Plunkett’s see off brave Raheny challenge

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT'S/EOGHAN RUADH 0-13 RAHENY 1-5

One of the fancied sides in this year's Dublin SFC, St Oliver Plunkett's, were pushed all the way by a brave Raheny in Friday night's Dublin SFC second round clash at Parnell Park.

Plunkett's greater firepower ultimately told with the experienced trio of Gareth 'Nesty' Smith, Bernard and Alan Brogan doing enough to drive their team to a hard-earned victory against a Raheny side who lined out without their Dublin star Brian Fenton owing to injury.

On a night when both sides were guilty of some wayward shooting (Raheny kicked 13 wides, Plunkett's 12) Smith's accuracy was central to Plunkett's success as he tallied five points from play as well as converting a '45'.

There was nothing between the sides in the opening half with Gavin Ivory's 22nd minute goal, following good work by Eoin Delaney, putting them 1-2 to 0-2 clear.

Plunkett's went close to raising a green flag in the 21st minute but Rutherson Real performed a brilliant block to deny Bernard Brogan from close range.

However, the Dublin 7 side concluded the half on the up with points from Smith ('45') and two excellent Alan Brogan scores for the sides to enter the interval on level terms, 0-5 to 1-2.

Plunkett's improved in the second half and forged a 0-11 to 1-4 lead with five minutes to play following points from Bernard Brogan and Smith.

But Raheny were not finished a Eoin Keogh cut the deficit with a fine point before Brian Howard excellently created a goal scoring opportunity but blazed his goal effort wide and with it Raheny's chances evaporated as Seán O'Connor and Smith tagged on late points to secure victory for Plunkett's.

SCORERS - St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh: G Smith 0-6 (0-1 '45'), B Brogan 0-3, A Brogan 0-2, S O'Connor, N Walsh (0-1f) 0-1 each. Raheny: G Ivory 1-1 (0-1 '45'), E Smith, D Ryan (0-1f), E Keogh, Stephen Swords 0-1 each.

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT'S/EOGHAN RUADH: L Eglinton; R O'Connor, P Curtin, S McGuinness; J O'Donoghue, C Walsh, D Lally; R McConnell, C Dunleavy; S O'Connor, C McKeever, A Brogan; N Walsh, B Brogan, G Smith. Subs: L Herron for N Walsh (57), D Brogan for O'Donoghue (58).

RAHENY: J Morgan; L O'Shea, R Real, C Gillen; Seán Swords, E Keogh, Stephen Swords; Seán Byrne, C Talty, E Smith, D Ryan, B Talty; G Ivory, E Delaney, B Howard. Subs: D Byrne for Gillen (ht), G Bennett for B Talty (45), R Diffley for O'Shea (57).

REF: B Tiernan (O'Dwyer's).