St Jude’s and Lucan power their way into SFC1 quarter-finals

St Jude's held the upperhand throughout to comprehensively defeat Round Towers Lusk, 2-23 to 0-7, in Sunday's Go-Ahead Dublin SFC1 Group 4 clash on Sunday afternoon.

The convincing margin of victory saw the Tymon North side top the group despite Lucan's commanding 4-16 to 0-9 victory over St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh in the same group at O'Toole Park.

In the quarter-finals St Jude's will face Thomas Davis, holders Ballymun Kickhams face Lucan Sarsfields, Ballyboden St Enda's will take on Castleknock/Ballinteer St John's (who are involved in a play-off to see who progresses in second place from Group 2) while Kilmacud Crokes and Na Fianna will collide.

Jude's had three points in their account by the fourth minute with Alan Connolly, Colm Murphy and David Mannix on target.

By the first water break they had extended their lead to 0-6 to 0-2 with Cormac Howley (free) and Jack Hussey the Towers scorers.

Jude's were beginning to prise openings and find space in the Lusk defence with Pat Spillane and Tom Lahiff breaking forward to good effect.  

Kevin McManamon added to Jude's tally at the start of the second quarter.

Jude's continued to dominate possession and Alan Connolly's 28th-minute goal was just reward for the pressure they were exerting. By half-time the lead was 1-10 to 0-4.

Colm Murphy, Niall Coakley, who finished with 1-5 (0-1f, 0-1m), and Chris Guckian hit points on the restart before Jude's struck for their second goal.

It arrived in the 39th minute when Niall Coakley played a slick one-two with the impressive David Mannix (0-6, 0-2f overall) before batting the ball past Rory O'Brien.

Cormac Howley, from a tight angle, clipped Lusk's only score of the third quarter - a period during which Jude's added 1-5 to their tally.

In the concluding quarter Jude's continued to add the scores with subs Diarmuid McLoughlin and Brian Coakley, a brother of Niall, splitting the posts.

Lucan were much too strong for St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh at O'Toole Park in the other SFC1 Group 4 contest when running out 19-point victors.

Their goals came from the impressive duo of Brendan Gallagher (1-8, 0-2f) and Harry Ladd (1-4) as well as Colm Walsh and Robert Ennis.

Ladd and Walsh were their first-half goal-scorers and by the interval they were 2-7 to 0-5 clear.