Senior footballers progress to O'Byrne Cup semi-finals

Senior footballers progress to O’Byrne Cup semi-finals

Sun, 10th January 2016

DUBLIN 1-16 DCU 1-12

Holders Dublin moved into the semi-finals of the Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup with this four-point victory over DCU in Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Glasnevin students were top of the group prior to throw-in and required just a draw to progress but the Dubs recovered from a slow start to defeat their opponents.

DCU led 0-3 to 0-1 after 11 minutes before two Dean Rock frees brought Dublin level.

Con O’Callaghan’s 18^th minute goal was a crucial first half score and by the interval Dublin were 1-7 to 0-6 in front with Shane Carthy and Rock (free) closing out the scoring in the opening half.

With 20 minutes remaining the students were threatening to rally with Shane Carey and Enda Smith finding the target but points from Cormac Costello and Paddy Andrews quelled their advances.

The impressive O’Callaghan almost added a second goal in the 58th minute but his drive clipped the crossbar on its way over.

Going down the home straight points from O’Callaghan, Rock and a superb Costello strike off his weaker left side moved Dublin six points clear, 1-14 to 0-11.

Despite a 66^th minute DCU goal Dublin finished well with points from Rock and his Ballymun Kickhams club-mate Jason Whelan seeing Dublin into the knockout stages - facing Longford next Sunday in Pearse Park (2.0).

SCORERS – Dublin: D Rock 0-6 (3f), C O’Callaghan 1-2, C Costello 0-3, S Carthy, P Andrews 0-2 each, J Whelan 0-1. DCU: S Carey 0-7 (3f), Enda Smith 1-3, M Quinn, D Byrne 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: M Savage; J Cooper, J Curley, C Mullally; N Scully, P McMahon, J Small; J McCarthy, D Bastick; T Brady, D Rock, S Carthy; C Costello, P Andrews, C O’Callaghan. Subs: J Whelan for Brady (ht), C Reddin for Bastick (43), D Daly for Mullally (49), M Deegan for Andrews (53), S Cunningham for McCarthy (59), E Culligan for Cooper (60).

DCU: P O’Donnell; Eoin Smith, K Feely, S Attride; C Mulligan, C Moynagh, D Byrne; C McGonagle, S Carthy; R Connor, M Quinn, CBreheny; C McHugh, Enda Smith, S Carey. Subs: D Ward for Mulligan (32), S McCoy for Breheny (ht), D Mannix for McHugh (ht), N Gavigan for Feely (43), P McKenna for Eoin Smith (46), Eoghan Smyth for Connor (53).

REF: A Nolan (Wicklow).