AFL1 Round-Up

As it stands after 9 games:

Check out the Results so far and the 6 remaining Fixtures.

A mix of the midweek results and match reports:

Castleknock 0-16 Cuala 1-9

The score line doesn't reflect Castleknock's dominance in Somerton, a late purple patch painted a nicer picture for Cuala.

It was a scorcher and Castleknock's youthful exuberance shone through, they had the legs on Cuala throughout and attacked from deep, with incisive runs from Graham Hannigan, Tom Quinn, Thomas Shiels, Eoin O'Brien and up front Kevin Kindlon, Eoghan Quinn, James Sherry and Dessie Carlos did the damage. Castleknock went in 10-4 up at the break and extended the lead to 13-4 in the second half, before a mini Cuala revival orchestrated by John Sheanon, Scott O'Brien, Matthew Clancy and substitute Ronan Sweeney who got the goal after an intricate passing move. The goal brought Cuala within 2 points, but Castleknock stretched a tiring Cuala team and finished the game with 2 scores.

Cuala will look to make things right against Fingal Ravens on Saturday on their home patch and Castleknock will look to kick on again away to Lucan.

Raheny 0-17 Lucan 1-19

Lucan are edging closer to safety in their returning year to AFL1, after a vital 5 point victory away to Raheny in St. Annes Park on Wednesday night. Raheny remain rooted to the bottom and need to pick up points quick.

Raheny started off the brighter with scores from Brian Howard and Gavin Ivory, Lucan's Keeper Phil Greene made 3 brilliant saves in the early exchanges also, then Lucan got going with a goal from Darren Gavin and Brendan Gallagher scores from play and frees meant Lucan went in at the break 1 up, but again Raheny started the half the brighter Conor Talty impressed at midfield and Gavin Ivory frees kept them ticking over. Lucan like in the first half crushed on at the end and subs had a major impact, Tommy Brennan back from injury kicked a point and Darragh Shanahan put over 4.

Raheny have another tough test this Saturday in Mobhi Road against a Na Fianna side looking to get back to winning ways after falling to their local rivals St. Vincents.

Lucan welcome fellow promotees Castleknock to 12th Lock, Castleknock are flying high and have proven a tough opponent for anyone this year.

Thomas Davis 0-13 St. Brigids 0-11

St Brigids travelled out to Kiltipper Road on Wednesday night to face Thomas Davis.

Both teams were evenly matched in the first half with Paul Hudson slotting over some lovely scores from play and from frees. Brigids' forward line had a lot of possession, but it was their final pass and shot selection which let them down. It was Thomas Davis that went in at half time with the slim advantage of one point 0-07 - 0-06.

Thomas Davis got the first score of the second half again from the boot of Hudson and managed to hold onto a two point advantage until the end. Although Brigids tried to get back into the game and nearly knicked a goal at the death, it would have been harsh on a hard working Thomas Davis performance.

Thomas Davis are away to Judes and Brigids face Vincents in Russell Park on Saturday evening.

St. Vincents 2-19 Na Fianna 1-17

St. Vincents ran out five point winners over their local rivals in an entertaining high scoring encounter that was played on Tuesday evening in Pairc Naomh Uinsionn. The large crowd in attendance saw both teams playing open attacking football from the start. Na Fianna enjoyed an early lead through points from Conor McHugh and Jack Caffrey. The home side responded with scores from Ruairi Trainor and Tomás Quinn before Na Fianna struck for the first goal of the game. McHugh made an incisive run and squared for Adam Caffrey to palm the ball to the Vins net. The Na Fianna goal seemed to spur Vins into action as they responded with a similar goal after a well worked move saw Enda Varley pass to Trainor for the palmed finish. Minutes later a Mick Concarr run into the Na Fianna defence saw him find Quinn with a clever pass and the forward found the corner of the net from 15 yards for another Vins goal. The Caffrey brothers added a couple of frees before half time to leave Na Fianna leading by the minimum at the break 1-10 to St Vincents 2-6.

The second half continued at the same frenetic pace the first had finished with the Marino men being slightly more efficient with their attacks. A run of 5 unanswered points help turn the game in their favour with Gavin Burke, Joe Feeney and Enda Varley all on target. A key moment of the second half arrived when Vincents full back Hugh Gill tripped McHugh as the corner forward looked certain to goal, Adam Caffrey stepped up to take the resultant penalty but saw his effort saved by Michael Savage. The teams then traded points after that with Jack Caffrey continuing his accuracy from frees. Late scores from Quinn and Burke sealed the win for Vincents.

These sides will meet again in the next round of championship later on in the year but before that they continue in the league this weekend with Vins away Brigids in Russell Park and Na Fianna have bottom of the table Raheny at home.

St. Judes 0-14 Ballymun Kickhams 3-14

Goals win games and Ballymun's 3 goals were the difference in Tymon. The outstanding Ted Furman bagged a brace and former Dub Jason Whelan found the net as well in their 9 point win.

Judes are at home again on Saturday and the challengers will be a Thomas Davis side high on confidence after a well earned 2 points in Kiptipper Road against Brigids, while Ballymun have advantage against the All Ireland Club Champions Ballyboden.

St. Sylvesters 0-16 St. Maurs 1-6

Sylvesters dominated Maurs from start to finish in Broomfield. Syls rushed into an earlier lead and were pegged back to 3 early in the second half after a Maurs goal, but Syls kicked on again to win it by 7. The brilliant scoring from Conor Meaney. Conor Quinn and frees from Daniel St. Ledger kept them up on the scoreboard and Kerry native Edmund Walsh commanded the middle.

Maurs have Plunketts in Rush and need to start picking up points with only 6 games left and Syls are away to league leaders on Saturday.

Fingal Ravens 1-3 Kilmacud Crokes 3-9

Table toppers Kilmacud Crokes made a long midweek commute across to Rolestown to face Fingal Ravens and came away with a convincing 12 point win.

Crokes have a visit from the Sylvesters to Silver Park and Fingal travel to Dalkey to face Cuala.

St. Oliver Plunketts E.R. 4-7 Ballyboden St. Endas 2-10

Plunketts toppled the All Ireland Champions in Martin Savage Park on Tuesday night, they won out by a goal.

Boden have another tricky game away to Ballymun in Páirc Ciceam and Plunketts travel to Rush to face Maurs who are desperate for points. 

Any budding Sports Reporters/Statisticians out there feel free to send on your Match Reports and Stats to officialdublingaa@gmail.com and you will feature in the upcoming round-ups.