ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP – JUNE 26TH

ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: JUNE 26

By Daire Walsh

Castleknock maintained their narrow grip on top spot in Division Two of the Adult Football League with a convincing 5-19 to 1-2 victory at the expense of St Patrick’s, Palmerstown on Wednesday night.

Following a defeat for St Sylvester’s at the hands of Round Tower Lusk last week, Lar Norton’s side moved in front as a consequence of their own success over Naomh Fionnbarra. They returned to Somerton Park with the aim of recording a sixth consecutive league win and thanks in no small part to another outstanding display from Gerard McDermottroe, they remained in pole position for automatic promotion to the top-flight.

Having made a dream start to their showdown with Fionnbarra, Castleknock once again came storming out of the blocks. After John Kindlon had rattled the net inside the opening minute of the contest, McDermottroe slotted home a penalty to create significant daylight between the teams.

The latter contributed 1-3 in The Bogies seven days earlier and he subsequently matched that feat before the interval had arrived. Darragh Warnock added an additional point for the hosts and although Pat’s were finally up and running on 23 minutes, Castleknock remained in the driving seat.

Supplementing another Kindlon single, Kevin Stephenson raised another green flag to give his side a commanding 3-5 to 0-1 lead at the midway stage in the action. Given how important score difference could prove to be come the end of the competition, the 2016 county finalists were eager to push forward again once the play resumed.

The in-form McDermottroe added three points to his ever-expanding tally, while Stephenson, Tommy Corcoran and Shane Boland were also on target. Pat’s secured some respite on the third-quarter mark courtesy of a well-worked goal – only for Castleknock to fire back with their latest scoring blitz.

Kindlon and Corcoran continued to impress, constantly forcing Pat’s on the back-foot. The dead-ball accuracy of McDermottroe has been a major feature of Castleknock’s game in the season thus far and a second penalty of the evening helped the Roscommon native to finish with 2-9 to his name.

A total of nine players made their way onto the scoresheet by the end – substitutes Fintan Sweeney and Rian Tempany splitting the posts to complete a perfect night’s work at the office. With just five rounds remaining in the second-tier, Pat’s are still searching for their maiden victory of the campaign.

Even though Castleknock remain at the summit, Sylvester’s and Naomh Mearnog continue to lead the chase.

Syls produced the ideal response to their set-back against Lusk by getting the better of Naomh Olaf at Broomfield (4-17 to 0-10). Meanwhile, Mearnog made it nine wins on the trot at Portmarnock, where they had seven points to spare – 0-25 to 1-15 – over Ballyboughal.

This means Castleknock, Sylvester’s and Mearnog are all tied on 18 points, with the meeting of the latter two on August 17 set to have a major bearing on their respective promotion surges.

Clontarf also remain in the reckoning after they claimed a seventh successive triumph at home to Na Fianna ‘B’ (1-16 to 1-12). Despite some shaky early season form, they are just two points adrift of the aforementioned triumvirate.

At Pairc De Burca, Kilmacud Crokes ‘B’ held onto fifth-place in the table by edging out St Mary’s, Saggart on a scoreline of 0-12 to 1-7.

Elsewhere, Scoil Ui Chonaill survived a late fightback from Round Tower Lusk to secure the spoils on the Clontarf Road. This is a third consecutive win for the northsiders, who have moved into the upper echelons of the table.

Thanks to strong contributions from Robert Kennedy and Tiarnan Crowe, they brought a 2-3 to 1-2 cushion into the break. Following eye-catching efforts by former county panellist Andy Bunyan, Conor Coady and Neil O’Flynn, Scoil looked set to ease themselves over the line.

They were made to work for their supremacy in the end, but they eventually prevailed with a single point to spare (2-8 to 1-10).

Courtesy of wins over Naomh Fionnbarra and Whitehall Colmcille respectively, Raheny and Round Tower Clondalkin eased their relegation fears. Raheny’s spirits had been lifted by a recent victory at the expense of Clondalkin and they emerged with a four-point success (0-16 to 2-6) at St Anne’s Park.

Following back-to-back defeats against Castleknock and Raheny, Towers were seeking a return to winning ways in Collins Avenue. Supplementing a Thomas Galvin free, Jason Joyce shook the back of the Whitehall net in the fourth-minute.

Eric Finn, Galvin, Lee Moran and the ever-reliable Ian Ward also found the range – offering Towers an encouraging 1-6 to 0-6 buffer during the interval. A successful Whitehall penalty threw a spanner in the works on the restart, though, and they fell two points behind heading towards the third-quarter mark.

An Adam Doyle point subsequently settled them again and a Ward goal on the stroke of 50 minutes ensured they were back in the ascendancy. It remained tight until the end, but a Ward free in stoppage-time ultimately sealed a 2-9 to 1-10 triumph for Towers.