Jude's come with storming finish to topple Ballymun Kickhams

Jude’s come with storming finish to topple Ballymun Kickhams

Sun, 30th September 2018

ST JUDE’S 2-9 BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 1-11

A brilliant Chris Guckian goal three minutes from time put St Jude’s on the road to victory in this Dublin SFC1 quarter-final at Parnell Park on Saturday.

The Mun led 1-10 to 1-6 with seven minutes on the clock as the accuracy of Dean Rock look set to steer Kickhams into the semi-final but the Tymon Park men came with a storming finish to snatch victory.

A fine Tom Lahiff point cut the deficit before Guckian’s angled strike to the top corner brought the sides level in the 57^th minute.

Rock edged Ballymun back in front after a fould on Paddy Small to make it 1-11 to 2-7 before Jude’s got the last two scores in injury-time.

Niall Coakley pointed the first of these crucial scores when converting a free before former Dublin senior Niall O’Shea threaded a pass to Kieran Doherty who fired over the winner on the turn.

If Jude’s finished the game better they also started on top with Coakley palming to the net in the third minute after Kevin McManamon set up the play.

Two excellent Paddy Small points though had the Mun back in the game with Rock’s 20^th minute penalty putting Kickhams 1-3 to 1-1 ahead.

But Jude’s battled back and by the break were level 1-4 each.

A string of Ballymun points from Rock (two), Ted Furman and Carl Keeley looked to have given their side a telling advantage but Jude’s showed great resolve and fitness to come storming back into the game and wrestle control late on.

SCORERS– St Jude’s: N Coakley 1-4 (0-3f), C Guckian 1-0, T Lahiff, P Clarke (0-2f) 0-2 each, K Doherty 0-1. Ballymun Kickhams: D Rock 1-7 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), P Small 0-2, C Keeley, T Furman 0-1 each.

ST JUDE’S: L Mailey; C O’Reilly, C Fitzpatrick, O Manning; T Lahiff, N O’Shea, C Guckian; M Sweeney, S Ryan; K Doherty, B Fitzgerald, T Devlin; N Coakley, K McManamon, P Clarke. Subs: R Joyce for Devlin (ht), S King for Fitzgerald (ht), A Sweeney for Manning (54), A Fitzmaurice for O’Shea (63).

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: E Comerford; E Dolan, J Small, A George; C Keeley, P McMahon, A Hubbard; J McCarthy, D Byrne; A Elliot, J Whelan, C Kavanagh; P Small, D Rock, T Furman. Subs: D Conlon for Kavanagh (45), F Andrews for McMahon (50), D Keating for Whelan (56).

REF: B Tiernan (O’Dwyer’s).