Ballymun Kickhams Secure Second Straight Win in a row with Victory Over Ballinteer St John’s

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 2-11 

BALLINTEER ST JOHN’S 0-13

Ballymun Kickhams completed their second successive victory in Group 3 of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship when overcoming Ballinteer St John’s by four points at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Kickhams were full value for their win, given the control that they exerted for the large part with first-half goals by Paddy Small and Dean Rock proving too much for St John’s.

It was Ballymun that made the brighter opening, backed by a healthy breeze, with Robbie Bolger reacting quickest in the 2^nd minute to clip over the crossbar after Cameron McCormack’s point attempt had struck the upright.

Paddy Small showed great strength in doubling the Kickhams lead two minutes later before their opponents finally opened their own account through a well-struck free from goalkeeper Sean Parker in the 7^th minute.

A cagey affair evolved from that point with few scoring chances created prior to Luke Breathnach cutting inside before curling over a delightful point to level matters at the end of the first quarter.

However, the contest turned irrevocably in Ballymun’s favour soon after as a Dean Rock free edged them back in front before the same player landed a trademark point on the run to double his team’s advantage.

Matters improved even further for Ballymun from the resultant kick-out as Small gathered possession thirty metres from goal and after a slaloming run, he fired an unstoppable shot into the top left-hand corner of Parker’s net from fifteen yards.

Rock extended the Kickhams lead to six points through a 22^nd minute free with an outplayed St John’s given a modicum of encouragement at the opposite end following scores by David Devereux and Breathnach (free).

However, the power of Ballymun, both defensively and offensively, proved telling with McCormack bursting the way through in added time and while his attempt was half-blocked, Rock calmly slotted home from close range, prompting a 2-6 to 0-5 interval lead.

A Parker free within two minutes of the restart added a degree of impetus to the Ballinteer challenge and a fine Eoghan Fitzpatrick point three minutes later brought their deficit down to a more manageable five points.

John Small, playing at full-back to curb Breathnach’s influence, joined the attack to telling effect in the 36^th minute when popping over from twenty metres, stalling Ballinteer’s momentum in the process.

While Ben Millist and Fitzpatrick landed fine scores for St John’s in the third quarter, their opponents remained a threat on the counter-attack and a fine move in the 46^th minute saw Bolger restore their five-point lead.

St John’s replied through an excellent score from Jack Lundy and a brace of placed balls by Parker as they got to within two points by the 58^th minute.

Those scores failed to act as a springboard for greater things as Ballymun put the finishing touches to an impressive performance thanks to insurance points by substitutes Carl Keeley and Dean Robertson.

Scorers – Ballymun Kickhams: D Rock 1-5 (0-4f); P Small 1-1; R Bolger 0-2; J Small, C Keeley, D Robertson 0-1 apiece. Ballinteer St John’s: S Parker 0-4 (3f, 1 ‘45’); L Breathnach 0-3 (2f); E Fitzpatrick 0-2; B Millist, D Devereux, J Sweeney, J Lundy 0-1 apiece.

Ballymun Kickhams: S Currie; E Dolan, J Small, E Hill; D Leonard, L Young, A Elliott; J McCarthy, C McCormack; C Tighe, P Small, F Andrews; R Bolger, D Rock, D Byrne. Subs: D Conlon for Byrne (54), D Robertson for Tighe (54), A Hubbard for Bolger (56), C Keeley for Hill (58).

Ballinteer St John’s: S Parker; I Ó hEithir, L Smith, N Devereux; C Fitzpatrick, M Gardiner, B Millist; E Fitzpatrick, J Sweeney; R Cullen, J Lundy, D Devereux; D Carey, L Breathnach, L Cullen. Subs: T Aherne for L Cullen (38), O Grady for C Fitzpatrick (40), S Fenton for N Devereux (43), D O’Leary for R Cullen (54).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (O’Dwyer’s).