AFL DIV. 1 ROUNDUP: 13TH – 15TH JULY
ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: JULY 13-15
By Daire Walsh
They were held to a draw by local rivals Na Fianna at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn on Sunday morning, but with 10 rounds played in Division One of the Adult Football League, St Vincent’s remain in pole position.
With one defeat (to Ballyboden St Enda’s in mid-June) to their names, the Marino men have been in excellent form throughout 2018. An accomplished 1-14 to 0-11 success over the previously high-flying Kilmacud Crokes on July 4 ensured that Brian Mullins’ charges were in high spirits ahead of Na Fianna’s visit to PNU.
The St Mobhi Road outfit were aiming to bounce back from recent reversals to Lucan Sarsfields and Naomh Maur – in addition to avenging their April Championship defeat to Vins. They finished that contest just two points in arrears (2-17 to 2-15) and knew a fifth league triumph of the present campaign would lift them back up the table.
However, at the end of a compelling encounter, both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils; St Vincent’s 1-15, Na Fianna 2-12.
An extended weekend of league action had begun on Friday evening with a clash between Ballinteer St John’s and Kilmacud Crokes at Marley Park. St Sylvester’s and Ballymun Kickhams also faced off at Broomfield, where Syls came through with just one point to spare (0-13 to 0-12).
Crokes had lost ground on Vins as a result of their aforementioned home defeat, but they got back on track in a titanic tussle against their fellow southsiders. Though Ballinteer provided a stern resistance, the Stillorgan men eventually prevailed on a scoreline of 2-15 to 2-13.
This victory – coupled with a narrow defeat for Ballyboden St Enda’s at the hands of Cuala on Sunday morning (1-12 to 1-11) – moves them back into second place, two points adrift of Vincent’s.
The top-four in Division One is completed by Lucan Sarsfields, after they recorded a commanding 3-16 to 1-13 win against Naomh Olaf at 12th Lock on Saturday morning.
While Olaf’s kept in touch for much of the opening period, they were ultimately facing into a four-point deficit (1-8 to 0-7) at the break. With Luke Walsh and returning Dublin U20s defender CJ Smith producing the goods, Lucan pushed forward on the resumption.
Although Leitrim attacker Brendan Gallagher finished with an impressive personal haul of 1-6, he was given able-assistance on the scoring charts. In addition to Conor Gallagher’s 1-4 tally, Declan O’Shaughnessy also chipped in with 1-2 for the victors.
Sky Blues underage star Darren Gavin (son of All-Ireland winning Galway footballer Fergal) offered a powerful presence in midfield and the evergreen Stephen O’Shaughnessy was also a leading light over the course of the hour.
With Gavin, Dara Shanahan, Jack Carey and Harry Ladd landing a point apiece to compliment their chief marksmen, Lucan eased over the line.
Meanwhile, St Jude’s returned to winning ways at Somerton Park on Sunday by getting the better of basement side Castleknock (3-10 to 1-6). Courtesy of goals from Declan Donnelly and Chris Guckian, the Wellington Lane side – defeated last time out by St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh – led 2-5 to 0-5 at the midway stage.
Donnelly’s second major after the restart effectively placed the outcome beyond doubt, but Padraic Clarke, Niall Coakley, Barry Fitzgerald and Aidan Fitzmaurice ensured there was an emphatic nature to the final result.
They are joined on 10 points by Na Fianna, Cuala and Naomh Maur – who enjoyed a five-point win over Thomas Davis. With Ciaran Archer contributing the bulk of their scores, Maur’s held a slender 0-7 to 0-6 interval in Rush.
Following a 0-3 salvo by Archer, Danny Byrne rattled the back of the Davis’ net on 45 minutes to open up an eight-point gap between the teams. A spirited fightback by the Kiltipper men reduced the deficit in the final-quarter, only for Maur’s to hold out for a 1-15 to 1-10 triumph.
Elsewhere, Plunkett’s overcame the stubborn challenge of St Brigid’s at Martin Savage Park to claim back-to-back victories for the first time this season (0-11 to 0-10).