Raheny and St Sylvester’s make winning start to SFC campaigns

Raheny made a winning start to their Dublin SFC Group 1 campaign as goals proved crucial in their 3-8 to 0-14 victory over St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh in Garristown on Friday night.

In a great battle Raheny always slightly held the upperhand and on every occasion that it looked like Plunkett's were building strong momentum in the second half the Navan Road side were rocked back on their heels by goals.

Aran Kelly's goal inside the opening quarter gave Raheny a good start and with points form Michael Grenham and Simon Deignan they held a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

By the interval it was 1-6 to 0-4 with Tomás Corrigan, Seán Bugler and Gareth 'Nesty' Smith kicking points for Plunkett's.

With 15 minutes to play Gavin Ivory converted a penalty for Raheny and they looked set for victory.

However, Plunkett's battled back with Alan Brogan and Smith slotting points.

Just when it looked it was set to go all the way to the wire Raheny broke Plunkett's hearts with a Seán McCarthy goal in the 53rd minute to make a winning start to their group.

St Sylvester's had little difficulty in defeating Parnell's 0-19 to 0-6 in their Dublin SFC Group 3 contest in Balgriffin.

Former Dublin senior, Michael McCarthy, who was a member of the All-Ireland SFC winning panel in 2011, was top-scorer for the Malahide side with 0-8 (0-4f), just ahead of Ed Walsh who tallied 0-7, five from play.

By the interval Syls were well in control as they had built up a 0-12 to 0-4 advantage after kicking seven points on the spin towards the close of the half.

McCarthy scores four of this seven while Stephen Cluxton, operating at centre-back for Parnell's, scored two first half frees for the Coolock side.