Ballinteer St Johns claim big win against Clontarf at Parnell Park

Photo courtesy: Eamon O'Callaghan

BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S 1-12 

CLONTARF 0-11

Ballinteer St John’s delivered a dominant display when getting the better of a disappointing Clontarf by four points in Group 2 of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship in Parnell Park on Friday night. 

There was little to separate the teams in the first-half before Ballinteer seized the initiative before the break with Jack Lundy’s calm finish in the 27th minute ensuring a 1-7 to 0-5 lead. 

A strong third quarter saw St John’s increase their lead and while Clontarf rallied in the final quarter, their comeback arrived too late to prevent their opponents from securing their second win on the bounce.  

The pace of Charlie Meehan saw Clontarf open the scoring inside forty seconds and they doubled that advantage through Darragh Fagan in the 5th minute. 

St John’s enjoyed their fair share of possession initially and were finally rewarded thanks to Luke Breathnach’s fine effort two minutes later and the Dublin attacker highlighted his threat with another solo score to restore parity. 

Meehan glided through the Ballinteer defence once again to restore Clontarf’s lead in the 13thminute and from an errant restart, John Hanley had the simplest of tasks in popping over the fourth point of the night for ‘Tarf. 

It was up to Breathnach to keep the St John’s scoreboard ticking over as he outfoxed Calum Aherne on the way to his third point from play by the start of the second quarter.

The tightness continued as Sean Horkan (free) and Eoghan Fitzpatrick exchanged scores before Lundy ensured the teams were back on level terms courtesy of his 22nd minute free.

Clontarf goalkeeper Brian Dufficy made two smart blocks during the half to deny both Joe Sweeney and Luke Cullen but his poor kickout was seized upon by Aaron Bradshaw, who found Lundy for a precise finish to the bottom corner.      

Sweeney and Lundy (free) were also on target during that late period of control from St John’s as they made the turnaround leading by double scores. 

A brilliant team score, finished by centre-back Liam Smith, saw Ballinteer enhance their position early in the second-half but Clontarf, missing the services of the injured Jack McCaffrey kept in touch through a fine point from Luke O’Boyle. 

Dufficy made another important save to prevent Mark McNally from netting but Patrick Coleman fired over soon after to keep St John’s on the front foot.  

It was at this stage that Luke Cullen stamped his authority on events as he tagged on three scores from play to push his side nine points clear early in the final quarter.  

The introduction of Benjamin Kelly brought some impetus to the Clontarf attack as he kicked two points from play while a Darragh Devilly two-pointer offered further grounds for optimism. 

While Senan Ryan also added to the Clontarf tally in the closing stages, the goal required to ignite their comeback never materialised as Ballinteer moved into top spot in the group. 

Scorers – Ballinteer St John’s: J Lundy 1-2 (0-2f); L Breathnach, L Cullen 0-3 each; L Smith, E Fitzpatrick, J Sweeney, P Coleman 0-1 apiece. Clontarf: C Meehan, D Devilly (P2), B Kelly 0-2 each; L O’Boyle, S Horkan (f), J Hanley, D Fagan, S Ryan 0-1 apiece.

Ballinteer St John’s: A Clabby; C Fitzpatrick, M Gardiner, B Millist; M McNally, L Smith, D Devereux; E Fitzpatrick, J Sweeney; R Cullen, J Lundy, P Coleman; A Bradshaw, L Breathnach, L Cullen. Subs: I Ó hEithir for C Fitzpatrick (38), S Fenton for Bradshaw (47), L Fenton for L Cullen (60), D O’Leary for Coleman (64).  

Clontarf: B Dufficy; P Lynch, C Aherne, D Devilly; S Walsh, A Foley, S McCann; DJ O’Flaherty, L Cunningham; C Meehan, K McKeown, L O’Boyle; J Hanley, D Fagan, S Horkan. Subs: C Goode for Walsh (half-time), B Kelly for Hanley (36), L Howley for McCann (39), M MacDonncha for Horkan (45), S Ryan for Meehan (46).

Referee: Gareth Walsh (St Peregrine’s).