Round up: Round 2 of the Go-Ahead Senior 1 Football Championship

Sun, 27th August 2023

Image courtesy John Kirwan

Round 2 of the Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship took place over Saturday and Sunday with the likes of Thomas Davis, Kilmacud Crokes, St Jude’s and Ballyboden St Enda’s taking positive steps towards securing quarter-final berths.

In Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon, Na Fianna got their campaign back on track as they defeated Whitehall Colmcille by 3-13 to 0-15.

The damage was done in the first-half as Conor McHugh’s 13^th minute goal was augmented by a brace of goals from David Lacey before half-time as Na Fianna enjoyed a 3-6 to 0-7 interval lead.

Aaron Byrne added three points from play for last year’s finalists in the second-half with Cormac Costello’s six points and two excellent Lee Gannon scores proving in vain by the final whistle for Whitehall.

Pic Courtesy to Conor Ryan

The second clash in Donnycarney saw Conor Guilfoyle kick a 64^th minute winner as Thomas Davis edged Raheny by 1-10 to 1-9.

It was Raheny that led 1-5 to 0-4 at the break with their goal coming through a 30^th minute penalty from Darren Lunney before Thomas Davis replied after the break through their own spot kick from Guilfoyle.

Three Fionn Murray points in quick succession appeared to have sealed the win for Thomas Davis but late points by Brian Fenton and Cian Ivers looked destined to have salvaged a share of the spoils for Raheny prior to Guilfoyle’s late intervention.

Pic Courtesy to Conor Ryan

In O’Toole Park, Ballyboden St Enda’s were pushed all the way before getting the better of near neighbours Ballinteer St John’s by 1-17 to 1-13.

Ballinteer started on the front foot with a Donnacha Carey goal rewarding their early pressure but Warren’s Egan goal just before the interval edged St Enda’s 1-9 to 1-7 clear at half-time.

Joe Sweeney and Luke Breathnach shared five points upon the restart for St John’s but Egan’s 1-3 and five points from Ryan Basquel were enough to see Boden complete their second successive win.

Pic Courtesy to John Kirwan

Ballymun Kickhams did just enough to pick up their first win with Brian Ashton’s goal central to their 1-9 to 0-7 victory over Templeogue Synge Street.

On Sunday afternoon, holders Kilmacud Crokes recovered from a sloppy opening to defeat Castleknock by 4-11 to 1-14 at Parnell Park.

Despite Paul Mannion opening the scoring, Castleknock found their form early on thanks to points from Ciaran Kilkenny, Conor Chawke and Tommy McDaniel before a goal from Chawke pushed them 1-4 to 0-2 clear.

Kilmacud struck back through goals by Shane Horan and Shane Cunningham before Shane Walsh added a third goal but Kilkenny’s five points from play in the half trimmed his side’s deficit to 3-6 to 1-11 by half-time.

Points from Luke Swan and McDaniels had Castleknock level by the end of the third quarter but a Hugh Kenny goal in the 49^th minute and subsequent points by Mannion, Callum Pearson and Dan O’Brien saw Crokes ease home.

Pic Courtesy to Niall O'Connell

In O’Toole Park, St Jude’s proved too strong for 14-man St Vincent’s, prevailing by 4-11 to 0-11 with the bulk of the damage done in the final quarter.

Alex Hassett handed them a dream start with a 4^th minute goal while three points from play by Pat Spillane helped build a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead.

Liam Connerton palmed home in the 42^nd minute to curtail a bright start to the second-half from St Vincent’s and with Sean Lambe dismissed in the 54^th minute, St Jude’s eased home through further goals by Kevin McManamon and a Connerton penalty.

Pic Courtesy to Michael Moran

Elsewhere, Stephen Smith netted as Skerries Harps edged St Sylvester’s by 1-13 to 1-12 while Cuala recovered from their first round defeat to Raheny by beating Lucan Sarsfields by 0-17 to 0-12.