AFL1 Round-Up

Match Reports from Round 4 of the AFL1:

St. Brigids 1-17 Lucan Sarsfields 1-7

Both teams had one win from their first three league games and would be hoping for a win to bring them into the first round of championship in two weeks.

St Brigids started the brighter and with a slight breeze behind them went into a four point lead with the hard working Phillip Ryan and Lorcan McCarthy popping over a couple of points. Lucan got back into it with a goal from John McCormack, but Brigids finished the half strong and were 0-08 to 1-02 up at half time.

Lucan started the second half brightly with a lovely score by John McCormack and Keith Moran battled hard in the middle with John O'Loughlin, but Brigids then stepped it up a gear and for the next 15 minutes reeled off 1-07. Lucan made a few tactical changes but the damage was done and St Brigids ran out 1-17 to 1-07. 

Up next for St Brigids is St Maurs in the first round of the Senior Football Championship Saturday week in Parnell Park at 20:15, while Lucan take on Round Towers in Newcastle at 19:00 Thursday week.

Na Fianna 1-15 Ballymun Kickhams 2-7

Na Fianna welcomed their neighbours Ballymun Kickhams to Mobhi Road on Saturday evening for a exciting game of football.

In a hotly contested first half of this local derby goals were important for Ballymun. Jason Whelan and Ted Furman raised green flags for the Mun to counteract a well taken goal by the excellent Neil Flannery for Na Fanna. The Mobhi Road men went in a point to the good at half time. Ted Furman was proving a handful for the Na Fianna defence and 3 points in quick succession at the start of the second half kept the scores level. However the dismissal of Davey Byrne half way through the first half allowed Na Fianna to finish the game strongly, kicking 5 unanswered points shared between Conor McHugh, Adam Caffrey and Eoghan Neville.

Na Fianna now have their sights set on Templeogue in the Senior Championship next Saturday week in Finglas at 7pm, while Ballymun face O'Tooles on the same day/time in Garristown.

Raheny 2–11 Ballyboden St. Endas 2–16

For a long period the Raheny were in total control of this AFL1 game in St. Annes Park, playing fast flowing football. However, after 12 minutes in the second half Declan O’Mahony received a straight red card and for the remainder of the game there was great pressure on Boden's backline. but, by the time of the dismissal boden had been built up a big lead and were able to hold on for a good win.

Due to county commitments, Boden only fielded just six of their starting All-Ireland team. The replacements, however, didn’t disappoint. After just three minutes, Alan Flood had the ball in the back of the Raheny net after great work by Sam Molony. Raheny got a point back from a free on 7 minutes which led to a period of dominance by Ballyboden. From the 10^th to the 20th minutes Boden added 8 points with just one in reply by Raheny. Conal Keaney started with two points in a minute followed by Stephen O’Connor, a free by Sam Molony (taking over the free-taking duty in the absence of Andrew Kerin), then Barra McGarry, another Keaney effort, another Sam Molony free and this period was finished off with a fourth point by Conal Keaney, all from play. Another Sam Molony free was followed by two from play by Raheny before Barra McGarry showed his class when, following a long run with the ball he popped over a great point from about 30 yards out. Fergal Clancy replaced the injured Simon Lambert and made his presence felt with a good point as normal time was running out. In added time, Alan Flood finished the scoring with a point which cancelled out a Raheny point. Half time score was 1–12 to 0–5.

Raheny scored an early point from a free, but when Alan Flood intercepted a short Raheny kick out, which was eventually finished to the net by Ryan Basquel, it looked like an easy win was on the way. This view was reinforced when Tom Hanafin popped over a point three minutes later. Even when Declan O'Mahony was sent off five minutes later, and Raheny had a player black carded, Boden were able to keep Raheny at bay. A pointed free by Raheny was cancelled out by Darragh Nelson on 16 minutes and Boden seemed to have weathered the loss of Declan as the game entered the last 10 minutes. Eventually the extra man seemed to be having an effect for Raheny as they hit two points and a goal in two minutes. Barra McGarry settled the nerves with a point on 26 minutes. However, Raheny continued to press hard and scored another two points and a goal to leave just five points between the sides as the final whistle sounded.

Raheny fought hard and will need to bring more of that to the table against St. Marys in Senior Championship on Thursday week in St. Margarets at 19:00 and Boden face Olafs in O'Toole Park on Friday week at 19:00.

Fingal Ravens 2-07 St Sylvesters 0-17

A very impressive victory for Syls away to Ravens in Rolestown.

