Go-Ahead AFL1 and AFL2 Round Ups

With the weather forcing numerous cancellations in the top two divisions of the Go Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Football League, Ballymun Kickhams made light of the conditions when overcoming Cuala by 0-8 to 1-3 at Páirc Ciceam on Saturday evening.

Neither team were at their fluent best as a result of the torrential rain but the hosts were able to build up a healthy lead thanks to points from Robbie Bolger, Cameron McCormack and Ciarán McManus.

All three impressed over the hour for Kickhams, alongside the excellent Alan Hubbard, with Cuala’s goal in injury time arriving too late to spare them their fate.

At Páirc Uí Mhurchú, Ballyboden St Enda’s recovered from a tricky start before eventually getting the better of previously unbeaten St Sylvester’s by 0-12 to 1-7.

An early penalty from Alex Wright handed the visitors the initiative and his points alongside another from Páidí White saw the Malahide side lead by six points by the 22^nd minute.

However, Boden struck back with the final three points of the half with Daire Sweeney excelling and they maintained that momentum after the break.

Sweeney kicked eight points in total, augmented by two points apiece from Warren Egan and Alan Flood, and while Sean Guiden and Wright kept Syls in the hunt, a superb Darragh Gogan save saw Boden join Sylvester’s in joint second placed in the table.

There was two points separating the sides at Marley Park as well as Ballinteer St John’s pipped Thomas Davis by 1-9 to 0-10.

The hosts looked solid at the back through the defensive efforts of Paddy Connaughton, Dave Murray, Colm Fitzpatrick and Nicky Devereux while Joe Murray and Eoghan Fitzpatrick gained a decisive edge at centrefield.

Jack Lundy kicked 0-4 (3f), and with Eoghan Fitzpatrick adding two points, St John’s finished strongly through a goal from substitute Seamus Fenton and a brace of critical scores from Luke Cullen.

At St Mobhi Road, Conor McHugh kicked six points in helping Na Fianna to edge Clontarf by 0-17 to 2-7.

The hosts led by 0-11 to 2-3 at the break with Clontarf remaining in touch through goals from Kevin Lillis and Kieran McKeon but Na Fianna enjoyed the greater scoring edge as they claimed their first league win of the year thanks to the scoring returns from Ciaran Reddin (0-3), David Lacey (0-2), Ger Gibbons (0-2), Sean Caffrey (0-2) and Brian O’Leary (0-2).

Cian Dunne proved the hero for St Vincent’s with his late penalty past Robbie Hennelly seeing his side prevail by 2-7 to 2-6 against Raheny.

In AFL2, Naomh Mearnóg continue to lead the way as they registered their fourth straight success when beating Templeogue Synge Street by 3-8 to 1-12 in Páirc Mearnóg.

Shane Kavanagh showed well with three points for the winners, who did just enough to prevail thanks to 1-1 by Mark Phelan and a fine performance from Cian Madden.

Whitehall Colmcille remain hot on their heels in second place as they impressed up front in defeating Kilmacud Crokes by 4-14 to 1-10 on the all-weather pitch at Benildus College.

Conor Keane plundered 2-3 for the visitors, who built up a sizeable tally thanks to 1-3 from full-forward Keith Campbell, Enda O’Donnell (1-2), Sean Foran (0-3) and James O’Donoghue (0-2).

Darragh Scanlon was a hugely influential figure for Colmcille at centre-back, leaving Crokes still looking for their victory of the year.

In Rolestown, Darren Daly was in superb form from centre-back in helping Fingal Ravens to pip St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh by 2-8 to 0-12.

The home goals came through Brian Gleeson and Dylan Kettle with the place-kicking of Dan Cibotar proving central by the final whistle.

On Tuesday evening, hosts Ballyboughal finished strongly when edging local rivals St Maur’s by 2-12 to 1-12 with a late goal from Gerry Seaver following a superb Andrew Brennan run proving the difference between the sides.

The sides were level at the break with ‘Boughal keeping things tight at the back through Jono Rooney, Will Rafter and Darren Lee while Cahal Flynn and Matty Farrell combined well at midfield.

Farrell pounced for their first goal and with John Rodgers adding 0-6, the hosts prevailed thanks to further scoring contributions from Seaver, Cian Casey, Cian Warren and Cormac Flynn.

AFL1: Kilmacud Crokes 1-9 Lucan Sarsfields 1-9; Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-12 St Sylvester’s 1-7; Cuala 1-3 Ballymun Kickhams 0-8; Castleknock v St Jude’s OFF; Ballinteer St John’s 1-9 Thomas Davis 0-10; St Vincent’s 2-7 Raheny 2-6; Skerries Harps v Naomh Olaf OFF; Na Fianna 0-17 Clontarf 2-7.

AFL2: Ballyboughal 2-12 St Maur’s 1-12; St Brigid’s v St Mary’s Saggart OFF; Kilmacud Crokes 1-10 Whitehall Colmcille 4-14; Round Towers Lusk v Fingallians OFF; St Margaret’s v Parnell’s OFF; Naomh Mearnóg 3-8 Templeogue Synge Street 1-12; Fingal Ravens 2-8 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 0-12; Round Towers Clondalkin v Scoil Uí Chonaill OFF.