SFC wins for Raheny and Clontarf

Fri, 5th June 2015

Brian Fenton continued where left off against Longford last weekend by steering Raheny to a comfortable 1-13 to 0-7 victory over Nh Mearnóg in Friday night's Dublin SFC first round tie at Parnell Park.

The Dublin senior, operating from centre-forward, kicked three first half points from play as the wind-back Raheny led 1-8 to 0-3 at the interval.

Colin McMahon's men held the upperhand for most of the first half and opened lively with points from Eoghan Keogh, David Shatwell, Fenton (two) to lead 0-4 to 0-1 inside ten minutes.

Mearnóg's score came from the accurate boot of centre-forward Jamie Store, who slotted all of their three points of the opening half.

Raheny concluded the opening half on a high with an excellently worked Donal Ryan goal in the 24th minute and the full-forward also tagged on a point before the break to see his side lead by eight points.

Mearnóg chances took a hit when Dublin senior Shane Carthy had to be replaced after 26 minutes by Kevin O'Brien, continuing his comeback to full fitness after suffering a cruciate ligament injury last year.

The only goal of the night was also the best move of the night as the hard-working Seán Swords, Fenton and David Carroll combined for Ryan to fire clinically to the net.

The Portmarnock side rallied on the restart with points from Store, a Jamie Walsh free and Jordan Briggs.

However, Raheny weathered the early storm with the likes of Ger Coady, Swords, Darragh Pelly and particularly Rutherson Real battening down the hatches.

Four points in-a-row from Keogh, Ryan (free), Carroll and sub Paddy Reid had Raheny 1-12 to 0-6 clear by the 45th minute and as good as safely into the next round.

In Donabate Clontarf defeated Skerries Harps 1-10 to 0-11 in the Dublin SFC second round.

The all-important goal came seven minutes into the second half when Ciaran Johnston found the net after Maitias Mac Donnacha's effort had been blocked.

Skerries had led at the interval following three points in-a-row from Paul Cashman, Graham and Bryan Cullen to open up a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage.