tier alongside Skerries Harps for a number of weeks, before some mixed results allowed Round Tower Clondalkin to leap-frog them into first place.
However, after Towers suffered a seven-point defeat (1-15 to 0-11) at the hands of Fingallians in Monastery Road, Templeogue and Skerries are once again leading the way at the end of round eight.
Hot on the heels of their 1-7 to 0-15 reversal against Naomh Mearnog two weeks earlier, TSS were seeking a return to form as they hosted ‘Tarf on a warm night in Dublin 12. Boosted by the presence of five-time All-Ireland SFC winner Eoghan O’Gara in their side, Templeogue looked to set their stall out in attack.
‘Tarf proved to be a hard nut to crack, but former Dublin panellist Conor McKiernan did finish an incisive move to the back of their net during a tightly-contested opening half. In addition to O’Gara’s 0-2 salvo, Ger Vickery also contributed five points over the course of the hour.
Luke O’Brien, Kevin Hughes and Colm Murphy added a point apiece, ensuring that Templeogue eventually saw off the stubborn challenge of Clontarf. They are just ahead of Skerries on score difference – after Harps produced a committed display to get the better of St Patrick’s, Palmerstown at Glenauline Park.
Despite being short a host of regulars for a variety of reasons, Skerries recovered from the concession of an early goal to lead Pat’s for large spells of the first half. Three points by midfielder Conor O’Brien, as well as a Kevin Gilmore brace, looked set to keep them in front during the break.
Yet, courtesy of a second Pat’s goal, they trailed by a single point (2-4 to 0-9) on the half-hour mark. Skerries left this set-back behind them when the action resumed, though – quickly regaining the lead with the help of the experienced Harry Dawson.
He registered six points for the well-drilled Harps, and with Conan Doherty adding a goal at the end of the third-quarter, they created some daylight between themselves and Pat’s. Teenager Cillian McGinnis also kicked two points off the bench, but Pat’s remained in touch as the final whistle loomed.
Skerries managed to hold firm under pressure, however – late scores by Robbie Clinton and ex-Dublin star Bryan Cullen swinging the outcome in their favour (1-16 to 2-10). With Naomh Mearnog losing out to St Mary’s Saggart (1-14 to 0-6), Fingallians have now moved up to third as a result of their win in Clondalkin.
Na Fianna ‘B’ are also still in the hunt thanks to their extraordinary 4-19 to 6-9 triumph over Ballyboughal at Collinstown Lane. At St Anne’s Park, Whitehall Colmcille overcame Raheny on a scoreline of 3-10 to 3-7.
This follows a comprehensive success for the Collins Avenue outfit over Na Fianna in the previous round and they now occupy seventh position in the table.
Meanwhile, Fingal Ravens afforded themselves some breathing space with a 2-12 to 1-8 win against basement side O’Toole’s – still searching for their maiden points of this year’s league. Ravens move ahead of second-from-bottom St Anne’s – who suffered a 2-18 to 0-15 defeat at home to Scoil Ui Chonaill.