Ballymun Kickhams begin defence of their SFC1 title

Mon, 6th September 2021

Last year's SFC1 champions, Ballymun Kickhams, as well as this year's Division 1 league winners, Na Fianna, are two of the four clubs involved in this Friday's Go-Ahead Dublin SFC1 action as this year's championships (SFC1, SFC2) gets underway.

On Sunday the Go-Ahead Dublin SFC1 Group 1 clash of Ballyboden St Enda's, county champions as recently as 2018, and Raheny will be screen lived on TG4 (1.30).

DubsTV will be screening both games from Parnell Park live on Friday night as well as the meeting of Kilmacud Crokes against Casteknock on Sunday in SFC1 Group 2 (4.0).

Na Fianna face Whitehall Colmcille in their Go-Ahead Dublin SFC1 Group 1 clash at the Donnycarney venue in the first clash (6.30) of the double-header on Friday, followed by the SFC1 meeting of Ballymun Kickhams and Thomas Davis (8.15).

The St Mobhi Road outfit recently defeated Kilmacud Crokes 2-16 to 2-12 in their Go-Ahead Dublin AFL1 final with first-half goals from Conor McHugh and the dynamic James Doran helped them to a 2-6 to 0-8 interval lead with Paul Mannion, who tallied 2-7 overall, kicking five points for the Stillorgan side.

By the three-quarter marker a brilliantly taken goal by Paul Mannion had Crokes still giving chase when 2-11 to 1-11 behind with Rory O'Carroll also on target for the southsiders. Donal Ryan, Conor McHugh, James Doran and David Lacey (free) got the Na Fianna scores.

Points from the influential Alasdar Fitzgerald, Conor McHugh, with a powerful driving run that concluded with a fisted score, and David Lacey extended Na Fianna's lead to six points, 2-15 to 1-12, as the game moved into the final minutes.

Paul Mannion gave Crokes late hope with a goal, showing all his experience to pick his spot in the square. But Na Fianna were not to be stopped and it should put Larry Norton's side in good stead for the upcoming Championship.

Ballymun Kickhams delivered their best display of an impressive SFC1 run in last year's final when they outclassed Ballyboden St Enda's 1-19 to 0-8 in Parnell Park to secure the Clery Cup for the fourth time.

Kickhams, who had most previously won the title before last year in 2012, dominated from the 12th minute of the first half and again on the restart when hitting 12 points without reply to cruise to victory.Boden had no answer to the power, precision and movement of the Mun as they took control and played the game on their terms.

The sides were level 0-4 each after 11 minutes following a well judged Ryan Basquel score for Boden but they failed to score again until a Colm Basquel free in the 45th minute.

During that 35 minute-plus spell Kickhams really put the outcome of their reach with Dean Rock, who tallied 1-8 overall, kicking eight first half scores, including three frees and a mark, with Fiach Andrews hitting two of his overall four points from play and Paddy Small slotting a point from play and converting an early mark.

Ballymun ran hard at the Boden defence and linked play well the length of the field, the athleticism of Cameron McCormack was also to the fore.

By the break they were 0-14 to 0-4 to the good and after the break they further extended that lead with two points from Dillon ‘Mini’ Keating – completing their run of 12 unanswered scores.

In their semi-final the Mun overcame Kilmacud Crokes 1-18 to 1-12 in a pulsating encounter at Parnell Park.

The game ebbed and flowed throughout with both sides enjoying short periods of dominance before Kickhams came from behind just after the second half water break to run out two-point winners.

Ballymun started on the front foot to lead 0-5 to 0-1 by the water break. However, Evan Comerford had denied Paul Mannion from the penalty spot in the fifth minute.

Kickhams looked sharp with Dean Rock, Paddy Small (twice), Cameron McCormack and Carl Deely on target with Paul Mannion the sole Crokes scorer.

A brilliantly taken Dan O'Brien goal sparked the Stillorgan side to life in the 18th minute with scores from Dara Mullin (free), two from Paul Mannion (one free) and Hugh Kenny gave Crokes a 1-5 to 0-5 lead by the 25th minute.

Typical of the contest Ballymun lifted their game and points form Paddy Small, a 35-metre free, Dean Rock, and Cameron McCormack after combining with Brian Ashton had the sides level.

Before the interval Dean Rock had a penalty chance, after James McCarthy was fouled, but his effort ricocheted off keeper Conor Ferris' leg for a point and then a minute later won a mark, from an accurate pass from Davey Byrne, which he clipped over to lead 0-10 to 1-6 at half-time.

It didn't relent in the second half as the best of Dublin club football showcased their talent with John Small, following good work by his younger brother Paddy, firing over.

Crokes replied with points from Dara Mullin, following a well directed Conor Ferris kickout, and Mullin again with a free after Shane Horan was fouled.

Back game the 'Mun with two Dean Rock points, one a free, before Shane Cunningham and Dara Mullin (mark) responded for Crokes - level again 0-13 to 1-10.

A fine Jason Whelan point, who was introduced as a 37th minute sub, had Kickhams one point clear as the sides entered their second half water interval. Whelan was just one of Ballymun's subs who made a positive impact down the home straight as they scored 1-3 off the bench.

Again Crokes surged back with scores from Dara Mullin (free), following a foul on Conor Kinsella, and Hugh Kenny (mark) after fielding low and bravely from a Paul Mannion pass.

Crokes were now one point up, 1-12 to 0-14, as the game entered the last six minutes of normal time - but with plenty of drama still remaining.

Dean Rock converted a free, Jason Whelan fired over and fellow sub Dillon Keating had the distance and accuracy from 40 metres out as Kickhams made the move for victory.

As the game moved into added time sub Cathal O'Tighe applied the finishing touch to the net after another sub Andrew McCaul's goal attempt was parried across the face of the goal.

The 'Mun were five points clear, 1-17 to 1-12, but soon down to 13 men after Davey Byrne and Leon Young were dismissed.

Former Dublin and Clare senior, Pat Burke, had been introduced by Crokes and had a goal attempt cleared off the line by Eoin Dolan in the 67th as Crokes tried valiantly to rescue the game.

A minute later he skilfully turned a low delivery from Paul Mannion into the net to make it a two-point game.

But that was as close as they got with Dean Rock putting over a late, late free to book the final berth against the reigning champions.

-----------------------------------

Dublin SFC (Clerys Cup): Roll of Honour

St Vincent’s (28): 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

O'Toole’s (11): 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1946

Geraldines (10): 1898, 1899, 1998, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1940, 1941, 1942

Kilmacud Crokes (8): 1992, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2018

UCD (7): 1943, 1963, 1965, 1973, 1974, 2002, 2006

Parnell’s (6): 1913, 1916, 1939, 1945, 1987, 1988

Kickhams (6): 1897, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1912

Garda (5): 1927, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1935

Na Fianna (5): 1969, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001

Young Ireland (5): 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1896

Clanna Gael (5): 1936, 1937, 1948, 1961, 1968

Ballymun Kickhams (4): 1982, 1985, 2012, 2020

Ballyboden St Enda's (4): 1995, 2009, 2015, 2019