Round-Up: Go-Ahead Ireland AFL1 & AFL2 April 28th

Round 6 in Division 1 of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Football League took place on Tuesday night with Skerries Harps pulling away after the break on their way to a comfortable 2-19 to 0-8 win against St Patrick’s Donabate in Skerries. 

St Pat’s opened brightly to lead by three points but a Harry Dawson goal turned the tide in Skerries’ favour with their midfield pairing of Finn McGinnis and Luke Whelan helping them to a 1-5 to 0-4 interval lead. 

The hosts resumed on the front foot through the efforts of Kevin Gilmore, Adam El Shami and Eoghan O’Connor Flanagan and with Stephen Smith (1-2) also netting, they eased home through further scores from Dawson, McGinnis, O’Connor Flanagan, Matt Kelly, Aidan Coleman, Gilmore and Rob Delaney. 

Harps were also buoyed by the return to action of Adam Fearon with the talented and versatile player scoring three points in his first match back after breaking his ankle in last year’s SFC2 semi-final. 

There is a log jam at the summit of the table as leaders Ballymun Kickhams lost their unbeaten record when falling narrowly to Lucan Sarsfields by 1-14 to 1-13 at the 12th Lock. 

Kickhams are now joined on nine points by both Cuala and Ballinteer St John’s, who played out a thrilling 2-10 to 0-16 draw in Hyde Park. 

The visitors led by 0-11 to 0-4 at the break, thanks largely to strong displays from Finn Nolan, Liam Smith (0-3), Jack Long (0-2) and Ben Millist but two late goals saw Cuala back in the hunt with a two-pointed free from Conor O’Brien deep into injury time ensuring an equitable share of the spoils.

Ballyboden St Enda’s and Kilmacud Crokes lie in joint fourth spot following wins against Castleknock and St Mary’s Saggart respectively while Brian Dufficy, DJ O’Flaherty and Darragh Devilly all impressed in Clontarf’s 1-17 to 0-9 win over pointless St Vincent’s.  

GO-AHEAD IRELAND AFL1 RESULTS: Lucan Sarsfields 1-14 Ballymun Kickhams 1-13; Cuala 2-10 Ballinteer St John’s 0-16; Thomas Davis 1-11 St Jude’s 0-19; Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-14 Castleknock 0-11; St Mary’s Saggart 0-13 Kilmacud Crokes 0-19; Skerries Harps 2-19 St Patrick’s Donabate 0-8; Clontarf 1-17 St Vincent’s 0-9; Na Fianna 0-21 Raheny 1-18. 

In AFL2, St Sylvester’s produced a superb second-half performance when overcoming Whitehall Colmcille by 3-18 to 2-14 at Collins Avenue.

Despite scoring an early goal through Pierce Donohoe, Syls were on the back foot for the bulk of the first-half as they trailed by 2-7 to 1-8. 

The Malahide outfit were rampant upon the restart however as they scored an unanswered 2-5 by the end of the third quarter with Donohoe completing his hat-trick. 

Ross Keogh was in sparkling form as he finished the game with 0-13 to his name, including five two-pointers, with Rory Guidan and Dan O’Leary completing the away scoring. 

There was another away win at Páirc Uí Bhriain as St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh defeated Naomh Olaf by 1-18 to 2-8. 

A Luke Hughes goal saw the visitors lead by 1-9 to 2-2 at the break and they pushed on through points from Gareth Smith and Conor Tyrrell and influential displays by Mick McManus and Rowan Ovenden. 

On the Clontarf Road, Scoil Uí Chonaill cemented their mid-table position as they got the better of Naomh Barróg by 5-16 to 0-15. 

The hosts impressed through the lines from goalkeeper Andy Bunyan to Conor Maher in attack with the latter netting alongside Emmet Rogan (2), Evan Doyle and Eoghan O’Connell.

Brendan Murray added four points to the home tally with their half-forward line of Neal O’Flynn, Robert Kennedy and Sean O’Flaherty chipping in with points at regular intervals.    

GO-AHEAD IRELAND AFL2 RESULTS: Scoil Uí Chonaill 5-16 Naomh Barróg 0-15; Whitehall Colmcille 2-14 St Sylvester’s3-18; Templeogue Synge Street 2-13 Kilmacud Crokes 0-11; Naomh Olaf 2-8 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 1-18; Naomh Mearnóg 1-11 Fingallians 2-8; St Brigid’s 0-17 St Maur’s 0-1; Clanna Gael Fontenoy 1-12 Erin’s Isle 2-5; Round Towers Lusk 0-15 Fingal Ravens 3-19.