Holders Vins cruise past Castleknock into SFC1 semi-finals

ST VINCENT’S 1-21 CASTEKNOCK 1-9

Reigning champions St Vincent’s made light work of jumping the hurdle of Castleknock in Sunday’s Dublin SFC1 quarter-final at Parnell Park.

Vincent’s advance to face St Jude’s in the semi-final while Kilmacud Crokes will encounter Ballyboden St Enda’s in the other last-four clash.

In Sunday’s repeat of the 2016 county final Castleknock made the dream start when Thomas McDaniel had the ball in the Vins net inside the opening minute and when Ben Galvin added a point the Dublin 15 side were four points clear.

It wasn’t however a portent of things to come as Vincent’s moved up a gear in the second half to run out convincing 12-point victors.

Diarmuid Connolly also made his return to the Vincent’s colours having lined out with Donegal Boston in the States during the summer.

Vincent’s were not long in getting moving following the early concession of that goal when Tomás Quinn firing to the Castleknock net.

With Eamonn Fennell and Nathan Mullins doing well at midfield Vins began to get on top and by the break were 1-9 to 1-6 to the good with Shane Carthy, who also played with Donegal Boston during the summer, and Fennell on target.

Vincent’s effectively sealed victory with their scoring surge early in the second half.

Quinn struck over before Fennell added his second point with Cormac Diamond and Carthy also adding scores.

Early second-half sub Enda Varley scored three points from play, one following a Connolly assist, as Vincent’s cruised out of sight.

SCORERS – St Vincent’s: T Quinn 1-6 (0-4f), E Varley, E Fennell, C Diamond 0-3 each, S Carthy 0-2, N Mullins, G Burke, L Smyth, A Baxter 0-1 each. Castleknock: T McDaniel 1-4 (0-1f), K Kindlon 0-2, B Galvin, S O’Carroll (f), C Kilkenny 0-1 each.

ST VINCENT’S: M Savage; M Concarr, F Breathnach, C Wilson; B Egan, G Brennan, G Burke; N Mullins, E Fennell; L Galvin, L Smyth, C Diamond; A Baxter, S Carthy, A Baxter. Subs: J McCusker for Wilson (ht), E Varley for Baxter (35), J Feeney for Fennell (50), D Connolly for Smyth (50), S Lambe for Brennan (53), R McBride for Galvin (57).

CASTLEKNOCK: M Connolly; E O’Brien, G Hanigan, T Quinn; P Bourke, F Sweeney, T Shields; C Kilkenny, G Gibson; B Galvin, S Boland, K Kindlon; T McDaniel, T Corcoran, S O’Carroll. Subs: J Sherry for Galvin (ht), R Shaw for Sherry (32, black card), R Corcoran for Gibson (38), M Galvin for T Corcoran (46), N Milmore for Bourke (61).

REF: L Aherne Clarke (Ballyboughal).

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

DUBLIN SFC2 SEMI-FINALS: St Mary’s Saggart v Fingallians; Nh Olaf/Thomas Davis v Cuala.

DUBLIN IFC SEMI-FINALS: Scoil Ui Chonaill v Round Tower Lusk; Nh Fionnbarra v Nh Barróg.