Round-Up: AFL1 & AFL 2 May 23rd

Round 10 in Division 1 of the Dublin Adult Football League took place on Saturday evening with Kilmacud Crokes keeping pace with leaders Ballyboden St Enda’s as they overcame Clontarf by 2-22 to 1-14 in Páirc de Búrca.  

The hosts were full value for their victory with Darragh Dempsey impressing from the outset as he kicked 1-6 while Shane Horan was also heavily involved as he finished with 0-6 to his name. 

Former Irish 7s rugby player Niall Comerford (0-2) showed his versatility with another strong showing at midfield and with goalkeeper Robbie Murray kicking five points, Crokes made certain of their win thanks to 1-2 from Luke Ward. 

In Páirc Ciceam, Ballymun Kickhams bounced back from their midweek loss to Cuala when beating Ballinteer St John’s by 2-13 to 0-13. 

Keelin McGann excelled once again for Kickhams from full-forward and while Ben Millist, Aaron Bradshaw and Finn Nolan led a St John’s comeback, Robbie Bolger made sure of the home win with a typically opportunistic goal in the third quarter. 

Skerries Harps were another team that got back to winning ways as a strong first-half showing helped them account for St Mary’s Saggart by 1-15 to 2-6. 

Harps took early control thanks to 1-3 by Eoin Wilde and four Stephen Smith points and they remaining in control of matters after the break courtesy of further scores by Ciaran Murphy (0-2), Smith, Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan, Adam El Shami and Luke Harrison. 

There was another home win at Páirc Naomh Uinsionn as St Vincent’s did just enough to account for Cuala, prevailing by 2-13 to 2-12 for their second win of the campaign. 

The visitors seized the early initiative through goals from Shane Mangan and Conor Mulally but Vinnies subsequently tightened up at the back through the efforts of Mark L’Estrange and Craig Wilson. 

Points from Cillian O’Grady, Sean Lowry, Paul Reynolds Hand and Kaelem O’Brien added momentum to the home challenge with Lowry and O’Brien netting to secure a hard-earned win. 

AFL1 RESULTS: Lucan Sarsfields 3-14 Na Fianna 4-15; St Patrick’s Donabate 1-17 St Jude’s 2-14; Ballymun Kickhams 2-13 Ballinteer St John’s 0-13; Kilmacud Crokes 2-22 Clontarf 1-14; St Vincent’s 2-13 Cuala 2-12; Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-21 Thomas Davis 2-13; Skerries Harps 1-15 St Mary’s Saggart 2-6; Castleknock 0-15 Raheny 1-9.

In AFL2, a strong start set the tone as Fingallians moved up the table when overcoming Kilmacud Crokes by 3-15 to 2-7 in Silver Park. 

The visitors raced out of the traps through a Sean O’Neill goal and added to their tally through points from Killian Murphy, Gavin O’Neill, Oisín Lynch and Conor Kelly to enjoy a 1-10 to 1-3 interval advantage.

Lynch added a second goal within ten minutes of the restart while Mikey Caul made certain of a Fins victory with a third goal ten minutes from time. 

Matters were similarly comfortable for St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh who remain in joint top spot following their 2-18 to 1-12 win over Whitehall Colmcille at Collins Avenue. 

Wing-forward Craig Dunleavy and full-back James O’Donoghue impressed throughout for the winners while Ted Furman weaved his magic up front to leave Plunkett’s sharing the lead with a Fingal Ravens side that pipped Erin’s Isle by 0-17 to 1-13. 

Following their midweek loss to Naomh Barróg, Naomh Mearnóg got back on track with a solid 0-20 to 1-12 win against Scoil Uí Chonaill in Páirc Mearnóg. 

The foundation for their win lay at the back through influential displays from Michael Fitzgerald, Conor Archer and Tynam Neville while Cian Madden and Gavin Nangle enjoyed a decisive edge around the middle third. 

Their dominance allowed Jamie Walsh to excel in attack with four Jason O’Neill points and a trio of Shane Archer scores seeing them home safely.  

AFL2 RESULTS: Whitehall Colmcille 1-12 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 2-18; Templeogue Synge Street 1-10 St Sylvester’s 2-7; Naomh Mearnóg 0-20 Scoil Uí Chonaill 1-12; Fingal Ravens 0-17Erin’s Isle 1-13; St Brigid’s 1-14 Naomh Olaf 1-9; Clanna Gael Fontenoy 1-12 Naomh Barróg 4-16; Kilmacud Crokes 2-7 Fingallians 3-17.