Raheny defeat Plunkett’s to book SFC1 quarter-final spot

DUBLIN SFC1 GROUP 4 ROUND 3

RAHENY 2-13 ST OLIVER PLUNKETT/EOGHAN RUADH 2-10

Raheny booked their SFC1 quarter-final berth with this narrow three-point victory over St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh in Parnell Park on Wedneday night.

The winner's prize is a last-eight knockout game against Dublin and Leinster champions of last year’s, Ballyboden St Enda’s, this Sunday at the Donnycarney venue.

The sides were level inside the last quarter following a point from Gareth Smith for Plunkett’s, after Adam Keating and Niall Walsh just earlier looked like they were going to combine to goal.

But it was Raheny who finished the stronger with sub James O’Kane making a telling contribution with two points from play.

Raheny held the upperhand in this period and were also denied goals on two occasions by Plunkett’s keeper Gavin Broughan, denying Cian Iver in the 54^th minute, but importantly Gavin Ivory converted the resulting ‘45’.

Three minutes later Broughan again showed good reflexes to deny Rutherson Real with Raheny recycling possession for Gavin Ivory to kick another important late score.

A David Shatwell point, after combing with Aran Kelly, made it 2-12 to 2-8 to Raheny and they were safely through despite two late Seán Bugler scores.

Plunkett’s had Gareth Smith sent off in the 60^th minute while team-mate Rory O’Connor was black-carded before the conclusion.

The second-half had started with a flurry of activity.

Raheny were two up at the break and following a point from Plunkett’s Tye Adamson, Seán McCarthy made the most of getting a second chance to goal in the 33^rd minute to lead 2-6 to 1-5.

But within a minute Gareth Smith raised a green flag after scoring from the penalty spot as both sides gave their all in pursuit of the golden ticket to the knockout stages.

At the break Raheny led 1-6 to 1-4 despite the concession of an early goal.

It was a quick-paced opening 30-plus minutes with plenty of goalmouth action.

Seán Grenham opened the scoring with a fine point for Raheny in the opening minute.

However, Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith quickly replied for Plunkett’s before the Dublin 7 side struck for the opening goal of the contest.

Bernard Brogan worked hard back the field as Seán McMahon was dispossessed before finding Gareth Smith with a first-timed pass, he fed Cillian Hayes coming through who palmed the ball to the net past Ciarán Heapes.

Plunkett’s went 1-2 to 0-1 ahead when ‘Nesty’ slotted his second point after Seán Bugler had covered 70 metres to link the play, the Dublin senior went down holding his hamstring which seemed to dilute his influence for the remainder of the half.

Inspired by the likes of Brian Fenton, Brian Howard and Seán McMahon Raheny upped their tempo significantly with Fenton kicking two points in rapid succession, one of either foot.

Ciarán Ivers cut he deficit to the minimum, 1-2 to 0-4, when clipping over with the outside of his right boot from a very, very tight angle.

In the tenth minute Gavin Ivory had a goal opportunity but was denied by keeper Gavin Broughan, Darragh Keogh’s point attempt on the rebound going wide off and upright.

But Raheny keep pressing with points from Gavin Ivory and Seán Grenham after lots of possession football was finally broken by Seán McMahon injecting pace and setting up his inside forward - Raheny’s fifth point in-a-row.

Bernard Brogan levelled it with a stylish point under pressure off his left, 0-6 to 1-3.

Then came the crucial score of the first-half when Gavin Ivory, Brian Fenton and Darren Byrne combined brilliantly for defender Byrne to tee-up Fenton to palm to the net.

That came just before the first-half water break, the next big action after the break came in the 27^th minute when Rutherson Real cracked a shot off the crossbar following a clever long handpass from Eoin Keogh.

As the game moved into added time Plunkett’s were presented with a sighting on goal but sub Conor Breslin’s low effort slide just outside the post.

Before the interval Niall Walsh and Bernard Brogan combined for Gareth Smith to dissect the posts, this third point from play in the half, to leave it Raheny 1-6 Plunkett’s 1-4 at half-time.

SCORERS - Raheny: B Fenton 1-3, G Ivory 0-3 (0-1 ’45’), S McCarthy 1-0, S Grenham, J O’Kane 0-2 each, C Ivers, D Shatwell, B Howard 0-1 each. St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh: G Smith 1-4 (1-0 pen), B Brogan 0-3 (0-2f), C Hayes 1-0, S Bugler 0-2, T Adamson 0-1.

RAHENY: C Heapes; D Shatwell, S Byrne, D Byrne; R Real, S McMahon, B McHugh; B Fenton, B Howard; D Keogh, E Keogh, S McCarthy; S Grenham, C Ivers, G Ivory. Subs: A Kelly for E Keogh (ht), J Lyons for S Grenham (41), J O’Kane for McCarthy (52), M Grenham for D Keogh (53).

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT/EOGHAN RUADH: G Broughan; S Moran, R O’Connor, M McManus; D Brogan, J O’Donoghue, S O’Connor; C Dunleavy, S Bugler; T Adamson, G Smith, C Hayes; L Fleming, N Walsh, B Brogan. Subs: C Breslin for Dunleavy (22), A Keating for McManus (37), S McWeeney for Fleming (57).

REF: P Faughnan (St Patrick’s, Palmerstown).

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DUBLIN SFC1 QUARTER-FINALS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

Parnell Park: St Jude’s v Skerries Harps, 3.0

Parnell Park: Kilmacud Crokes v St Vincent’s, 5.30

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

Parnell Park: Ballyboden St Enda’s v Raheny, 2.0

Parnell Park: Ballymun Kickhams v Na Fianna, 4.30