Lucan Sarsfields retain PTSB Dublin SFC 1 status after clinical display against Raheny

LUCAN SARSFIELDS 1-23

RAHENY 0-18

A storming first-half performance laid the platform for a huge win for Lucan Sarsfields, securing their place in the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship for another season.

Aided by the stiff wind, and inspired by the combined talents of Mark Lavin and Rian Doherty, Lucan strode 14 points clear by half time at the St Margaret's GAA grounds.

Lavin and Doherty registered three two-pointers each during that blitzkrieg period with Raheny simply unable to push back the green tide.

Colm Behan's 25th minute goal was hugely significant too, moving Lucan 13 points clear at that stage and already within touching distance of safety.

Having lost heavily to Cuala in their final Group 4 game, Lucan's confidence could have been shaken but they pulled off a terrific display of intensity and efficiency across the hour to save their status.

Lavin finished with 10 points for them, one more than Doherty while a huge defensive effort - mostly without former Dublin defender Daire Newcombe who was replaced early on - ensured that a frantic Raheny never got the goal they craved, particularly in the second half.

Raheny, semi-finalists three years ago, threw everything they had at Lucan after the turnaround and registered four second-half two-pointers, two from Brian Fenton, another from Brian Howard and one from Mayo goalkeeper Rob Hennelly.

But five Raheny shots at goal in the second half alone all came to nothing and meant that Lucan were always well in the clear.

The result means Raheny will compete in the PTSB Dublin Senior 2 Football Championship in 2027.

It was the fourth year in a row for the clubs to meet in the championship with Raheny coming out on top in 2023 and 2024.

Lucan overcame Raheny last season, on their way to the quarter-finals, and repeated the dose this time, leading virtually from pillar to post.

Lavin was on fire from the off and nailed his first two-pointer within two minutes. Seán Magann and Cuan Malone replied with singles for Raheny but when Jamie Smith nudged Lucan ahead again in the eighth minute, they remained in pole position from there on.

Pressing Raheny hard all over the pitch, Lucan made great use of possession and consistently worked it to shooters Lavin and Doherty who swung over score after score from beyond the arc.

Twice Lucan worked openings down the left for goal chances. The first of them ended with Finn Bruton shooting wide of the upright but he was operating on an advantage call from the referee and when play was brought back, Lavin kicked a two-pointer.

Lavin turned provider down the left for Lucan's second goal chance, ending with the ball finding Behan close to goal and he hammered home.

Lucan were full value for their 1-18 to 0-7 half-time lead but the big question was how valuable would the wind be to Raheny after the break?

They did their best to take full advantage of it but a mixture of errant shooting - Raheny hit 11 second-half wides - and wholehearted defending from Lucan meant a comeback never really appeared likely.

Fenton clipped over two sumptuous two-pointers in the closing minutes for Raheny, both off his left foot, and his former Dublin colleague Howard raised an orange flag too.

But they'd simply left themselves too much to do and Lucan points from Darren Gavin and Doherty in stoppage time set the seal on an important win for the boys in green.

Scorers - Lucan Sarsfields: M Lavin 0-10 (2tp, 1 tpf, 1f); R Doherty 0-9 (3tp); C Behan 1-1; J Smith 0-2; D Gavin 0-1. Raheny: B Fenton (2 tp), S Magann (1f) 0-4 each; R Hennelly (1 tpf, 1 45), B Howard (1 tp) 0-3 each; C Malone, C Baldwin, A McAweeney, C Ivers (1f) 0-1 each.

Lucan Sarsfields: M Griffin; E Seery, D Cahill, F Bruton; A Murphy, D Newcombe, M Coogan; C Behan, D Gavin; J Smith, C Gavin, M Guilfoyle; J Carey, M Lavin, R Doherty.

Subs: C Coffey for Newcombe (7), C Gallagher for Carey (48), O Ennis for Cahill (53), M O'Brien for Guilfoyle (54), B O'Sullivan for C Gavin (61).

Raheny: R Hennelly; A Kinsella, J Lunney, B Dunne; R Coyne, D Byrne, C Baldwin; B Fenton, B Howard; A McAweeney, S O'Leary, C Malone; E Smyth, C Ivers, S Magann.

Subs: C Hehir for Dunne (h/t), C McAweeney for Smyth (42), F Brassil for Magann (46), D Lunney for Malone (55), T Hurley for Baldwin (59).

Referee: Sean McCarthy (St Vincent's)