Round-Up of the Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 2 Football Championship Round 3

The last eight in the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 2 Football Championship were confirmed on Saturday night with St Brigid’s clinching their place in the quarter-finals following their 3-11 to 1-5 victory over Naomh Olaf at Russell Park. 

In a low-scoring first-half, a goal from Michael McGrath edged the hosts into a 1-4 to 0-2 interval lead and they began to pull away after the break with Scott Daly to the fore with three points from play. 

A penalty from Philly Ryan and a third goal by Daniel Logan kept St Brigid’s on the front foot as they eased home through further scores by Conor Watt, Mark Donnelly and Stephen Donnelly.  

Joining them from Group 1 are a St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh side that finished in top spot despite their 3-9 to 3-6 defeat to St Maur’s at Martin Savage Park with two Conor Tyrell goals proving insufficient for the hosts. 

In Group 2, goals proved pivotal at Lawless Park as Fingallians narrowly got the better of Naomh Barróg by 3-10 to 0-16. 

There was never much to separate the teams throughout as the hosts led by 1-7 to 0-9 at the break with Sean O’Neill netting for Fins in the 20th minute.  

The contest continued in a similar vein after the break with a Stephen Hickey goal at the start of the final quarter putting some daylight between the teams and they confirmed victory through substitute Dan King as he followed up well after Derek Rodgers’ shot had struck the upright. 

Oisín Lynch kicked four points over the hour while Dillon Staunton, Lewis Nugent Byrne, Rodgers and Mikey Caul also made valuable contributions on the scoreboard with Darragh Foley impressing throughout at the back for the winners. 

Skerries Harps completed their third successive win in Group 3 as they eased past PobalParnell by 0-26 to 0-5 in St David’s. 

Fionn O’Leary and Greg McEneaney were the pick of the away defence and with Darragh Redmond showing well at midfield, they cruised home through the scoring returns of Killian McGinnis and Stephen Smith. 

Harps are joined in the knockout stages by Clanna Gael Fontenoy, who built on their previous win over Pobal Parnell to edge Naomh Mearnóg by 1-15 to 2-9 in Páirc Mearnóg. 

The visitors kept their tally ticking over through the contributions of Jack Flanagan, Conor Hennessy and Oisín Darcy while Mike O’Connor and Colm O’Connell both shone in a defensive capacity. 

At Monastery Road, Scoil Uí Chonaill were pushed all the way before claiming second spot in Group 4 when pipping Round Towers Clondalkin by 1-13 to 2-9. 

An Eoghan O’Connell goal left the visitors with a comfortable lead at the break but the hosts rallied with two goals in quick succession in the final quarter to regain the lead. 

However, Scoil did enough to get over the line with five Robert Kennedy points, a trio of Emmet Rogan scores and further returns by Evan O’Doyle, Neil O’Flynn, Karl Martin, Andy Bunyan and Páidí Conlon proving crucial by the final whistle. 

Top spot in the group was secured by St Pat’s Donabate, who netted twice in the closing stages to defeat North County rivals Fingal Ravens by 2-9 to 0-13.  

SFC2 Group 1: St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 3-6 St Maur’s 3-9; St Brigid’s 3-11 Naomh Olaf 1-5. 

SFC2 Group 2: Erin’s Isle 1-19 St Mary’s Saggart 2-13; Fingallians 3-10 Naomh Barróg 0-16. 

SFC2 Group 3: Naomh Mearnóg 2-9 Clanna Gael Fontenoy 1-15; Pobal Parnell 0-5 Skerries Harps 0-26. 

SFC2 Group 4: St Patrick’s Donabate 2-9 Fingal Ravens 0-13; Round Towers Clondalkin 2-9Scoil Uí Chonaill 1-13.