Vincent’s move up gear in second half to see off Synger

ST VINCENT'S 3-20 TEMPLEOGUE SYNGE STREET 3-9

A stunning opening seven minutes of the second half saw reigning holders St Vincent's burn off the determined challenge of Templeogue Synge Street in this Dublin SFC quarter-final at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

Ger Vickery's well taken goal for Synger in the 29th minute had given his side the lead, 1-6 to 0-8, before Ruairí Trainor equalised before the break but it was an entirely different story on the restart as they scored 3-5 without reply by the 43rd minute.

Within 15 seconds Shane Carthy fired over a point following good work by Ger Brennan and Diarmuid Connolly, who slotted one super first half score when curling over with his left despite the attention of three defenders, and it was a very early portent of what was to follow as Vincent's carved open the Synger defence.

Points followed from Carthy and a superb Connolly effort before Ciaran Dorney's score made it 0-13 to 1-6 as all the play was headed in one direction.

In the 34th minute Tomás Quinn struck for the first of his hat-trick of goals.

Gavin Burke fielded a Synger kickout to set in motion a move that culminated in Brendan Egan unselfishly placing Quinn who did the rest.

Two minutes later Quinn raised another green flag when he soccer-styled to net after the ball had rebounded off an upright from Ruairí Trainor's point effort.

The nightmare continued for the southsiders when Connolly picked out Carthy with a sublime pass and the wing-forward off-loaded to Quinn to complete his second half hat-trick, all within just over 12 second half minutes as Vins cruised into a 3-14 to 1-6 lead.

In fairness to Synger they did not give up with Niall Scully, in particular, trying all in his powers to arrest the slide.

Synger were rewarded in the final moments with goals from Eoghan O'Gara and sub Jack Swaine which were of pure consolation at that late stage.

SCORERS - St Vincent’s: T Quinn 3-4 (0-3f), R Trainor 0-4, D Connolly, C Dorney 0-3 each, G Burke, S Carthy 0-2 each, E Fennell, T Diamond 0-1 each. Templeogue Synge Street: E O’Gara 1-1, G Vickery, J Swaine 1-0 each, N Scully 0-3, T Coyle, D Treanor (1f) 0-2 each, M Treanor 0-1.

ST VINCENT'S: M Savage; K Bonnie, J Curley, H Gill, B Egan, G Brennan, M Concarr, E Fennell, D Murphy; G Burke, D Connolly, S Carthy; R Trainor, C Dorney, T Quinn. Subs: Cameron Diamond for Egan (44), T Diamond for Carty (44), Cormac Diamond for Treanor (47), M Moore for Gill (49), A Baxter for Quinn (50), G Murphy for Dorney (58).

TEMPLEOGUE SYNGE ST: P Collie; B McTaggart, M Treanor, R Power; B Bentley, N O’Sullivan, D Treanor; D Bastick, C O’Reilly; C McKiernan, N Scully, T Coyle; E O’Gara, A O’Brien, G Vickery. Subs: J Varley for O’Reilly (19), K Devine for McTaggart (39), C O’Gara for O’Brien (44), B Fitzgerald for Power (47), M Hiney for Coyle (49), J Swaine for Vickery (57).

REF: D Sheppard (Round Tower Lusk)