Round Up: Go-Ahead AFL 1 17th and 18th of February

Na Fianna started their Go-Ahead Dublin Adult Football League Division 1 campaign on a winning note as they comfortably defeated St Sylvester’s by 2-16 to 0-7 at Broomfield on Sunday morning.

The contest was marred slightly by three sending-offs in the opening half with the hosts reduced to thirteen and Na Fianna took full advantage as they raised green flags through David Lacey and Conor McHugh.

Sean Guiden offered some hope to Syls with his precision from placed balls but the visitors eased home following fine defensive displays by Fiachra Potts and Daragh Kennedy while Adam Rafter showed well in the Na Fianna midfield.

It proved far tighter at Sancta Maria as 14-man Ballyboden St Enda’s overcame Skerries Harps by 1-12 to 0-11.

Despite losing midfielder Michael McDonald after twenty minutes, Boden pounced for the game’s only goal through Daire Sweeney, with the lively attacker finishing the game with 1-6 to his name with five of those points coming from placed balls.

Ciarán O’Reilly and Darren O’Reilly chipped in with two points apiece with substitute Ryan Basquel kicking a brace of important scores upon his introduction before succumbing to injury.

Down the road in Marley Park, Luke Cullen netted twice as Ballinteer St John’s got the better of Whitehall Colmcille by 2-10 to 0-7.

St Jude’s were another southside team to taste home success as they edged Clontarf by 1-12 to 1-9 at Tymon Park.

The visitors led for the large part, enjoying a 1-7 to 0-8 interval lead, but the decisive moment arrived late on as Liam Connerton netted for St Jude’s.

The attacker finished with 1-2 and with Eoin Kenny adding four points, the hosts did just enough to prevail with Simon King, Alan Connolly, Jack Crennan and Paddy O’Loughlin also among their scorers.

With the exception of Castleknock’s comfortable 2-12 to 1-8 win over Lucan Sarsfields, the remaining games on Sunday went right down to the wire with Thomas Davis and Round Towers Lusk recording one-point wins over Ballymun Kickhams and St Mary’s Saggart respectively.

On Saturday morning, Cuala got the league up and running in a positive manner as they enjoyed a 1-8 to 0-7 win against Kilmacud Crokes in Silver Park.

With scores at a premium throughout, the goal scored by dual player Diarmuid Ó Floinn proved particularly telling while Conor O’Brien helped himself to two points.

The away defence kept a tight rein on the Crokes attack, with Eoghan O’Callaghan, Danny Conroy and Michael Conroy catching the eye as Cuala did enough to prevail thanks to further scores over the hour from Tom Magee, Daragh McAdam, O’Callaghan, Shane Mangan, Dan O’Sullivan and Eoin Kennedy.

Go-Ahead AFL1: St Jude’s 1-12 Clontarf 1-9; Castleknock 2-12 Lucan Sarsfields 1-8; Thomas Davis 1-13 Ballymun Kickhams 1-12; Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-12 Skerries Harps 0-11; St Sylvester’s 0-7 Na Fianna 2-16; Kilmacud Crokes 0-7 Cuala 1-8; Ballinteer St John’s 2-10 Whitehall Colmcille 0-7; Round Towers Lusk 1-11 St Mary’s Saggart 1-10.