Ballymun raise game to see off Na Fianna in SFC1 quarter-final

DUBLIN SFC1 QUARTER-FINAL

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 1-18 NA FIANNA 2-13

A much improved second-half showing saw Ballymun Kickhams secure victory in this Dublin SFC1 quarter-final at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Mun trailed by five points at the half-time interval (0-8 to 1-10) but kicked six points on the spin on the restart.

Led by the likes of James McCarthy, John Small and Cameron McCormack Kickhams took control of the game with McCarthy’s point in the opening minute of the second-half a signal of intent.

Dean Rock converted three frees to cut the gap to a point before a stylish point by Jason Whelan brought the sides level following hard graft by Carl Keely and Fiach Andrews.

An Andrew McCaul mark edged Ballymun in front before an Aaron Byrne free, following a foul on Conor McHugh, had the sides level once again, 0-14 to 1-11.

A great strike from Dean Rock, his fourth of the second half (including three frees), put the Mun ahead at the water-break.

Two crucial moments occurred just after. Firstly, Na Fianna through Conor McHugh missed a potential goal scoring opportunity while at the other end a ball from Cameron McCormack put sub Andrew McCaul through one-on-one with Stephen Murray and he finished coolly to the net.

Na Fianna, who lost Jonny Cooper to a black card late on, battled to the finish with Evan Comerford denying David Lacey from close range.

Well into added time Niall Cooper did find the Kickhams net but it was a consolation score as Ballymun moved into the semi-final.

Na Fianna were five up at the break, 1-10 to 0-8, with Conor McHugh’s 30^th minute goal the big score of the opening half.

The St Mobhi Road men enjoyed a prosperous spell either side of the water-break when they kicked four points without reply to lead 0-8 to 0-6 after 24 minutes.

An Aaron Byrne free, following a foul Eoin O’Dea, was followed up with by scores from Gus Farrell, his second of the half, Conor McHugh and a stylish effort from James Doran.

Doran also played a key role in the Na Fianna goal when his well weighted ball for McHugh gave the Dublin senior sufficient time and space to place his shot to the corner of Evan Comerford’s net.

Ballymun has a goal opportunity themselves in the early minutes but Davy Byrne pulled his close-range effort wide of Stephen Murray’s goal in the third minute.

However, points from Dean Rock, Dillon Keating and two from Paddy Small had the Mun 0-4 to 0-2 up by the eighth minute.

But Na Fianna settled as the half progressed and held possession well and switched the play on several occasions which opened up scoring opportunities.

The medium range shooting was good with James Doran and Aaron Byrne looking lively as the sides entered the first-half water-break with Ballymun leading 0-6 to 0-5.

Na Fianna improved after the short break to outscore their opponents 1-5 to 0-2 before the half-time whistle.

SCORERS – Ballymun Kickhams: D Rock 0-8 (0-5f), A McCaul 1-1 (0-1m), F Andrews 0-3, P Small 0-2, D Keating, C Keeley, J McCarthy, J Whelan 0-1 each. Na Fianna: C McHugh 1-2 (0-1m), A Byrne 0-5 (0-4f), N Cooper 1-0, G Farrell, J Doran 0-2 each, G O’Reilly, D Lacey 0-1 each.

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: E Comerford; D Conlon, P McMahon, E Dolan; L Young, J Small, C Keeley; C McCormack, J McCarthy; F Andrews, D Keating, B Ashton; P Small, D Byrne, D Rock. Subs: A Elliott for Ashton (23), J Whelan for Keating (ht), A McCaul for P Small (33), E Hill for Young (57), J Burke for Dolan (60).

NA FIANNA: S Murray; J Cooper, D Ryan, E O’Dea; N McGovern, N Cooper, G Farrell; E McHugh, P Quinn; G O’Reilly, D Quinn, D Lacey; A Byrne, C McHugh, J Doran. Subs: A Fitzgerald for D Quinn (42), S Caffrey for P Quinn (52), A Rafter for O’Reilly (52).

REF: S Farrelly (Ballinteer St John’s).

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2020 DUBLIN SFC1 SEMI-FINALS: Ballymun Kickahms v Kilmacud Crokes; Ballyboden St Enda’s v St Jude’s.

2020 DUBLIN SFC2 SEMI-FINALS: Nh Mearnóg v St Brigid’s; Cuala v Templeogue Synge St.