Round-Up: PTSB Leagues AFL 1 & 2

Kilmacud Crokes maintained their narrow lead at the summit of the PTSB Dublin Adult Football League Division 1 table as they overcame Castleknock by 2-14 to 0-15 in Somerton Park on Tuesday night. 

The visitors led by 0-9 to 0-6 by half-time with Paul Mannion and Darragh Dempsey doing the bulk of the scoring and Mannion’s penalty early in the second-half increased their lead. 

The lively Luke Ward (1-2) also netted in the third quarter as Crokes built up a sufficient buffer and while Castleknock finished strongly with seven points in the last ten minutes, they left it too late to reel in their opponents. 

Mannion and Ward were the pick of the Kilmacud attack and with Ben Shovlin impressing at midfield, they also benefitted from further scores by Shane Horan, Shovlin, Aidan Jones and Eoghan O’Donovan. 

That victory keeps Crokes a point clear of a Ballyboden St Enda’s side that bounced back from their Round 11 loss to Na Fianna when easing past Cuala by 4-25 to 2-7 in Páirc Uí Mhurchú. 

At the opposite end of the table, Raheny moved away from the relegation spots as they accounted for St Vincent’s by 2-14 to 1-10 at Páirc Naomh Uinsionn. 

The visitors seized the initiative from the first whistle through points from Killian McGuirk and Adam McAweeney while Brian Fenton added two points from midfield to keep them on the front foot. 

Sam O’Leary fisted home to leave Raheny well-placed at the break (1-9 to 1-4) with a cracking Eoghan Smyth goal and late scores by Sean Magann and Conor Baldwin sealing their crucial win. 

PTSB AFL1: Lucan Sarsfields 0-21 Ballinteer St John’s 2-14; St Patrick’s Donabate 1-7Clontarf 5-16; Ballymun Kickhams 2-16 St Jude’s 0-16; St Vincent’s 1-10 Raheny 2-14; Ballyboden St Enda’s 4-25 Cuala 2-7; St Mary’s Saggart 0-23 Thomas Davis 3-21; Skerries Harps v Na Fianna OFF; Castleknock 0-15 Kilmacud Crokes 2-14.

In AFL2, both Fingal Ravens and St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh continue to lead the way following home wins against Whitehall Colmcille and Scoil Ui Chonaill respectively. 

While Ravens were pushed all the way before prevailing by 2-19 to 2-15, Plunkett’s were slightly more comfortable as they won by 1-20 to 0-16 at Martin Savage Park. 

Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith was their scorer-in-chief over the hour and with Sean O’Connor netting the solitary goal of the game, the hosts maintained control thanks to strong defensive displays by Conal Regan and goalkeeper Ger O’Reilly, who made some crucial saves to preserve his team’s lead. 

Hot on the heels of the leaders remain a St Sylvester’s side that currently lie in the third promotion place following their relatively routine 1-14 to 0-8 win against Clanna Gael Fontenoy in Broomfield.

The hosts were boosted by a first-half goal by Stephen Cunningham and with Glen Hazely adding a two-pointer approaching the break, Syls eased home through the scoring exploits of Rory Guiden. 

St Brigid’s are also well placed in the table as they picked up their third successive victory when beating Fingallians by 2-14 to 0-9 at Lawless Park. 

The struggle to stay in the division remains an intriguing one with Kilmacud Crokes handing themselves a lifeline by virtue of their narrow 2-16 to 1-18 win against bottom side Round Towers Lusk. 

PTSB AFL2: St Sylvester’s 1-14 Clanna Gael Fontenoy 0-8; Erin’s Isle 1-14 Naomh Mearnóg 1-13; Fingallians 0-9 St Brigid’s 2-14; St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 1-20 Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-16; Naomh Barróg 3-8 Templeogue Synge Street 0-12; Fingal Ravens 2-19Whitehall Colmcille 2-15; St Maur’s 3-16 Naomh Olaf 3-10; Kilmacud Crokes 2-16 Round Towers Lusk 1-18.