Round Up of the Go-Ahead Ireland Intermediate Football Championship Round 1

The Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Intermediate Club Football Championship commenced on Saturday evening with Trinity Gaels doing just enough to get the better of Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels by 4-11 to 2-16 at Galtymore Road.  

The ability of the visitors to raise green flags at crucial times proved the difference between the teams with Josh McCann leading the way in terms of scores with a personal tally of 1-7. 

Josh McCann, Craig Reilly and Joey McCann scored the other goals for Trinity Gaels and with the influential Evan Whelan and Shaun Flanagan adding to their tally, they held on by the slimmest of margins through strong defensive displays from Evan McDonagh and Mark Walsh. 

The other game in Group 2 was similarly tight with Man O’War enjoying a high-scoring 2-23 to 2-18 home win against Craobh Chiaráin. 

In Group 1, Ballyboughal made the most of home advantage as they overcame North County rivals Round Towers Lusk by 2-20 to 1-16.

The foundation for their win lay at the back with goalkeeper David Downey making a number of crucial interventions while John Rodgers (0-2), Danny McGill (0-2), Simon Barrett and Cahal Flynn all caught the eye in defence. 

Both Sean Conville and Cian Casey (0-2) offered a solid presence at centrefield and with Gerry Seaver top scoring with 1-5, they posted a wining tally through 1-1 by Richie Downey and four points apiece from Cian Warren and Matthew Farrell. 

The hosts were also boosted by a strong impact from the bench with the likes of Cian Downey, Senan Campbell and Cathal Beggs all impressing when introduced. 

The other fixture went right down to the wire as St Peregrine’s and Clann Mhuire had to settle for a share of the spoils following their 1-16 to 2-13 draw at Blakestown Road. 

In Group 3, it proved a fruitful evening for the visiting teams as Garristown defeated O’Dwyer’s by 4-10 to 1-4 in Balbriggan while St Anne’s edged St Patrick’s Palmerstown by 1-14 to 1-9 in Glenauline Park. 

There was another away win in Group 4 as Naomh Fionnbarra proved too strong for Ranelagh Gaels, winning by 3-13 to 0-7 at Páirc Uí Bhriain. 

Jordan Fitzsimons impressed once again in defence for the Cabra outfit and with Tommy O’Neill and Karl Grimes kicking four points apiece, they built up a healthy lead by the final whistle through goals from Lee Cooney, Aaron Costello and Conor Carberry. 

It was not quite as straightforward in the final match of the night as St Margaret’s and O’Toole’s had to content themselves with a point apiece following their 1-18 to 3-12 draw. 

Go-Ahead Ireland IFC Club Group 1: Ballyboughal 2-20 Round Towers Lusk 1-16; St Peregrine’s 1-16 Clann Mhuire 2-13. 

Go-Ahead Ireland IFC Club Group 2: Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 2-16 Trinity Gaels 4-11; Man O’War 2-23Craobh Chiaráin 2-18. 

Go-Ahead Ireland IFC Club Group 3: O’Dwyer’s 1-4 Garristown 4-10; St Patrick’s Palmerstown 1-9 St Anne’s 1-14.  

Go-Ahead Ireland IFC Club Group 4: Ranelagh Gaels 0-7 Naomh Fionnbarra 3-13; St Margaret’s 1-18 O’Toole’s 3-12.