Clontarf cruise past Whitehall Colmcille to claim a place in the knockout stages

Pic courtesy: Mark McDonagh

PTSB DUBLIN SENIOR 1 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 2

CLONTARF 6-16

WHITEHALL COLMCILLE 0-9

By Daire Walsh

Clontarf produced a clinical display against Whitehall Colmcille at O’Toole Park on Sunday afternoon to book their spot in the quarter-final stage of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship.

Coming into this fixture with one victory and one defeat to their name in Group 2, Clontarf were seeking a return to winning ways in order to advance into the upcoming knockout rounds of the 2026 top-tier. They managed to do just that with a brace of goals from Benjamin Kelly and Kieran McKeown being supplemented by one apiece courtesy of Darragh Fagan and Leo Cunningham.

Whitehall had suffered losses at the hands of Ballinteer St John’s and Kilmacud Crokes before this encounter and despite Dublin senior footballer Cormac Costello helping himself to a personal haul of 0-8, the Collins Avenue men couldn’t rein in their rampant opponents. As a result of finishing at the foot of the group table, they will now enter into a relegation play-off as they aim to preserve their Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship status for another season.

The day had begun brightly for Whitehall with the ever-influential Costello kicking the opening score of the contest just under four minutes into the action. Yet Clontarf were eager to lay down a marker themselves and responded with unanswered points from the dynamic duo of Kelly and McKeown (two).

Costello added his second of the tie from a free, but Clontarf proceeded to take control by rattling the net no fewer than three times during a sensational two-minute period. With 13 minutes gone on the clock, the ball was played across the goal for McKeown to fire home with considerable aplomb.

This was almost immediately followed up by a clinically-taken major from Kelly who had capitalised on excellent approach work from former Dublin star Jack McCaffrey and Luke O’Boyle. A sizable gap had suddenly opened up between the sides and before Whitehall had a chance to regain their composure, inside forward Darragh Fagan was ideally placed to drill a low shot past opposition netminder Cillian Cummins.

A Leo Cunningham point further bolstered Clontarf’s prospects, before a successful Costello ‘45’ at the far end of the pitch finally halted their attacking momentum. Although this score was badly needed from a Whitehall perspective, Clontarf continued to play with confidence.

A two-pointer from play by Kelly was followed up by a ‘45’ of his own from McKeown, while Andy Foley and Kelly also added single efforts as the opening period progressed.

McKeown then took the ball around Cummins before coolly slotting home his second goal (and Clontarf’s fourth) of the game on 27 minutes, and with his later point from play being preceded by a similar contribution via Fagan, Clontarf brought a commanding 4-11 to 0-3 cushion into the interval.

Whilst the Whitehall management were hopeful the introduction of a plethora of substitutes might provide them with fresh impetus on the resumption, a fifth Clontarf goal arrived through centre-fielder Cunningham in the 32nd minute.

Costello was doing his utmost to increase Whitehall’s tally and after knocking over a two-point free, he added his second ‘45’ of the day as his side finally enjoyed a purple patch of sorts.

Yet Clontarf remained very much in the ascendancy and Kelly joined his inside partner McKeown in scoring two goals after he had claimed possession close to the Whitehall posts on 43 minutes. The St Anne’s Park side were operating at their optimum level by this stage and maintained their push for additional scores inside the final-quarter.

Complimenting a two-pointer from the impressive Foley, substitutes John Hanley and Sean Horkan did their chances of future selection no harm by kicking three white flag scores in the space of four minutes – a brace for Hanley and one for Horkan.

A two-point free from Costello and a single effort by Peter Maloney did at least ensure Whitehall had a positive end to the proceedings, but Clontarf can now embark on their forthcoming last-eight clash against defending champions Ballyboden St Enda’s with plenty of confidence.

Scorers – Clontarf: B Kelly 2-4 (1 P2), K McKeown 2-4 (0-1 ‘45’), L Cunningham, D Fagan 1-1 each, A Foley 0-3 (1 P2), J Hanley 0-2, S Horkan 0-1. Whitehall Colmcille: C Costello 0-8 (2 P2, 2 ‘45’, 1f), P Maloney 0-1.

Clontarf: B Dufficy; D Devilly, C Aherne, P Lynch; DJ O’Flaherty, L Howley, J McCaffrey; A Foley, L Cunningham; S Ryan, M MacDonncha, L O’Boyle; D Fagan, B Kelly, K McKeown. Subs: C Goode for Cunningham (36), S McCann for McCaffrey (41), J Hanley for O’Boyle (43), S Horkan for McKeown (47), S Walsh for Foley (51).

Whitehall Colmcille: C Cummins; S Giles, J Thorp, T Kellett; L Gannon, E Moran, D Scanlon; M Moran, J McDermott; J Raftery, C Costello, S Foran; R Kerins, E O’Donnell, S Gannon. Subs: T O’Sullivan for Kellett, P Maloney for Kerins, A McDermott for E Moran, P Manning for Foran (all h-t), O Murray for O’Donnell (44).

Referee: Darren Delaney (Wanderers).