Round-Up: PTSB Intermediate All County Football Championship Semi-Finals

The finalists in the PTSB Intermediate All County Football Championship were confirmed on Saturday afternoon with Cuala scoring goals at crucial times in the first-half on their way to a 4-11 to 0-15 victory against Castleknock in Hyde Park. 

The Dalkey outfit scored five goals in their quarter-final win against Kilmacud Crokes and their ability to find the net was once again the deciding factor against a spirited Castleknock outfit.   

A massive crowd descended on Hyde Park with Cuala failing to take advantage of a bright start as they kicked five early wides. 

However, they gradually took control on the scoreboard and put daylight between the teams thanks to the green flags raised by Mark Smith, Darragh McAdam and Ben Ó Rathallaigh. 

Those goals were augmented by points from Cuán Nugent, Cormac Ó Floinn, Smith, Shane Mangan and Paul James as the hosts entered the break leading by 3-7 to 0-9. 

That the visitors remained in touch was down to some lovely-taken scores from centre-forward Matthew Lynam while joint captain Alex Conroy made two superb saves to keep his side in the hunt. 

Castleknock were far tighter at the back in the second-half with the likes of Ronan Conway, Stephen Kane and Gavin Murphy O’Kane typifying their battling efforts while at the opposite end of the field, they trimmed their arrears through points by the lively Sam Ryan. 

However, a fine penalty save from Cuala’s Shane Foley with ten minutes remaining effectively ended their comeback ambitions. 

The hosts pushed on with the influential James netting while two points from Peter Jackson and excellent displays from Tom Magee at centre-back and Mangan at midfield edged Cuala into another final. 

The other semi-final was equally tight as Na Fianna finished on the front foot to defeat near neighbours Ballymun Kickhams by 0-14 to 0-10 in Páirc Ciceam. 

Leading by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, Na Fianna pushed on early in the third quarter to take control of matters with the pivotal moment arriving as Ciarán McHugh made a superb penalty save to preserve his team’s lead. 

Seán Currie was equally impressive between the sticks for the hosts, making a couple of outstanding saves over the hour and he received strong support at the back from Daragh McArdle and Kevin Deegan. 

Sean Parnell, Kevin Kelly, Andy O’Brien and Jack Rafferty kicked scores at the opposite end while substitutes Leon Brennan, Dan Lee and Ryan Murphy all impressed when introduced off the bench. 

However, the away defence was resolute throughout with both Harry Bryce and Eoin Killarney to the fore while they were competitive around the middle third thanks to Liam Fay and Jack Kearney. 

Thomas Connell top scored with 0-4 with the contributions of Ben O’Connell (0-3), Jack Lacey (0-2) and Dan Morley (0-2) enough to see Na Fianna home.  

PTSB IFC County semi-finals: Cuala 4-11 Castleknock 0-15; Ballymun Kickhams 0-10 Na Fianna 0-14.