Round-Up: Dublin U21 Football Championship

Ballinteer St John’s advanced to the final of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Under 21 ‘A’ Football Championship when overcoming near neighbours Ballyboden St Enda’s by 2-14 to 2-13 on the all-weather pitch in Ballinteer Community School on Saturday afternoon. 

The visitors looked well set for a comfortable win as Callum O’Dwyer’s goal pushed them nine points clear with ten minutes remaining but St John’s refused to accept their fate as they completed a stunning comeback. 

A trio of Joey Quirke frees and an excellent Pat Coleman score brought the home deficit back to a more manageable five points and when Mark McNally was upended close to goal, John Clair converted the resultant penalty to add further momentum to the Ballinteer challenge. 

A turnover at midfield allowed the hosts one final shot and while the two-point effort dropped short, a scramble on the line culminated in Jack Long flicking to the net for the game defining score. 

It was a tough loss for the holders, given the dominance that they enjoyed for the large part through the individual displays of Evan Nugent, Oisín Byrne and Darragh Delaney. 

The latter chipped in with 1-1 but his contribution and 1-4 from O’Dwyer and four Mark McGlynn points proved in vain against a home team best served on the day by Carl McDonnell, Coleman and Conor Quinn. 

It proved similarly thrilling at the 12th Lock as St Jude’s progressed to a semi-final meeting against Castleknock when edging Lucan Sarsfields by 2-18 to 2-14 after extra-time. 

The hosts raced into an early four-point lead with Rian Doherty impressing from centre-forward and they entered the break leading by 0-8 to 0-6. 

The initiative remained in Lucan’s favour in the second-half despite St Jude’s goalkeeper Joe Moore saving a Doherty penalty but a late 1-1 from Billy Shouldice saw the visitors force extra-time. 

The Templeogue outfit began to take control of matters through the scores of James O’Loughlin and Shouldice while Sean Kirwan and Cian Langan impressed at the opposite end. 

Both Oisín Costello and Eoghan Costello were hugely influential throughout as Paul Nolan confirmed their last-four berth with a second St Jude’s goal. 

The ‘B’ Championship decider will be a north coast affair as St Patrick’s Donabate and Skerries Harps recorded contrasting wins over Thomas Davis and Erin’s Isle respectively. 

At Robbie Farrell Park, Clyde Burke and Adam Conroy kicked seven points apiece as St Pat’s pipped Thomas Davis by 0-19 to 2-11. 

Levi Harley set the tone for the hosts with a brace of points from wing-back while Burke and Conroy kept the home scoreboard ticking over as the contest evolved. 

Both Conor O’Leary and JJ Davison made strong impressions off the bench for a St Patrick’s team that did just enough to prevail thanks to further points by Aido Bukovec and Tadgh McDonald. 

At Farnham Drive, a strong second quarter proved pivotal as Skerries Harps accounted for Erin’s Isle by 2-21 to 1-14. 

Daire Geoghegan (1-2) and Paddy Copeland (0-5) were the chief scorers for the visitors with Copeland’s goal coming from a penalty while four Finn McGinnis points and 1-1 by Conor Moore proved too much for the battling hosts. 

U21 ‘A’ FC semi-final: Ballinteer St John’s 2-14 Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-13. 

U21 ‘A’ FC quarter-final: Lucan Sarsfields 2-14 St Jude’s 2-18 AET. 

U21 ‘B’ FC semi-finals: St Patrick’s Donabate 0-19 Thomas Davis 2-11; Erin’s Isle 1-14Skerries Harps 2-21. 

U21 ‘C’ FC semi-final: St Peregrine’s & Garda Westmanstown Gaels scr. Whitehall Colmcille w/o.  

U21 ‘D’ FC semi-finals: Fingallians 3-11 O’Dwyer’s 2-11; St Maur’s 2-19 Naomh Mearnóg1-17 AET.