Round-Up: PTSB Dublin IFC Semi-Finals

The finalists in the PTSB Intermediate Club Football Championship were decided in Parnell Park over the weekend after two intriguing last-four encounters across Saturday and Sunday. 

Of course, not only were final berths up for grabs but promotion to SFC2 was another incentive and it was Naomh Olaf and Ballyboughal who seized the moment when defeating Clann Mhuire and Man O’War respectively. 

Naomh Olaf were first to book their final spot as they delivered a commanding display to overcome a disappointing Clann Mhuire by 2-17 to 0-7 in the Saturday sunshine. 

Their supremacy was evident from the opening whistle and while they spurned a number of chances in the first-quarter, the point-taking of Niall Manning and Glenn Soraghan pushed them 0-10 to 0-3 ahead by the interval. 

The deadly duo combined for twelve points over the hour as the Balally side put further distance between the sides through goals from Dublin star David Byrne and Jack Feehan. 

Byrne was a pivotal figure throughout for the winners, as was goalkeeper Ross Donovan, who ended any hopes of a Clann Mhuire comeback when saving a second-half penalty. 

The North County side continued to battle right until the end but were denied a deserved consolation goal while Mark Doyle, Luke Jordan and Cian de Búrca all added points for Olafs by the final whistle. 

On Sunday afternoon, Ballyboughal scored two goals in either half as they overcame Man O’War by 4-14 to 0-13.  

Ballyboughal served early notice of their intent with Danny McGill bursting forward to open the scoring inside fifteen seconds. 

A Gerry Seaver two-pointed free extended the ‘Boughal lead soon after before they pounced for the opening goal in the 4th minute as Eoghan Mac Philibín found space down the left before striking an unerring finish across Shaun Bolger from ten yards. 

Conor Dolan replied with a brace of points for Man O’War but their defensive uncertainty was exposed once again at the end of the first quarter as Seaver nipped in to palm Sean Conville’s inviting pass to the net. 

Man O’War captain Sean Hussey and Dolan scored points to help mitigate against that concession but ‘Boughal remained on the front foot as the contest evolved with Cian Downey and Cian Warren both on target as they led by 2-5 to 0-5 by half-time. 

Another brilliant two-pointed free by talisman Seaver pushed the ‘Boughal lead to eight points within three minutes of the restart but Dolan and Hussey added to their personal tallies soon after to keep Man O’War in the hunt. 

Despite playing into the breeze, Man O’War trimmed their deficit through two further points from Dolan by the 40th minute, reducing their deficit to four points in the process. 

The influential Hussey blazed wide of the goal at the end of the third quarter and Seaver punished that miss with a cracking two-pointer from play to get his side back on track. 

The contest was effectively settled in the 52nd minute as Warren’s shot from distance cannoned off the crossbar with the rebound striking off substitute Richie Downey’s knee on the way past Bolger. 

Ballyoughal added icing to their cake through two further two-pointers from Seaver and he turned provider for Simon Barrett to slot home a fourth goal deep into added time.  

PTSB IFC Club semi-finals: Naomh Olaf 2-17 Clann Mhuire 0-7; Ballyboughal 4-14 Man O’War 0-13.