Go-Ahead Ireland AFL 1 Roundup- April 5th 2025

St Patrick’s Donabate continue to lead the way in Division 1 of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Football League following their narrow 3-9 to 0-16 victory over St Jude’s at Tymon Park on Saturday evening.  

After falling two points behind early on, the visitors settled into the encounter courtesy of an Ollie Brooks goal and a two-pointed score from Adam Dunne helped them seize the initiative.

Leading by 1-5 to 0-7 at the break, St Pat’s pushed on in the third quarter with an excellent team move culminating in a spectacular goal from Kieran Conroy.

Within minutes, the visitors added a third goal with fine work from Adam Conroy allowing Dylan Knight the chance to fire home, building an eight-point lead for his side in the process.

The hosts fought back impressively in the closing stages but the scoring returns of Conor Moore (0-3) and Stephen Dempsey (0-2) helped ensure a fourth straight win for Donabate.

Clontarf are one of many teams lying in second place as they were pushed all the way before eventually overcoming Fingal Ravens by 3-12 to 2-12 in Rolestown.

After playing against the elements in the first-half, superb goals from Jack McCaffrey and Tom O’Sullivan saw the visitors trail by just 2-6 to 2-5 at the interval.

The contest remained equally tight upon the restart but with Matias MacDonncha, Brian Dufficy, John Hanley and Sean Horkan all to the fore, Clontarf secured the win through a palmed goal by Darragh Fagan.

Clontarf are joined on six points from four games by a Ballinteer St John’s side that pipped St Sylvester’s by 2-11 to 0-14 in Broomfield.

The visitors started on the front foot through a Mark McNally goal with points from Jack Lundy and Luke Cullen maintaining their early momentum.

However, St Sylvester’s stormed back into the contest, inspired as they were by five points from Ross Keogh, to earn a narrow 0-7 to 1-3 interval advantage.

Four frees from Lundy allowed Ballinteer to overtake their opponents after the break and while Sean Guiden chipped away with scores at the opposite end, Lundy converted a penalty to regain the initiative for St John’s.

Another Guiden score brought the hosts to within a point but late insurance points from Ronan Cullen and Liam Smith sealed the deal for a Ballinteer side best served over the hour by Finn Nolan, Ronan Cullen, Matthew Gardiner and Luke Cullen.

In Pairc de Búrca, Kilmacud Crokes picked up their third straight win as they edged Ballymun Kickhams by 2-20 to 2-16.

The hosts led by 1-11 to 1-7 at half-time with a Hugh Kenny goal augmenting further scores by Paul Mannion, Luke O’Kelly, David Higgins, Kenny and Dara Mullin.

A second Crokes goal moved them seven points clear and while the visitors clawed their way back into contention, points from Shane Horan, Dan O’Brien and Anthony Quinn proved sufficient for the hosts by the final whistle.   

Elsewhere, St Mary’s Saggart lost their perfect record as they suffered a heavy 3-20 to 0-8 loss to Ballyboden St Enda’s at Páirc Ui Mhurchú while Na Fianna and St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh enjoyed marginal victories away at Castleknock and Thomas Davis respectively. 

GO-AHEAD IRELAND AFL1 RESULTS: St Sylvester’s 0-14 Ballinteer St John’s 2-11; Cuala 4-23 Lucan Sarsfields 1-14; Thomas Davis 2-14 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 2-15; Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-20 St Mary’s Saggart 0-8; Fingal Ravens 2-12 Clontarf 3-12; Kilmacud Crokes 2-20 Ballymun Kickhams 2-16; Castleknock 0-19 Na Fianna 2-14; St Jude’s 0-16 St Patrick’s Donabate 3-9.