Round-Up: PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Quarter-Finals

The semi-finalists for the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship were confirmed over the weekend with Castleknock the first team to book their last-four spot as they finished strongly to beat Kilmacud Crokes by 0-17 to 0-14 in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Despite playing against the breeze in the first-half, Castleknock enjoyed a narrow 0-9 to 0-8 interval lead with Rob Shaw, Kevin Stephenson and goalkeeper John Vahey all scoring two points while Paddy O’Connor accounted for half of the Kilmacud tally.  

Two-pointers from the influential Shaw and Dylan Clarke helped Castleknock retain the initiative in the third quarter and while Paul Mannion brought Crokes level with five points from placed balls, ‘Knock finished strongly through a trio of scores by substitute Ger McDermottroe and an insurance point from Cian Boyle. 

There was a similar scoreline in the second match of the double-header as holders Ballyboden St Enda’s recovered from a four-point interval deficit to edge Clontarf.

Ballyboden trailed by 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time with Clontarf availing of the wind at their backs to seize the early initiative courtesy of four Benjamin Kelly points. 

St Enda’s gradually found their collective feet after the break and despite Colm Basquel having a penalty saved by Brian Dufficy, they finished like champions through two points apiece from Ryan O’Dwyer and Ross McGarry to prevail after a titanic struggle.   

On Sunday afternoon, Cuala produced a clinical display as they progressed to the last four when overcoming Skerries Harps by 1-21 to 0-19. 

Skerries controlled large parts of the first-half with two-pointers by Finn McGinnis and Adam Fearon pushing them four points clear before a 30th minute goal from Conor O’Brien goal saw Cuala enjoy a 1-9 to 0-11 interval advantage. 

Con O’Callaghan excelled after the break with four points from play and while Harps kicked four points on the bounce midway through the half, Cuala finished on the front foot courtesy of late points by Cillian Dunne, David O’Dowd and Dan O’Sullivan. 

The final qualifying spot was seized by Thomas Davis who excelled in the first-half on their way to a 1-16 to 1-13 victory over a lacklustre Ballymun Kickhams. 

Mark Nolan’s goal and four Fionn Murray points built a healthy 1-9 to 0-4 interval lead with a brace of two-pointers from Murray proving sufficient to repel a late Kickhams charge that yielded a goal from Cameron McCormack. 

Thomas Davis’ reward is a last four clash with Castleknock while holders Ballyboden St Enda’s and previous winners Cuala will meet in what is a repeat of last year’s thrilling semi-final.  

Meanwhile, on Friday night, Lucan Sarsfields preserved their SFC1 status for 2027 as they eased past Raheny by 1-23 to 0-18 in St Margaret’s. 

Their safety was effectively secured by half-time as three two-pointers apiece from Mark Lavin and Rian Doherty and a Colm Behan goal built up an unassailable 1-18 to 0-7 interval lead. 

On Saturday afternoon, St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh also confirmed their top-flight status when edging a weakened Whitehall Colmcille by 2-15 to 2-13 in O’Toole Park. 

Whitehall were forced to line out without both Cormac Costello and Eoghan O’Donnell but a brace of Sean Gannon goals left them 2-5 to 1-4 ahead at the break. 

A Conor Tyrrell goal saw Plunkett’s back in the hunt with late two-pointers by Ted Furman, Cian Maguire and Tyrrell enough to get them over line with Lee Gannon’s seven points proving in vain by the final whistle. 

PTSB SFC1 quarter-finals: Kilmacud Crokes 0-14 Castleknock 0-17; Ballyboden St Enda’s0-17 Clontarf 0-14; Cuala 1-21 Skerries Harps 0-19; Ballymun Kickhams 1-13 Thomas Davis 1-16. 

PTSB SFC1 relegation play-offs: Raheny 0-18 Lucan Sarsfields 1-23; Whitehall Colmcille 2-13 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 2-15. 

PTSB SFC1 semi-finals: Ballyboden St Enda’s v Cuala; Castleknock v Thomas Davis.