Syls were strong at the back with Barry Ryan and Ian St Ledger standing out, but their fire power up front were really what was too much for Ravens, Syls talisman Gary Sweeney was unmarkable with staggering 7 points from play, Brian Sexton, Micháel McCathy and Niall Coughlan also got in on the act in fine display of point kicking. Ravens just couldn't stem the flowing football of Syls. 

Ravens need to start gathering points quick, but in the meantime they have stern test with last years surprise packages Clontarf in the Championship on Thursday week in Druimnigh at 7pm, while Syls face UCD on the same evening and time in Balgriffin.

Castleknock 1-12 St. Oliver Plunketts E.R. 0-13

Castleknock are continuing their fairytale start to their first ever AFL1 campaign with another Scalp in the way of Plunketts. 

Somerton won't be an easy place for any team to travel to this year and plunkerrs found this out last Saturday in a feisty encounter. The sides were evenly match and the game never went in anyone's favour, Alan Brogan and Graham Hannigan had a titanic tussle, Alan added scores, but was made work for each and wasn't as influential as he has been this season. Second half substitute and former Dublin Minor Kevin Kindlon had the ultimate contribution with the goal  that changed the game and helped Castleknock to a famous 2 point victory.

The sides meet again in Senior Championship in 2 weeks time and it's one of the only games that jumps off the page in the first round fixtures list, with two full strength sides with the likes of Ciaran Kilkenny, Bernard Brogan and Fermanagh's Tomás Corrigan thrown in the mix, it's a game that can't be missed on Saturday April 30th at 18:45 in Parnell Park.

St. Judes 1-17 Cuala 0-10

Judes and Cuala locked horns in Tymon North on a fine evening.

The first half was a slow burner which ended 6 a piece with no real markers put down, Cuala's John Sheanon and  Judes' Diarmuid McLoughlin were the best performers, but in the second half Judes sparked into life and Cuala did quite the opposite and drifted out of the game, Judes were relentless with Brendan McManamon's 1-3 and Diarmuid McLoughlin's string of frees and scores from play causing the bulk of the damage. Chris Guckian and Mark McSweeney were also very impressive at centre back and centre forward respectively. 

Judes ran out 10 point winners in the end and will take all the momentum in the sides next clash in Senior Championship on Thursday week in O'Toole Park at 19:00.

St Vincents 2-14 St Maurs 3-10

Spectators who were in Pairc Naomh Uinsionn on Saturday evening were treated to a very competitive and entertaining affair. Maurs got off to a dream start inside the opening five minutes when Conor McGuire latched on to a long delivery to race through and goal for the Rush men. Ciaran Reddin’s accurate free taking pushed Maurs further in front but a Lorcan Smyth goal and a run of points from Gavin Burke, Tomás Quinn and Nathan Mullins saw Vins go into the half time break up by the minimum, 1-7 to 1-6. 

The Marino men really hit their stride early in the second half with a run of unanswered points from Albert Martin, Kevin Golden and Enda Varley and when Adam Baxter fed Quinn to goal it looked as though the home side would run out comfortable winners. However when full forward Vinny Whelan flicked a long delivery to the net it set up a grandstand finish. Within a minute Whelan then emphatically finished his second goal chance Maurs looked to be back from the dead. They soon added a point to close the gap to just one point but the referees whistle ended their hopes of a famous comeback as Vins continue their unbeaten league start to 2016.

Vins face Erins Isle in the Senior Championship this Thursday week in Parnell Park at 18:45 and Maurs take on Brigids on Saturday week at 20:15 in Parnell Park.

Thomas Davis 2-5 Kilmacud Crokes 1-13

Crokes travelled to Kiltipper road to face Thomas Davis, both teams seasons are going in the polar opposite direction, Crokes are sitting pretty at the top with 4 wins from 4, while Thomas Davis are yet to register a point in 3 outings.

Crokes were never really in doubt throughout, they were leading comfortably at half time with fine displays from goalkeeper David Nestor and cornerback James Murphy. in the second half showed some real fight and added 2 goals, but Crokes kept them at arms length and the game end with Crokes 5 to the good. Stephen Williams was again a standout performer in Crokes forward line.

Thomas Davis have Division 2 side Skerries Harps in the Senior Championship on Thursday week in Parnell Park at 20:15 and will look to get their season going with a win. Crokes also have a Division 2 opposite in the form of Naomh Mearnog on Friday week in Cloghran at 19:00.

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