Fri, 20th December 2024
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Image courtesy Paul Lundy
BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 1-12
BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S 0-11
Ballymun Kickhams finished strongly to hold off a spirited Ballinteer St John’s by four points in their Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Group 1 encounter at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.
Kickhams led by just a point entering the final stages but showed all their experience to pull away and complete a hard-earned but deserved success, booking a last eight spot against holders Kilmacud Crokes in the process.
Despite Dean Rock opening the scoring through a ‘45’ in the 2nd minute, Ballymun proved wasteful in the initial exchanges as they kicked three presentable chances wide.
St John’s, in contrast, were deprived of possession but created a goal chance in the 6th minute as Jack Lundy’s vision released Luke Cullen through on goal but Evan Comerford raced smartly of his line to smother Cullen’s attempt.
Luke Breathnach converted the resultant ‘45’ and Ballinteer found themselves ahead by the 9th minute thanks to an excellent point from distance by Eoghan Fitzpatrick.
Ballymun’s attempts to isolate Rock in their full-forward line gained dividends a minute later as a long delivery left Ballinteer full-back Nicky Devereux terribly exposed and Rock unselfishly passed to Robbie Bolger for the most facile of finishes to the net.
Rock added a free soon after to leave three points between the teams but their opponents were beginning to ease their way into the game, as reflected in points from play by Lundy and Donncha Carey.
The lively Rock added a point from play to keep Ballymun’s noses in front but the pace of the St John’s attack was beginning to bear fruit with Breathnach and Carey clipping over scores to restore parity by the 23rd minute.
Comerford was once again called into action as a driving run from Mark McNally culminated in a low shot that lacked the required power and that save and a late point from Cathal O’Tighe left Kickhams 1-4 to 0-6 ahead by the interval.
Both teams spurned goal chances in the opening two minutes of the second-half with Comerford denying Liam Fenton at his near post while Rock’s palmed effort at the other end cannoned wide off John Brian Carthy’s left-hand upright.
Bolger and Breathnach exchanged points soon after with the influential Rock adding another point from play to move Kickhams two points clear by the 36th minute.
The momentum appeared to be going Ballymun’s way as they doubled their advantage thanks to points in quick succession from Cameron McCormack and Bolger but they failed to score for the ensuing thirteen minutes as St John’s trimmed their arrears.
Lundy, Liam Smith and Fitzpatrick all pointed to leave a solitary point between the teams by the end of the third-quarter but Ballymun’s Carl Keeley was on hand to kick a crucial point in the 51st minute to extend his team’s narrow lead.
Substitute Seamus Fenton reduced the gap once again but tellingly, Bolger, Keeley and Rock were on hand to kick insurance scores for Ballymun, highlighting their composure in the closing stages.
Scorers – Ballymun Kickhams: R Bolger 1-3, D Rock 0-5 (1f, 1 ‘45’), C Keeley 0-2, C McCormack, C O’Tighe 0-1 apiece. Ballinteer St John’s: L Breathnach 0-3 (1 ’45’), E Fitzpatrick, J Lundy, D Carey 0-2 each, L Smith, S Fenton 0-1 apiece.
Ballymun Kickhams: E Comerford; L Young, D Conlon, G Sheridan; C Keeley, J Small, C O’Tighe; A Elliot, J McCarthy; A Swan, D Byrne, C McCormack; R Bolger, D Rock, D Keating. Subs: D Robertson for Swan (half-time), B Ashton for Elliot (41), C McManus for O’Tighe (45), A McCaul for Byrne (58), J Whelan for Keating (64).
Ballinteer St John’s: JB Carthy; P Connaughton, N Devereux, L Smith; B Millist, D Devereux, M Gardiner; E Fitzpatrick, J Sweeney; L Cullen, J Lundy, M McNally; L Fenton, L Breathnach, D Carey. Subs: S Fenton for Cullen (41), I Ó hEithir for Connaughton (41), F Duffy for Carey (46), C Fitzpatrick for Gardiner (48), A Clabby for Lundy (56).
Referee: Dave Feeney (Parnell’s)
