Trinity Gaels were pushed all the way before eventually seeing off a determined Naomh Fionnbarra by 1-10 to 1-8 in their keenly-fought Go Ahead Adult Football League Division 3 first round clash in Drumnigh on Sunday morning.
Jamie Bishop and Evan Whelan were the pick of the home outfit, excelling over the hour, and the home mood improved further thanks to a goal by Sean Boylan.
Josh McCann led the way in terms of scores with five points, and with Liam Glynn adding a brace, Trinity Gaels edged home thanks to further scores from Joey McCann, Jamie Bishop and Jack Rowe.
Scores proved more free-flowing at Páirc Ciceam as a clinical Cuala made the most of the chances that came their way in defeating Ballymun Kickhams by 4-13 to 3-11.
Both teams gained promotion from Division 4 last year with the visitors doing just enough to prevail on Sunday thanks to the goals of Dan Keating, Paul James, Sean Moran and Martin Grundy.
Goalkeeper Cormac Quinn made a number of telling saves and his efforts and those of wing-back Mark Treacy and midfielder Mark Smith helped ensure a five-point win.
At Sancta Maria, two goals before half-time proved decisive as Ballyboden St Enda’s overcame St Sylvester’s by 3-11 to 2-7.
Backed by a strong breeze, the visitors were leading by seven points towards the end of the half but goals from Evan Flanagan and Davy Keogh reduced Boden’s deficit to a more manageable one point by the interval.
The hosts maintained their momentum upon the resumption thanks to points from Davy Keane and Collie Dunne and confirmed their win late on through a Luke Byrne goal.
The Sylvester’s midfield pairing of Paddy Dolan and Dan McEvoy showed well throughout, alongside full-forward David Sexton, but their collective efforts proved in vain against a St Enda’s team best served by corner-back Ollie Brophy and Mark Walsh at centrefield.
In Division 4 of the Go Ahead Adult Football League, St Finian’s Swords completed a remarkable comeback to catch Castleknock on the line, prevailing by 1-13 to 0-15 by the final whistle at Somerton Park.
The visitors played with the elements in the first-half but despite the point scoring of influential wing-back Lee Kavanagh (0-3) and further efforts from James Doyle, Conor Cooley, Brandon Caffrey and Conor Halpin, they failed to take full advantage as they enjoyed a narrow 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead.
Despite two early points after the break, the St Finian’s challenge petered out for a period as Castleknock kicked eight points on the bounce to leave the hosts sitting pretty at 0-14 to 0-9.
However, a brace of Andy Mallon points narrowed the gap and Killian Ryan pounced for the game’s solitary goal in injury time to secure the two league points on offer.
Go Ahead AFL3 results:Na Fianna 0-8 Erin’s Isle 0-8; Trinity Gaels 1-10 Naomh Fionnbarra 1-8; Naomh Barróg 2-10 St Jude’s 0-7; St Peregrine’s 0-7 Clanna Gael Fontenoy 0-16; Ballymun Kickhams 3-11 Cuala 4-13; St Patrick’s Donabate 3-17 Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 2-4; Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-11 St Sylvester’s 2-7; St Anne’s 1-11 O’Toole’s 0-8.
Go Ahead AFL4 results: Thomas Davis 2-12 St Finian’s Newcastle 2-6; Castleknock 0-15 St Finian’s Swords 1-13; Clontarf 1-6 Skerries Harps 0-8; Kilmacud Crokes 3-14 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 2-8; Ballinteer St John’s 0-14 Lucan Sarsfields 0-10; St Vincent’s 0-11 Templeogue Synge Street 2-7; Clann Mhuire 1-9 St Mark’s 2-5; St Patrick’s Palmerstown 3-10 St Brigid’s 1-5.