McGinnis the late, late hero as Skerries edge out Clontarf in SFC1

DUBLIN SFC1 GROUP 2

SKERRIES HARPS 2-13 CLONTARF 2-12

A superb Killian McGinnis point in the 59th minute saw Skerries Harps complete a spirited comeback to defeat Clontarf in Wednesday night's Dublin SFC1 Group 2 duel in Parnell Park.

Clontarf, with Kevin Lillis to the fore in attack, led by six points 1-10 to 1-4 early in the second half but Skerries then hit 1-6 without reply as Clontarf struggled to win possession off their own kickouts.

Ciaran Murphy began their comeback with two converted frees before Donal McIlgorm slide the ball to the net following good work by Mark Boylan in the 38th minute.

The hard-running Colin Daly added a point before Murphy tagged on two more frees and a fine point from play for Harps to edge 2-10 to 1-10 in front by the 47th minute.

Clontarf need to respond and they did with a clinical breakaway move involving Andy Foley, Tom O'Flaherty and Kevin Lillis for Maitias Mac Donncha to find the net and bring the sides level with just over ten minutes left.

Murphy and Foley exchanged points before Jack Smith kicked a fine score to give Harps a 2-12 to 2-11 lead.

With four minutes to go great Clontarf interplay between Jack McCaffrey, Nathan Doran and O'Flaherty led to an equaliser from Kieran McKeon.

But the drama wasn't over as McGinnis curled a beauty from 35 metres with his left foot to secure victory for Harps.

In the opening 20 minutes of this entertaining contest Clontarf looked by far the more likely winners and held a 1-5 to 0-1 lead.

Mac Donncha got their goal from the penalty spot in the tenth minute, following a foot block on Kieran McKeon.

Nathan Doran and Lillis both hit two frees with Lillis adding a stylish point from play to see their side seven points clear with ten minutes to play in the first half.

But Skerries began to battle back before the break with the physical presence of Donal McIlgorm causing problems for Clontarf on the edge of the square.

He palmed over one point while Conan Doherty's 22nd minute goal came off a high delivery competed for by their big full-forward.

By the 28th minute there was just two points between the sides before Clontarf closed out the half with scores from Lillis (two) and a clever Foley effort when he looked to be bottled up but dropped the ball and half-volleyed over the bar from 30 metres to give his side a 1-9 to 1-4 interval lead.

SCORERS - Skerries Harps: C Murphy 0-8 (0-6f), D McIlgorm 1-1, C Doherty 1-0, J Smith, C Daly, M Boylan, K McGinnis 0-1 each. Clontarf: K Lillis 0-6 (0-2f), M Mac Donncha 2-0 (1-0 pen), A Foley 0-3, N Doran 0-2 (0-2f), K McKeon 0-1.

SKERRIES HARPS: S Davis; R McGarry, S Rocks, K Dalton; J Smith, B Cullen, C Daly; E McGinley, M Boylan; K Gilmore, C Murphy, C Doherty; K McGinnis, D McIlgorm, S Smith. Subs: A Fearon for Dalton (22), T Ryan for Gilmore (30), C O'Brien for Doherty (52).

CLONTARF: R O'Hanlon; D Monaghan, C Doran, C Cronin; A O'Halloran, J McCaffrey, C Kyne; M Walsh, A Foley; T O'Flaherty, N Doran, S Quigley; K Lillis, M Mac Donncha, K McKeon. Subs: S Walsh for Cronin (42), C McConnell for M Walsh (45).

REF: D Stynes (St Peregrine's).