Thomas Davis overcome Sylvesters in relegation playoff

Image Courtesy Matthew Burke

THOMAS DAVIS 4-19

ST SYLVESTER’S 1-18

Thomas Davis delivered an exceptional attacking performance at O’Toole Park on Saturday to convincingly overcome the challenge of St Sylvester’s in a Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Football Relegation Play-Off encounter.

With Eoin Kirby and Chris Sallier very much to the fore, Davis had established a 15-point cushion by the midway stage in the action. Sean Farrelly and Fionn Murray were also on hand to rattle the opposition net during the second half to ensure the Tallaght outfit remained in pole position to retain their top-tier status.

Sylvester’s had found it difficult to curb the attacking influence of their opponents, but they did show plenty of fighting spirit as the play wore on. Sean Guiden, Jack Boyne and Rory Guiden registered a combined six two-pointers after the interval and while it wasn’t enough to prevent them dropping down to the Senior 2 championship, the Malahide men will feel they are more than capable of booking a swift return to the top grade in 2026.

While it was initially a tight start to the proceedings with Davis half-back Adam Waddick and Sylvester’s midfielder Paidi White trading early points, the Kiltipper Road side created daylight with successive scores from Kirby and Sallier (two). The powerful Pierce Donohue did kick a fine point for Syls on the turn, but Davis were the dominant side for the vast majority of the opening period.

After goalkeeper Dylan Caffrey calmed stroke over a ‘45’ on 10 minutes, the influential Kirby converted a two-point free in excellent style. He was later joined by David Keogh in recording a white flag score and when he got on the end of an intricate attack in the 16th minute, Kirby made no mistake with a smooth finish to the net.

Sallier subsequently knocked over another single point free, before Sylvester’s finally responded with a place-ball effort of their own from Rory Guiden. Donohue also added his second score of the tie, but it came as little surprise that Thomas Davis finished the first half with a flourish.

Supplementing a second Kirby goal on 28 minutes, Sallier, Ryan Fahey and Waddick all split the posts to leave their side with a commanding 2-13 to 0-4 advantage at the break.

This appeared to be an unassailable lead and with netminder Caffrey stepping forward to slot over a two-point free five minutes after the restart, Davis were primed for the victory they so badly craved.

However, Sylvester’s were more than capable of shooting from outside the 40-metre arc themselves – exemplified by outstanding long-distance efforts from Jack Boyne and Sean Guiden. Boyne added another two-pointer to compliment a white flag effort by Donohue, but Davis maintained a potent attacking threat at the opposite end of the pitch.

While Waddick and Keogh were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over with points, goals from Farrelly and Murray in the 39th and 43rd minutes respectively substantially increased the gap between the teams.

Murray and Farrelly also kicked points in quick succession to ensure Davis were 19 points to the good (4-19 to 0-12) with 12 minutes of normal time remaining.

The outcome was effectively placed beyond doubt at this stage, but credit must go to Sylvester’s for the way they managed to eat significantly into their deficit. In addition to registering a two-pointer, Sean Guiden also smashed the ball to the net from a close-range free at the beginning of second half stoppage-time.

Rory Guiden was also on hand to kick a brace of two-pointers, but despite conceding 1-6 on the bounce in the closing stages, Thomas Davis were in a joyous mood upon the full-time whistle.

Scorers –Thomas Davis: E Kirby 2-4 (1 F2), S Farrelly, F Murray 1-1 each, C Sallier 0-4 (4f), A Waddick 0-3, D Caffrey 0-3 (1 F2, 1 ’45), D Keogh 0-2, R Fahey 0-1. St Sylvester’s: S Guiden 1-4 (1-0 free, 2 F2), R Guiden 0-5 (2 P2, 1f), J Boyne 0-4 (2 P2), P Donohue 0-3, D O’Leary, P White 0-1 each.

Thomas Davis: D Caffrey; A Shorten, D Ogbonna, S O’Byrne Braiden; S Kennedy, A Waddick, S Benton; R Deegan, R Fahey; F Lynch, D Keogh, S Farrelly; F Murray, C Sallier, E Kirby. Subs: J Lambert for Shorten (33), K Mullarkey for Keogh, M Nolan for Kirby, K Young Byrne for Lynch (all 50).

St Sylvester’s: S Murphy; A Cunningham, S O’Donnell, D Curran; E Stenson, D O’Leary, A Wright; J Bannon, P White; J Boyne, R Keogh, B Gaynor; S Guiden, P Donohue, R Guiden. Subs: S Gibson for Keogh (h-t).

Referee: Seamus Farrelly (Ballinteer St John’s).