A Round-Up of Go-Ahead Irelands AFL 1 & AFL 2

Na Fianna produced another high-scoring display as they eased past Fingal Ravens by 5-21 to 2-7 in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Football League Division 1 encounter in Rolestown on Tuesday evening. 

The visitors shared the goals through Keelan Sexton, Sean Caffrey, David Quinn, Seamus Smith and James Doran with a strong performance by Niall McGovern and a brace of two-pointed scores after the break from Smith seeing them home comfortably. 

That win keeps them just a point behind league leaders Ballyboden St Enda’s, who pulled away in the second-half to claim an impressive 2-24 to 1-10 victory against Cuala in Hyde Park. 

St Patrick’s Donabate remain in joint third spot following their thrilling 2-19 to 2-18 victory over St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh in Robbie Farrell Park. 

The hosts raced out of the blocks to take an early 1-4 to 0-0 lead but Plunkett’s responded well to limit their deficit to a solitary point by the interval. 

The home goals were scored by Ollie Brooks, who also chipped in with four points, and Luke Sweetman and while Ted Furman kicked 0-9 for the visitors, St Pat’s did enough to prevail thanks to seven points by Stephen Dempsey and six points from Dylan Knight. 

They are joined in third spot by a Clontarf side that did just enough to get the better of St Sylvester’s at St Anne’s Park, winning by 1-20 to 0-19 as Syls still seek their first win of the campaign. 

In Páirc Ciceam, Ballymun Kickhams eased their relegation concerns as they proved too strong for St Mary’s Saggart, enjoying a 5-19 to 1-10 victory. 

The hosts dominated throughout thanks to influential displays from the likes of Brian Ashton, Evan Comerford, Jamie Grant, Adam Conway, Carl Keeley and David Leonard as they built a ten-point interval lead. 

Ballymun kicked on after the break with Darragh Keane, Keeley, Dean Rock, Leonard, Robbie Bolger, Comerford, Conway, Cameron McCormack and Grant all adding to their tally by the final whistle.  

Go-Ahead Ireland AFL1: Lucan Sarsfields v Ballinteer St John’s OFF; St Patrick’s Donabate 2-19 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 2-18; Cuala 1-10 Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-24; Ballymun Kickhams 5-19 St Mary’s Saggart 1-10; Fingal Ravens 2-7 Na Fianna 5-21; Kilmacud Crokes v Thomas DavisOFF; Clontarf 1-20 St Sylvester’s 0-19; St Jude’s 0-14 Castleknock 1-13.

In Go-Ahead Ireland AFL2, Skerries Harps claimed top spot on their own as they defeated previous leaders St Vincent’s by 3-16 to 1-8 at Páirc Naomh Uinsionn. 

After a relatively even opening, the visitors seized control either side of the interval, scoring 2-4 without reply before the break while adding 1-3 in the early stages of the second-half. 

Harps goalkeeper Shane Davis made a superb intervention during this period to maintain his side’s momentum as Skerries largely controlled matters through the efforts of Seán Rocks, Daire Gielty in defence, Paul Wilde and Adam Fearon in midfield and Eoin Wilde and Cillian Emmett up top. 

With St Brigid’s losing narrowly away to Round Towers Lusk, Raheny took full advantage in joining them in third spot following their narrow 0-18 to 2-11 win over near neighbours Scoil Uí Chonaill at St Anne’s Park. 

Three early Colin McAweeney points saw the hosts seize the initiative but a Scoil goal saw the teams deadlocked at 0-7 to 1-4 by the interval. 

Raheny resumed on the front foot through two-pointed scores from Rob Hennelly and Paddy Reid and while the visitors plundered a second goal to leave things delicately poised, Sean Magann converted a late free to ultimately settle the issue. 

Reid top scored with 0-5 and with substitute Killian McGuirk impressing with two vital points, Raheny were indebted to Ben McHugh and Alex Kinsella in their full-back line as they withstood some concerted late pressure.    

Go-Ahead Ireland AFL2: Fingallians 5-18 Naomh Olaf 0-12; St Vincent’s 1-8 Skerries Harps 3-16; Naomh Fionnbarra 1-8 Templeogue Synge Street 3-22; Naomh Mearnóg 0-10 Naomh Barróg 4-21; Kilmacud Crokes 3-18 Whitehall Colmcille 1-22; Raheny 0-18 Scoil Uí Chonaill 2-11; Na Fianna 3-21 Pobal Parnell 2-18; Round Towers Lusk 2-23 St Brigid’s 4-14.