Plunkett’s edge out brave Anne’s

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT'S/EOGHAN 1-12 ST ANNE'S 0-9

A scoring burst towards the close of the opening half was crucial in helping St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh past the brave challenge of St Anne's in this Dublin SFC second round clash at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Plunkett's scored 1-4 without reply in the concluding eight minutes of the first half after their attack had misfired until then to lead 1-5 to 0-4 at the break.

The Bohernabreena men carried the fight to their more fancied opponents in the early passages and led 0-4 to 0-1 inside 22 minutes.

Two fine points from full-forward Craig McKeown as well as another from Paddy McGrath and an excellent point on the run from Eoin Kennedy had Anne's three points clear and full value for it.

However, Plunkett's eventually found their radar as points from Niall Walsh, Bernard Brogan, Declan Lally and Alan Brogan edged them in front before Bernard Brogan struck the only goal of the clash in first half injury-time.

Alan Brogan, Niall Walsh and Bernard combined but Dublin U21 keeper Lorcan Molloy stopped the initial attempt before Bernard fired the rebound to the net.

The play was evenly matched for long periods of the second half with neither attack looking set to do too much damage before Plunkett's put in a last surge before the finish line with two points from Bernard Brogan (one free) and another from sub David Matthews to see their side into the last-eight.

SCORERS – St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER: B Brogan 1-3 (0-1f), A Brogan, G Smith (0-1f, 0-1 ‘45’) 0-2 each, D Lally, N Walsh, C Dunleavy, P McNulty, D Matthews 0-1 each. St Anne’s: C McKeown, S Fulham 0-2 each, D Galvin, E Kennedy, N Bergin, D Watson, P McGrath 0-1 each.

ST OLIVER PLUNKTT'S/ER: N Murray; R O’Connor, S Lyons, D Kelly; D Brogan, J Brogan, D Lally; P McNulty, R McConnell; N Walsh, C Walsh, C Dunleavy; A Brogan, B Brogan, G Smith. Subs: D Matthews for McConnell (40), P Lee for C Walsh (49), S O’Connor for N Walsh (57), G McCormack for McNulty (59), P Curtin for D Brogan (60).

ST ANNE'S: L Molloy; R Lynch, A Shanahan, J Leavy; S Stewart, B Seery, B Connolly; C Murphy, D Galvin; L O’Brien, E Kennedy, P McGrath; S Fulham, C McKeown, J Lysaght. Subs: D Watson for Lysaght (28), C Preston for Leavy (half-time), N Bergin for O’Brien (45), C Leigh for McKeown (52), T Dunne for Connolly (60).

REF: G McCormack (Naomh Barróg).