Round-Up: PTSB Dublin IFC Round 3

Round 3 of the PTSB Dublin Intermediate Club Football Championship took place across the county on Saturday evening with precious quarter-final spots up for grabs. 

Trinity Gaels secured one of those berths as they delivered an impressive defensive display when overcoming Craobh Chiaráin by 1-13 to 0-9 in Clonshaugh. 

Conor Wilson and Sean Flanagan led the way at the back while the visitors were also indebted to midfielder Jack Rowe as they controlled large parts of the game. 

With scores at a premium, Craig Reilly’s 1-2 proved hugely valuable and with Sean Boylan adding 0-3, Gaels pulled way by the final whistle thanks to further scores by Evan Whelan, Rowe, Josh McCann and Jack Conroy. 

They are joined in the last eight from Group 3 by a Man O’War side that topped the table following their 4-22 to 0-12 win against St Finian’s Newcastle. 

Matters were far tighter in Group 2 as Garristown did just enough to secure their quarter-final spot as they drew with St Patrick’s Palmerstown on a scoreline of 1-16 apiece. 

That looked a dubious prospect as the visitors seized the early initiative but the introduction of Niall Finn off the bench brought immediate rewards as his pace caused numerous problems for the St Pat’s defence. 

A Josh Enright goal added momentum to the home challenge with seven Daire Finn points and a brace from influential wing-back Sean McManus sufficient to advance their season. 

Matters were equally thrilling at Monastery Road as Naomh Fionnbarra joined the qualifying octet as they edged Round Towers Clondalkin by 2-15 to 2-14. 

Karl Grimes produced an exceptional display for the visitors, kicking 1-7 from play, while Jay Roe, Conor Carberry and Cian Peppard Leonard also caught the eye as the Cabra outfit prevailed by the slimmest of margins. 

They are joined from Group 4 by a Naomh Olaf team that completed their third successive victory when overcoming O’Dwyer’s by 1-18 to 0-10 in Balbriggan. 

Olafs are the sole southside representatives in the quarter-finals with Clann Mhuire and St Margaret’s advancing from Group 1.

The Naul side also preserved their perfect record as they beat St Peregrine’s by 2-17 to 2-9 while hosts St Margaret’s did enough to get the better of O’Toole’s by 1-17 to 3-6. 

Maggies led by 1-6 to 1-3 at the break with Brian Shanahan raising their green flag and they began to dominate the contest in the third quarter through the defensive efforts of Jack Stynes, Nathan Dolan and Damian Murphy. 

Shanahan (1-4) and Shane Madigan (0-2) were the pick of the home attack but the Larriers battled right until the final whistle, scoring two late goals, reflecting their promising showing.  

However, St Margaret’s had enough in the tank courtesy of three Leon Daly scores, a brace from influential midfielder Scott Kennedy and further points by Ciaran Bruton, Jack Murphy, Charlie Madigan, Jamie McGuinness and Darren Keogh.    

PTSB IFC Club Group 1: St Peregrine’s 2-9 Clann Mhuire 2-17; St Margaret’s 1-17O’Toole’s 3-6.

PTSB IFC Club Group 2: Garristown 1-16 St Patrick’s Palmerstown 1-16; St Finian’s Swords1-9 Ballyboughal 5-19. 

PTSB IFC Club Group 3: Craobh Chiaráin 0-9 Trinity Gaels 1-13; Man O’War 4-22 St Finian’s Newcastle 0-12.

PTSB IFC Club Group 4: O’Dwyer’s 0-10 Naomh Olaf 1-18; Round Towers Clondalkin 2-14Naomh Fionnbarra 2-15.