Clontarf power past Anne’s into SFC semi-final

CLONTARF 0-19 ST ANNE'S 0-7

Clontarf were too strong for St Anne's in Saturday's Dublin SFC quarter-final at Parnell Park.

The early signs were ominous for the Bohernabreena as the Noel McCaffrey-managed Clontarf dominated the opening passages of play with Andy Foley particular prominent at midfield.

The pace of Jack McCaffrey was also causing problems for the Anne's defence while Maitias Mac Donncha was also to the fore.

Mac Donncha kicked two first half points for the winners while the energetic Ciaran Johnston showed a good eye for the posts throughout as he helped himself to an individual tally of 0-7 (0-2, 0-1 '45').

By the 16th minute Clontarf were 0-7 to 0-2 clear with both Anne's scores coming from the boot of Craig McKeown, who impressed of limited opportunities.

Anne's needed a first half goal to ignite the charge after playing with the wind advantage for the opening period. It almost came four minutes before the break when McKeown's long-range free nearly found the back of the net but Jack McCaffrey was back on the line to avert the danger.

Scott Fulham went close on another occasion but his flick effort when narrowly wide of Ross O'Hanlon's left upright.

Clontarf led 0-9 to 0-4 at the break and extended their advantage with the opening four points of the second half when Johnston (two points, one free), Foley and McCaffrey were all on target.

Scott Fulham broke that chain of scores with a fine point on the run for Anne's. The Bohernabreena men went close to raising green flags on a couple of occasions but Darragh Fulham hit he side-netting in the 22nd minute and his brother Scott was denied by Ross O'Hanlon three minutes later.

in between Clontarf looked sure to goal but Kevin McGrath's palmed effort when just wide after being placed by fellow sub Mark Hughes.

Clontarf concluded the game on top with Johnston converting a '45' before sub Padráic Syron and Ciaran Finan got in on the scoring act.

SCORERS - Clontarf: C Johnson 0-7 (0-2f, 0-1 ‘45’), J McCaffrey, M MacDonncha, A O’Neill 0-2 each, I O’Dwyer, A Foley, M Dufficy, M Hughes, P Synon, C Finan 0-1 each. St Anne’s: C McKeown 0-4 (0-2f), S Fulham 0-3 (0-2f).

CLONTARF: R O’Hanlon; S Coen, A O’Halloran, D Monaghan; P Breen, J McCaffrey, C Cronin; A Foley, M Walsh; I O’Dwyer, M MacDonncha, R McCullagh; C Johnson, A O’Neill, M Dufficy. Subs: K McGrath for O’Dwyer (ht), M Hughes for McCaffrey (42), P Syron for O’Neill (47), C Delargy for Dufficy (55), C Finan for Monaghan and N Shanahan for O’Halloran (58).

ST ANNE'S: L Molloy; B Connolly, R Lynch, S Stewart; B Seery, A Shanahan, T Dunne; D Galvin, C Murphy; J Lysaght, E Kennedy, L O’Brien; S Fulham, N Bergin, C McKeown. Subs: C Preston for Connolly (20, BC), D Watson for Kennedy (ht) A Doran for Lysaght (ht), J Cannon for Seery (39), C Leigh for Bergin (43), D Fulham for O’Brien (50).

REF: Barry Tiernan (O’Dwyer’s).