Kickhams cruise into SFC1 quarters (Group 1)

Sat, 15th August 2020

DUBLIN SFC1 GROUP 1 ROUND 3

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 3-15 THOMAS DAVIS 0-8

A powerful second half saw Ballymun Kickhams cruise into the Dublin SFC1 quarter-finals with this 16-point Group 1 victory over Thomas Davis at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Mun will be joined from the group in the last-eight by Skerries Harps, who followed up their victory over Thomas Davis last time out, with a win on Saturday against Round Towers, Lusk in Garristown.

Kickhams led by two at half-time but outscored Davis’ 2-10 to 0-2 in the second period with the hard-working Davy Keogh, a Dublin senior hurler, getting both scores for the Kiltipper Road side.

Take a look back at the highlights from this evening’s #DSFC1 game between @BallymunGAA & @tomasdaibhis: pic.twitter.com/szcSYNPkPW
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) August 15, 2020

Points early in the second-half from Fiach Andrews and James McCarthy extended Ballymun’s advantage before Brian Ashton struck for goal.

The former Irish underage basketball international won a kickout from Evan Comerford and ended up at the end of a move when sweeping the ball to the net after Dean Rock had his overhead fisted effort, from a high delivery by Carl Keeley, saved by keeper Rob Crilly.

Around the 50^thminute marker Paddy Small kicked three superb points as Ballymun moved out of sight and could afford to introduce subs off the bench.

None made greater impact than Dillon Keating who brought energy to the Kickhams attack as well as scoring 1-1, steering a low shot to the net sixth minutes into added time.

There were second-half goal opportunities at both ends. In the 52nd minute half-time sub, Dublin U20 football selector Ciarán Farrelly, angled narrowly wide while within two minutes Davis' keeper Rob Crilly first denied Dillon Keating and then Andrew McCaul's effort was stopped on the rebound.

From the starting whistle Ballymun got the ideal with a James McCarthy goal inside the opening minute on their way to leading 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time.

A good run and release by Cameron McCormack saw McCarthy break through on goal and power to the roof of Rob Crilly’s net.

Dean Rock kicked the first of his five points in the first-half (three frees) before Eoin Kirby converted a free to settle Davis.

Good work by Brian Ashton and Fiach Andrews led to a fine Dean Rock point as the northsiders looked the more potent early on.

However, with Cian Murphy driving forward to telling effect the Tallaght side came more into the game and enjoyed a dominant spell around the midpoint of the half.

Thomas Davis had a sighting of goal in the 12^th minute but Adam Fallon seemed caught in two minds and his attempted fisted point effort faded wide.

A Ryan Deegan point, after working a one-two with Adam Fallon, made it 1-2 to 0-2 after 17 minutes.

Points from Eoin Kirby (free) and Davy Keogh, a half-chance for goal, either side of a Dean Rock point from play after being picked out by an outstanding Philly McMahon pass, had the Mun 1-3 to 0-5 up.

Eoin Kirby, another free, had the sides level in the final minutes of the opening half before Dean Rock slotted two frees, the second following a foul on John Small to edge his side into a 1-5 to 0-6 interval lead.

However, Davis had spurned a few goal chances with Davy Keogh hitting the crossbar with one effort in the 26th minute shortly after firing over a point when there was a sighting of goal.

SCORERS – Ballymun Kickhams: D Rock 0-7 (0-5f), J McCarthy, D Keating 1-1 each, P Small 0-3, B Ashton 1-0, F Andrews 0-2, C Keeley 0-1. Thomas Davis: E Kirby 0-4 (0-4f), D Keogh 0-3, R Deegan 0-1.

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: E Comerford; D Conlon, E Dolan, P McMahon; C Keeley, J Small, L Young; B Ashton, J McCarthy; C McCormack, D Byrne, J Whelan; P Small, F Andrews, D Rock. Subs: E Hill for Ashton (47), A McCaul for Whelan (47), D Keating for Andrews (49), C O’Tighe for P Small (53), A Swan for Byrne (56).

THOMAS DAVIS: R Crilly; S Kennedy, E Lambert, A Fallon; C Murphy, A Waddick, J Lambert; E Conroy, R Deegan; E Kirby, S Farrelly, M Nolan; S O’Byrne Braiden, D Keogh, C Guilfoyle. Subs: C Farrelly for Guilfoyle (ht), S Ryan for Nolan (40), A Shorten for Kennedy (46), E O’Toole for S Farrelly (46), C Sallier for O’Byrne Braiden (58).

REF: D Feeney (Parnell’s).