AFL1 Round-Up

AFL Round 3 round ups:

Cuala 1-13 St.Brigids 1-12

Both teams had strong panels to choose from ahead of last night's game, with Dublin U21s Darragh Spillane and Martin Cahilan back starting with Cuala and Brigids had the might of John O'Loughlin (Laois) and Emyln Mulligan (Leitrim) back from County duty and with the Championship three weeks away it was going to be a good opportunity for both teams to fine tune their game.

The game started at a really high tempo with St Brigid’s forwards guilty of some very poor shot selections having worked the ball from back to front well. A really pacey Cuala side were guilty of missing some handy chances themselves, but a Darragh Spillane goal midway through the first half brought them back into the game and then Brigid’s were reduced to 14 men following a yellow then black card for Cathal Doyle. Both teams reeled off a number of points before the break but Cuala went in ahead at the half time mark.

Despite being a man down Brigid’s played well and worked hard to stay in the game and were awarded a penalty with 10 minutes to go, it was converted by Shane Supple and it brought them to within a point. Brigid’s managed to draw level with five minutes to go through impact sub Kevin Bonnar but were unable to hang on as Cuala's Luke Keating show nerves of steel and popped over the winner in the 58^th minute from a tricky angle. This was a very enjoyable open game where both teams came to play and attack at pace in perfect conditions out in Bray Emmets GAA Club.

Cuala got their first win of 2016 and lift themselves off the bottom of AFL1, they join a group on 2 points including St. Brigids. Cuala face St. Judes next in Tymon on April 16th ahead of their Championship match with the same opposition, while Brigids host Lucan Sarsfields.

St.Sylvesters 0-06 Castleknock 0-6

Castleknock remain unbeaten, but will have to settle with a draw this round. They traveled to Broomfield on Saturday, the game was played in atrocious conditions and the score line reflected that.

Both teams struggled to convert chances. Gary Sweeney of Sylvesters was the stand out player on the day, but Slys hard work was foiled by a last gasp Matthew Griffin point and the points were shared, which seemed a fair conclusion.

Castleknock have a visit from Plunketts in Somerton, the side they'll face in Round 1 of the Club Championship and Syls will be travelling to Rolestown to face Fingal Ravens.

Ballymun Kickhams 4-17 Fingal Ravens 0-6

Last Saturday evening was one to forget for Ravens in Pairc Ciceam.

Ballymun blazed a trail through Fingal and dominate throughout in a total performance, in which they limited Ravens 6 scores, with thanks to fine displays from Karl Connolly, Eoin and Dublin U21 Dave Bolger who played the second half after the Leinster Final earlier that day. The bulk of Ballymun's scores came from 3 men Liam O'Donovan with 2-4, Cian Gerrard 1-2 and Kevin Leahy got the fourth goal.

Ballymun will be full of confidence heading into their next clash with follow high flyers Na Fianna in Mobhi Road, while Ravens will look to get back on track against Slys in their fortress Rolestown.

Kilmacud Crokes 1-7 St.Judes 0-4

Silver Park played host to Crokes and Judes on Sunday morning.

It was a very defense minded game with both teams dropping players behind the ball, Crokes were able to transition better and got scores on the board, Ross O'Carroll was standout at centre-back and Stephen Williams provided the all important goal for Crokes.

Judes have Cuala at home in Tymon and Crokes are away to bottom of the pile Thomas Davis in Kiltipper Road.

St. Oliver Plunketts E.R. 3-17 Raheny 0-5

Raheny had a fruitless trip to Martin Savage Park on Saturday evening .

Plunketts didn't hold back and put Raheny to the sword in a 21 point hammering.

Raheny will be looking to put the heavy defeat behind them with a improved performance against All Ireland Champions Ballyboden in St. Annes Park, while Plunketts will hope to crush on away to high flying Castleknock in Somerton.

Ballyboden 2-14 St. Vincents 3-16

A high scoring physical encounter in Pairc Ui Mhurchú on Saturday evening saw the Marino men come away with the victory in what was a repeat of last year’s Championship final.

Vins got off to a good start and were three points to the good after 20 mins after nice points from Diarmuid Connolly, Gavin Burke and Nathan Mullins. Aaron Waters then latched on to an excellent Conal Keaney pass to goal and bring Boden back on level terms however minutes later Tomás Quinn found the corner of the net to restore Vincents lead. Keaney added two well taken scores before half time to keep his team in touch as they trailed 1-9 to 1-5.

The second half continued in similar vein with both teams trading early points before Quinn fed Nathan Mullins and the wing back blasted expertly to the roof of the net for Vins second goal of the evening. Boden showed the character we’ve become accustomed to in recent months as they continued to fight back and a Sam Maloney pile driver to the top corner brought them within a point and set up a grandstand finish. However the home side couldn’t find that equaliser as Connolly and an Albert Martin goal in injury time sealed the win for last year’s league champions.

Up next for Vins is Maurs in Páirc Na Uinsionn ,while Boden get back on the road v Raheny.

St. Maurs 1-06 Thomas Davis 0-4

Rush is a tough venue to travel to, especially with bad conditions .

It seem to be the case for Thomas Davis with only 4 points to their name in 60 minutes, Maurs claimed their first win, a much needed boost ahead of a tough trip to unbeaten St. Vincents in Páirc Na Uinsionn in a fortnight.

It doesn't look like it's going to get  any better for Thomas Davis with the all conquering Kilmacud Criokes coming to Kiltipper Road.

Lucan Sarsfields 0-12  Na Fianna 0-14

It was tit for tat affair in the 12th Lock in which Na Fianna ended up in top by the fine margin of 2 points. 

Lucan missed the scoring pedigree of usual full forward and free taker Tommy Brennan, while Jack Caffrey pointed his dead balls.

Lucan take on Brigids away in Russell Park and Na Fianna host a strong Ballymun side in Mobhi Road.

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