Round-Up: Go-Ahead AFL 1- June 17th-19th

Action in Division 1 of the Go-Ahead Dublin Adult Football League resumed on Monday night as Ballinteer St John’s regained top spot, for 24 hours at least, with a comfortable 3-12 to 0-9 away win at Skerries Harps.

The hosts started on the front foot as they held their opponents scoreless in the opening quarter and a brace of Greg McEneaney points and a Ciaran Murphy free had Skerries three points to the good.

However, Ballinteer struck back in an impressive manner as goals from Luke Breathnach and Ben Millist, augmented by points from Mark McNally, Donnacha Carey, Eoghan Fitzpatrick and Breathnach saw them enter the break with a 2-4 to 0-4 lead.

That lead was stretched to eight points after the break courtesy of a Breathnach brace as Skerries struggled to stay in contention despite a trio of frees from Murphy.

St John’s continued to add to their tally through Joe Sweeney, McNally, Carey and Dan O’Leary and with both McEneaney and Killian McGinnis being dismissed, Millist settled the issue with his second goal of the night in the last quarter.

The lively Breathnach finished the contest with 1-5 to his name with Kevin Mulderrig, Colm Fitzpatrick and Matthew Gardiner central to Ballinteer’s twelve-point win.

Their lead at the summit of the table was short-lived however as Na Fianna overtook them on Tuesday night as they defeated St Mary’s Saggart by 2-16 to 0-12 at Mobhi Road.

Across in St Anne’s Park, Ballyboden St Enda’s moved up to the upper half of the table following their 0-11 to 0-7 win against Clontarf.

The foundation for their victory lay in their solid full-back line of Harry Donaghy, Conor Hanrahan and Ryan Baynes with Donaghy particularly resolute on the night.

In a low-scoring affair, the three points from play by Darren O’Reilly was the key scoring contribution while Donagh McCabe enjoyed a strong showing in the away midfield in addition to kicking an excellent score.

In Tymon Park, St Jude’s did enough to get the better of Thomas Davis with Stephen Coen scoring five points in their 2-15 to 2-11 success.

Goals in the first-half by Kevin Lahiff and Eoin Kenny saw the hosts enjoy a narrow 2-5 to 2-4 interval lead with Jude’s holding on after the break through points by David Sheehy, Seamus Noone, Dara Kavanagh, Alex Hassett and Ciaran Hogan.

There was another home win at Páirc Ciceam on Wednesday night as Ballymun Kickhams eased their relegation concerns with an impressive 1-13 to 1-10 win against Kilmacud Crokes.

The likes of Eamon Hill, David Leonard, Ryan Lowry and Eoin Dolan ensured that the hosts remained on the front foot for the large part and a goal from Ciaran McManus added momentum to the Ballymun challenge.

Dean Rock top scored with five points and with Robbie Bolger and Cameron McCormack chipping in with two points apiece, Kickhams built up an unassailable lead through further scores by Adam Conway, Dillon Keating and Fiach Andrews.

Elsewhere, Whitehall Colmcille’s return to AFL2 was confirmed as they lost to Cuala by 2-17 to 2-9 while Castleknock moved away from the trap door with a 2-13 to 1-11 victory away at Round Towers Lusk.

Go-Ahead AFL1 Results: Clontarf 0-7 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-11; Na Fianna 2-16 St Mary’s Saggart 0-12; St Jude’s 2-15 Thomas Davis 2-11; Lucan Sarsfields 0-12 St Sylvester’s 3-11; Ballymun Kickhams 1-13 Kilmacud Crokes 1-10; Cuala 2-17 Whitehall Colmcille 2-9; Skerries Harps 0-9 Ballinteer St John’s 3-12; Round Towers Lusk 1-11 Castleknock 2-13.