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The last eight of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship were confirmed over the weekend with Skerries Harps securing their place in the quarter-finals following their thrilling 2-17 to 3-13 Group 3 win over Na Fianna at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
Last year’s SFC2 winners dominated the first-half with a goal in the first-quarter by Ciaran Murphy setting the tone while two-pointers from Finn McGinnis, the excellent Greg McEneaney, Murphy and Adam Fearon pushed them 1-12 to 0-7 ahead by the break.
While a Ciaran Reddin goal brought Na Fianna back to within five points midway through the final quarter, Murphy looked to have ended their comeback ambitions as he slotted home his second goal in the 58th minute.
However, there was a sting in the tail through goals in added time from Reddin and Conor McHugh with substitute David Lacey missing a late chance from a two-pointed free to spare Na Fianna their fate.
The other match in the group saw Raheny, already destined for a relegation play-off, register a morale-boosting 2-22 to 2-18 victory over group winners Thomas Davis in O’Toole Park.
Brian Fenton and Brian Howard excelled for the winners, sharing 0-14 from open play while Cian Ivers and Sam O’Leary chipped in with goals to see their side home.
In Group 1, holders Ballyboden St Enda’s picked up their third successive win when easing past St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh by 5-12 to 0-9 in O’Toole Park.
The damage was done by half-time as Boden eased into a 4-6 to 0-2 lead with Warren Egan (2), Ross McGarry and Paddy Curry all raising green flags for the Leinster champions.
The other last eight berth was seized by a Castleknock team that dominated from the outset on their way to a comfortable 5-19 to 0-18 success against Templeogue Synge Street in Parnell Park.
Conor Chawke and Lenny Cahill found the net on their way to a 2-12 to 0-6 interval buffer and Kevin Stephenson, Cahill and Ger McDermottroe (penalty) added further goals after the turnaround with Senan Forker (0-4) a dominant presence at midfield for the winners.
On Sunday afternoon, Kilmacud Crokes also booked their knockout spot as Paul Mannion inspired them to a 1-19 to 1-14 victory over Ballinteer St John’s.
Needing to win by five points or more, Crokes managed just that with Mannion firing 1-13 including a penalty and five two-pointers while Eoghan Fitzpatrick impressed at midfield for a wasteful St John’s, scoring 1-2.
Clontarf also qualified from Group 2, finishing in second spot in a mini-group containing Kilmacud and Ballinteer, as they trounced Whitehall Colmcille by 6-16 to 0-9 in O’Toole Park.
The writing was on the wall at the break as ‘Tarf enjoyed a massive 4-11 to 0-3 advantage with Kieran McKeown and Benji Kelly doing the bulk of the damage as they accrued 2-4 apiece over the hour.
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