Lucan hold off late Lusk rally in SFC1

Lucan Sarsfields held off a late Round Towers Lusk rally before emerging 1-12 to 1-11 victors in Saturday afternoon's Go-Ahead Dublin SFC1 Group 4 Round 2 clash at Parnell Park.

The sides were level 0-9 each at the three-quarter mark before Lucan edged ahead with Brendan Gallagher hitting 1-2 on the restart in reply to a Cormac Howley point for the Lusk side.

Gallagher's goal was from the penalty spot in the 51st minute after Harry Ladd was fouled, Lucan punishing a misplaced handpass by Towers defender Oisín Berg.

Gallagher, a former Leitrim senior footballer who finished with 1-5 (1-0pen, 0-2f) overall, converted a free and kicked a point from play either side of his spot-kick to push his side into a 1-11 to 0-10 lead.

Mark Lavin was then well picked out by Darren Gavin from the endline and he found the target to give Lucan a five-point cushion with six minutes of normal time remaining.

Sarsfields could have extended their advantage but Harry Ladd was denied by Lusk keeper Rory O'Brien after the Lucan inside forward was picked up by a great pass from Ciarán Smith, having also completed a well-timed dispossession.

However, the Lusk outfit were not finished and led by Jack Hussey they battled back into contention.

Hussey ignited the comeback with a fine point in the 57th and two minutes later Seán Flood was fouled in the square as he competed for a high delivery from Cormac Howley - Killian Healy put away the penalty but that was as close as Lusk got as Lucan held on for victory.

In the opening half Lucan started the smarter with points from Brendan Gallagher, from the first attack of the day, Luke Walsh and Mark Lavin to move 0-3 to 0-0 clear inside 11 minutes.

Cormac Howley opened Round Towers account with a mark in the 12th minute and by the first water break Lusk established a foothold with a mark from James Hanratty, following an accurate pass from Aaron Duffy, and a point from play from Luke White, their first score from play to make it 0-4 to 0-3 to Lucan.

Lusk maintained their momentum in the second quarter with scores from Jack Hussey and James Hanratty to take they lead, 0-5 to 0-4, in the 23rd minute.

By the interval Lusk were 0-7 to 0-5 clear following two successful frees from Kieran McKittrick.

Lucan seized back the initiative immediately on the start of the second half with Ciarán Smith timing his run forward to telling effect before setting up Mark Lavin for a score.

Lucan soon tagged on another point, this one through Harry Ladd, to bring the sides level, 0-7 each.

Lusk reacted well with Cormac Howley curling over a skillful point from wide on the right and Jack Hussey drove forward once again for his side to regain a two-point lead.

By the second water break Lucan were back level once again following scores from Brendan Gallagher and Colm Walsh, following good work by Daire Newcombe.

Gallagher was to have the most telling influence on the outcome with his 1-2 salvo early in the fourth quarter to put his side on the road to victory despite Lusk's late fightback.

On Friday night Raheny came from 2-5 to 2-8 in arrears at half-time to defeat Whitehall Colmcille 3-14 to 3-9 in their Go-Ahead Dublin SFC1 Group 1 Round 2 clash at St Margaret's.

Pic credit: ilivephotos.com