AFL 1: Game of the week - Skerries Harps v Ballyboden St Enda’s

ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

SKERRIES HARPS 2-16 BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 2-7

Harry Dawson was in excellent form at Knocklyon Park on Wednesday evening, when a superb second-half performance helped Skerries Harps to claim a nine-point victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s in Division One of the Adult Football League.

Playing in perfect conditions at the Ballycullen venue, Skerries were on level terms with the hosts at the midway point (1-3 to 0-6). ‘Boden moved back into the ascendancy after the break with a 35th-minute goal from full-forward Ross McGrath, but with Dawson’s final haul of 0-9 being supplemented by Jack Smith and Steven Smith three-pointers, Harps secured their second win of the campaign in considerable style.

Skerries were aiming to bounce back from league defeats to St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh and St Sylvester’s, although their concentration has been on the club championships in recent weeks.

They created a number of opportunities during the early moments, and despite conceding an opening score to ‘Boden corner-forward Colm Dunne (free), they responded with a close-range effort from Dawson.

However, they suffered a set-back in the eighth-minute, as their southside counterparts registered the first goal of the contest. Darren O’Reilly was one of only two players from ‘Boden’s All-Ireland winning team of 2016 to start this fixture (Stephen O’Connor was the other), and after finding himself on the end of a quick free, the industrious half-forward shot beyond the reach of Skerries netminder Shane Rice.

This was an early tonic for John O’Brien’s side, and with O’Reilly dropping deep to offer protection to his own defence, they were making life difficult for the Skerries attack. Daniel Grimes increased the ‘Boden advantage with a fine point on the run, but during a barren spell in front of the posts for the home team, Skerries eventually restored parity to the proceedings.

Back-to-back points by Dawsonreduced the gap, while Barry Davey and midfielder Mark Boylan were also on target during a purple patch for Harps. Dunne brought this scoring sequence to an end with a successful stoppage-time free, but there was enough time for wing-back Jack Smith to split the posts from the left-hand side.

A bright end to the opening period provided Skerries with the confidence to push forward, and another 0-2 salvo by Dawson edged them in front when the action resumed. Yet, following a foul deep inside the opposition half, McGrath was picked out by ‘Boden centre-forward Sam Molony, and his calm finish edged the defending champions back into a slender lead.

Subsequent points by Alan Flood and centre-back Cathal Flaherty ensured that ‘Boden were firmly back in the driving seat, but a triple substitution on 38 minutes re-energised the Skerries challenge.

Kevin Gilmore, Paul Cashman and Steven Smith were all introduced into the Harps forward line, and either side of a terrific score by Sean Rocks, Cashman and Smith added their names to an ever-growing scoresheet.

The sides were once again inseparable heading into the final-quarter, but it was at this point that Skerries really took control of the action. A Dawson score from play was cancelled out by the hard-working Dunne, but after Dawson and Jack Smith added points, Steven Smith raised a green flag with a neat strike in the 51st minute.

This created serious daylight between the teams, and even though Dunne initially kept ‘Boden in touch, a brace of Dawson points ultimately placed the outcome beyond doubt. Jack Smith’s influence on the play grew in the second-half, and he completed an accomplished display for Skerries with a magnificent goal on the run in injury-time.

Skerries will now look to build on this win when they play host to Naomh Maur on Saturday (6pm throw-in), while ‘Boden will face another tough examination against 2016 county finalists Castleknock at the same time in Somerton Park.

Scorers - Skerries Harps: Harry Dawson 0-9 (6f), Jack Smith 1-2, Steven Smith 1-1, Sean Rocks, Mark Boylan, Barry Davey, Paul Cashman 0-1 each. Ballyboden St Enda’s: Colm Dunne 0-4 (2f), Darren O’Reilly, Ross McGrath 1-0 each, Daniel Grimes, Cathal Flaherty, Alan Flood 0-1 each.

SKERRIES HARPS: Shane Rice; Dylan McNamee, Eoghan McGinley, Eoin Smith; Sean Rocks, Ross McGarry, Jack Smith; Mark Boylan, Donal McIlgorm; Colin Daly, Barry Davey, Conor O’Brien; Gerry Daly, Harry Dawson, Oisin O’Leary. Subs: Kevin Gilmore for O’Leary, Steven Smith for O’Brien, Paul Cashman for Davey (all 38), Rob McKee for Daly (45), Rory Newsholme for G Daly (49).

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S: Darragh Gogan; Cian Murray, Graham Heavey, Brian Bobbet; Donal Grimes, Cathal Flaherty, Stephen O’Connor; Tom Hannifin, Evan Flanagan; Darren O’Reilly, Sam Molony, Donagh McCabe; Alan Flood, Ross McGrath, Colm Dunne. Subs: Luke O’Donaghue for O’Connor (19-20, blood sub), O’Donaghue for Flanagan (36), Flanagan for O’Donaghue (40, black card), Cathal O’Dea for McGrath (55).

REF: Ronnie Malone (St Mary’s, Saggart).

Written by Daire Walsh