​ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: JULY 17

ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: JULY 17

By Daire Walsh

Ballyboden St Enda’s stretched their lead at the top of the Adult Football League Division One table to six points with a convincing 2-17 to 1-5 triumph over Fingallians at Pairc Ui Murchu on Wednesday night.

Following Kilmacud Crokes’ stalemate at home to Cuala (1-13 to 2-10), the gap between ‘Boden and the chasing pack has now increased. Whereas the race for the remaining play-off places is very much alive, Anthony Rainbow’s charges are virtually guaranteed of their spot in the knockout phase.

In addition to being six clear with just three games remaining in the regular campaign, they have a scoring average that is vastly superior to those around them. Despite the absence of some notable figures - including six-time Celtic Cross winner Michael Darragh Macauley - they recorded their 10th league win on the bounce and their 12th in all competitions.

Courtesy of their convincing 2-13 to 0-6 win at the expense of Skerries Harps at St Mobhi Road, Na Fianna are now joint on 17 points with Kilmacud Crokes in their respective bids for second place. Dessie Farrell’s men have the edge over the Stillorgan men on score difference - albeit they did lose out to Crokes in Glasnevin on May 12.

Completing the top-four moving into round 13 - on July 27 - are St Jude’s, who recorded a 0-12 to 0-6 win against St Brigid’s at Russell Park. Having recently suffered reversals to St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh and Thomas Davis, either side of a successful outing at home to Fingallians, the Wellington Lane outfit bounced back in confident style.

Lucan Sarsfields were aiming to make it four wins in succession when they faced Thomas Davis at Kiltipper Road. However, even though they attacked with greater purpose throughout, it was the hosts who came out on top (2-19 to 3-13).

After enduring a run of six straight defeats, Davis’ have produced an impressive run of form to ease their relegation fears. Since falling short to Na Fianna on May 22, they have accumulated 10 points out of the 12 on offer.

As a consequence of this result, and Ballymun Kickhams’ comprehensive success against Plunkett’s at Pairc Ciceam (5-16 to 0-8), Lucan have now dropped to sixth in the top-flight standings.

Meanwhile, St Vincent’s made it back-to-back wins for just the second time this season with a 10-point victory over Naomh Maur at Rush. Galvanised by their strong showing against Templeogue Synge Street 11 days earlier, Vincent’s developed a narrow advantage during a hard-fought opening.

Their defence was subsequently breached when a superb cross-field pass by Sky Blues hurler Eoghan Conroy resulted in a goal for Maur’s. The visitors remained calm and composed as the half progressed, though.

Nathan Mullins palmed home at the end of an incisive attacking move and Tomas Quinn grabbed their second goal via excellent approach work from Albert Martin. This meant that Vins had established a six-point cushion (2-7 to 1-4) in time for the interval.

While they fielded without Dublin U20 star Sean Lambe, the absence of Ciaran Archer (the top-scorer for Tom Gray’s Leinster-chasing underage side) was keenly-felt in the opposite corner. In testing conditions, Maur’s attempted to work their way back into contention.

Nevertheless, Tony Diamond’s Marino charges were always in control of their own destiny. Former Galway footballer Fiachra Breathnach was a prominent figure for the defending champions and his excellent build-up provided the platform for James O’Donnell to raise another green flag.

O’Donnell made a sizeable impact off the bench and his second goal effectively placed the outcome beyond all doubt. Ciaran Reddin rattled the net late on with a powerful effort from a free, but Vincent’s eventually prevailed on a final scoreline of 4-9 to 2-5.

The aforementioned Templeogue Synge Street received a significant boost at Dolphin Park, where they held off a late surge from Ballinteer St John’s to claim maximum points. Previously without a win in Division One for 2019, they are just one adrift of St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh and are also within reach of Fingallians and Skerries.

The foundations for their success were laid in the opening period. At the midway stage in the action, they led 0-10 to 0-2. John’s remained eight points behind on the third-quarter mark but with Aodhan Clabby in fine scoring form, they persevered with their challenge.

Although they brought the deficit down to two points (0-14 to 1-9) deep into second-half stoppage-time, this wasn’t enough to prevent their sixth defeat in just seven league matches.