Round-Up: Go-Ahead Ireland AFL3 & AFL4 Feb 22nd

Cuala delivered a strong team performance when getting the better of newly-promoted O’Dwyer’s by 4-12 to 0-10 in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Football League Division 3 encounter in Hyde Park on Sunday morning. 

Despite playing against a strong breeze in the opening-half, the hosts enjoyed a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead, thanks largely to a dominant display at midfield from Dublin Under 20 player Ben Ó Rathallaigh. 

Marc Ó hAonghusa scored Cuala’s goal in the first-half and added another after the break to finish with 2-3 to his name. 

Further green flags were raised by Darragh McAdam and Evan Gleeson as the contest evolved with Cuala easing home courtesy of further scores from Mark Smith (0-3), Fergal Henry (0-3) and Cuán Nugent (0-2).

In Somerton Park, early goals by Tom Galvin and Joey Leech set the tone as Round Towers Clondalkin defeated Castleknock by 4-9 to 1-6. 

The visitors continued to impress through the efforts of their captain Jack Halpin and vice-captain Conor Broderick and with Harry Leech pulling the strings for Towers, they pulled away through further goals from Galvin and Joey Leech. 

There was another away win in Sancta Maria as Brian Shanahan and Leon Daly shared the scoring honours as St Margaret’s defeated Ballyboden St Enda’s by 1-23 to 1-18.

Both Daly and Shanahan caught the eye with five points apiece on a morning when ten players contributed to the Maggies tally. 

Charlie Madigan (1-1) and Conor McKenna (0-3) also made valuable contributions and with Shane Madigan, Ciaran Bruton and influential midfielder Scott Shire adding two points apiece, they claimed a deserved win through strong performances at the back from Darren Keogh, Ciaran Heneghan and Jack Stynes.    

GO-AHEAD IRELAND AFL3 RESULTS: Ballyboughal 2-11 St Sylvester’s 3-7; St Anne’s v Naomh Fionnbarra OFF ; Trinity Gaels 3-12 Pobal Parnell 2-18 Cuala 4-12 O’Dwyer’s 0-10; Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-18 St Margaret’s 1-23; Castleknock 1-6 Round Towers Clondalkin 4-9; Clontarf 2-13 Thomas Davis 3-12; Na Fianna 3-17 Clann Mhuire 4-6.

The start of Division 4 was hit by postponements with no less than three of the eight scheduled fixtures pulled as early as Friday lunchtime. 

Of the contests that did go ahead, St Patrick’s Palmerstown plundered two late goals to defeat St Finian’s Swords by 3-6 to 0-12 in Nevinstown. 

St Finian’s kicked a trio of two-pointers to lead by 0-8 to 1-4 at the break with Alan Griffin keeping St Pat’s in the hunt with a well-taken goal. 

The visitors undermined some excellent approach play by Rory Clarke and Ciaran Deegan with some errant shooting throughout but remained in contention thanks to solid displays in defence by Cormac Dunne and PJ Graham. 

The likes of Garbhán Gallagher, Adam Lambe and Daragh Garrigan ensured that St Pat’s were more than competitive around the middle third and they eventually gained their reward through decisive goals in the final quarter from Luke McGovern and Conor McHugh. 

Elsewhere, St Vincent’s, St Jude’s and Ballymun Kickhams enjoyed home victories while Garristown and Craobh Chiaráin shared the spoils, drawing 0-16 apiece.  

GO-AHEAD IRELAND AFL4 RESULTS: St Peregrine’s v O’Toole’s OFF; St Patrick’s Donabate v Fingal Ravens OFF; Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels v Whitehall Colmcille OFF; Garristown 0-16 Craobh Chiaráin 0-16; St Patrick’s Palmerstown 3-6 St Finian’s Swords 0-12; Ballymun Kickhams 4-8 Geraldine P. Moran 2-9; St Vincent’s 1-22 Ballinteer St John’s 2-9; St Jude’s 2-13 Man O’War 1-7.