ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: MAY 26
ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: MAY 26
By Daire Walsh
St Sylvester’s continued their unbeaten start to the Adult Football League Division Two campaign on Sunday morning at ‘The Bogies’, where the Malahide men claimed a 3-14 to 2-6 triumph at the expense of Naomh Fionnbarra.
Already clear of the chasing pack courtesy of six consecutive victories, Syls preserved their 100% record by defeating the Cabra men – who find themselves at the opposite end of the table. While there is still a lot of football left to play, the pace-setters are ideally placed for an automatic return to the top-flight.
They were relegated along with Castleknock at the end of 2018 and the Somerton Park side are also enjoying a fine season in the second-tier. Aside from a May 8 reversal to Sylvester’s in Broomfield, Castleknock haven’t put a foot wrong this term.
Overwhelming favourites for their trip to St Anne’s Park, they were made to work for a 1-10 to 1-8 win over Raheny. In a lively opening to the contest, wing-back Fintan Sweeney, Rory Corcoran and Gerard McDermottroe were all on target for Castleknock.
Raheny were equally impressive at times in attack and it took a Tommy Corcoran point on 13 minutes to keep the visitors on level terms. Sweeney and Rory Corcoran bolstered the Castleknock tally as the interval approached, but it was at this stage that Raheny discovered an extra gear.
They added 1-2 without reply in a manic scoring blitz and also claimed a point on the restart to edge 1-7 to 0-6 in front. Facing the prospect of a second league defeat, Castleknock subsequently regained momentum in the shape of a McDermottroe goal.
Though his initial effort – following a Ben Galvin run – rebounded off the woodwork, he applied the finishing touches off the resulting rebound. A lengthy spell without a score kept both sets of supporters on tenterhooks, but Castleknock eventually restored parity through the excellent Galvin.
The two teams proceeded to trade points in a tension-filled finale, increasing the possibility of a draw at the northside venue. Yet, when the pressure was at its greatest, Castleknock re-asserted their promotion credentials with a barnstorming finish to the action.
Firstly, substitute John Kindlon rounded off a patient team move with an excellent point and then McDermottroe split the posts off a tricky free to give Castleknock another precious victory. They remain two points behind Sylvester’s and just in front of third-place Naomh Mearnog on score difference.
Mearnog came from behind at Pairc Ui Bhriain on Sunday to eventually get the better of Naomh Olaf (2-15 to 2-6). Facing into a strong breeze, Aodhan Fee and Shane Carthy helped the visitors to develop an early lead.
However, a two-goal salvo by Olaf’s ensured they brought a 2-5 to 0-9 buffer into the break. There was never any sense of panic within the Mearnog ranks and they got themselves back on level terms within 10 minutes of the restart.
Fee and Niall Murphy later pounced for quick-fire goals, which effectively killed off the game as a contest. Fee’s final tally of 1-5 was complimented by Carthy’s four-point haul, while Murphy (1-1) and Jamie Walsh (0-2) also made strong contributions for the Portmarnock men.
Clontarf’s outstanding form continued at Thomas Ashe Park, where they were 4-16 to 2-13 winners against Round Tower Lusk. This is a fourth success on the bounce for ‘Tarf, who have scored a total of 13 goals in that particular run.
Kevin Lillis and Matias Mac Donncha shook the Lusk net in the opening half – offering the away side a 2-8 to 1-8 interval cushion in the process. Kieran McKeon and Mac Donncha majors on the resumption kept Clontarf in the ascendancy as they now occupy fourth spot in the table.
Ballyboughal also remain in the hunt for top honours, after they had the measure of St Mary’s, Saggart (3-10 to 1-12).
Heading into round seven as the only team in the division without a win to their name, Whitehall Colmcille put that right against Na Fianna ‘B’. Despite coming into play with four wins from six games, the St Mobhi Road men suffered a four-point reversal (1-15 to 0-14) to Whitehall.
Round Tower Clondalkin leapfrogged opponents Scoil Ui Chonaill at Monastery Road on Sunday, emerging with nine points to spare (2-13 to 0-10) in an accomplished display. It was a shaky start to the proceedings for Towers, but Barry Keane’s 13th-minute goal soon helped them to settle.
Eric Finn, Mick Hallows and Kevin McGibney were also on target as the hosts entered the interval in the ascendancy. Thomas Galvin claimed Towers’ second goal in the final-quarter and they never looked back from that point.
St Patrick’s, Palmerstown remain rooted to the foot of the table, following their resounding 4-13 to 1-6 defeat at the hands of Kilmacud Crokes ‘B’ at Glenauline Park.