St Judes Beat Clontarf To Go Third In Go Ahead AFL1 Table

GO AHEAD ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE 

ST JUDE’S 1-15 

CLONTARF 0-10 

By Daire Walsh 

St Jude’s made it four wins on the bounce in Go Ahead Adult Football League Division One with an eight-point success over Clontarf at Tymon Park on Saturday evening.

In front at the break by a margin of 0-10 to 0-3, the hosts added a goal through Liam Connerton on the resumption and ultimately eased themselves over the line. In addition to the 1-2 corner-forward Connerton contributed over the course of the action, Kieran Doherty (0-5) and Darragh Rooney (0-4) were also in fine scoring form for Jude’s.

As a result of this victory, the Templeogue-based outfit are currently third in the Go Ahead AFL1 table with two games left to play.

Clontarf were well served on the night by Kieran McKeon, who amassed five points after being introduced as a first-half substitute. This was their fifth reversal of the campaign, but six previous triumphs ensures they are in ninth spot and far away from relegation trouble.

Despite lining out without the likes of Tom Lahiff and Pat Spillane Jr - who featured for Sligo against Cavan in the Tailteann Cup semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday - Jude’s hit the ground running in this contest.

After just 10 minutes of the opening period, the hosts had stormed into a four-point lead. Seamus Noone, Connerton (a mark), Ronan Joyce and centre-forward Rooney all found the target in successive fashion.

Doherty converted a close-range free to stretch Jude’s further in front, before ‘Tarf finally opened their account with a point from wing-back Declan Monaghan in the 15th-minute. This was much-needed by the visitors following earlier miscued efforts, but their southside counterparts continued to play with confidence.

The impressive Doherty knocked over a brace of points from open play - the second coming off a short pass by marauding centre-back Mark Sweeney - to further underline the Wellington Lane outfit’s authority. The introduction of McKeon did make a difference for Clontarf and his two-point salvo off placed balls offered them some solace.

However, Jude’s were determined to push on and brought a comfortable buffer into the interval thanks in no small part to David Sheehy (free), Rooney and Doherty points.

AFL1@clgnaomhjude 1-15@ClontarfGAAClub 0-10@DubGAAOfficial @WeAreDub @RnnMacLochlainn pic.twitter.com/uUW5mcS4aw

— CLG Naomh Jude (@clgnaomhjude) June 18, 2022

Dublin SFC finalists in 2021, Jude’s will have their sights set on making a splash in this year’s championship and were eager to maintain a strong level of performance for the entirety of this contest. Another Doherty free bolstered their tally in advance of Connerton collecting a long delivery on 34 minutes and firing beyond the reach of ‘Tarf netminder Brian Dufficy.

Rooney subsequently curled a left-footed shot between the posts to move Jude’s 12 points in front, but Clontarf eventually disrupted this scoring sequence through back-to-back scores by Senan McCann and McKeon (free).

While Jude’s understandably conserved themselves as the action progressed, they continued to reel off some fine scores. Rooney, Connerton and Joyce enhanced their personal hauls either side of the third-quarter mark in typically clinical style.

‘Tarf full-back Liam Howley roamed forward to kick an excellent point in between Rooney and Connerton’s singles and - to their enormous credit - the northsiders did enjoy a strong purple patch in the closing moments.

Daragh Fagan, McKeon (two) and Fergal O’Byrne all raised white flags to bring the gap down to eight points.

Both managements used their full compliment of substitutes in this game and should have a good sense of where their respective squads are at ahead of the Go Ahead Senior One Championship’s return in early August.

Before then, Jude’s will keep their focus on a league visit to St Brigid’s at Russell Park on June 29. On the same evening, Clontarf are set to welcome Ballymun Kickhams - their opponents in the opening round of the SFC - to St Anne’s Park. 

Scorers - St Jude’s:Liam Connerton 1-2 (0-1 mark), Kieran Doherty 0-5 (3f), Darragh Rooney 0-4, Ronan Joyce 0-2, David Sheehy (f), Seamus Noone 0-1 each.Clontarf:Kieran McKeon 0-5 (3f), Liam Howley, Declan Monaghan, Senan McCann, Fergal O’Byrne, Daragh Fagan 0-1 each. 

ST JUDE’S:Cillian Barden; Jack Crennan, Sean Kavanagh, Patrick O’Loughlin; Simon Murphy, Mark Sweeney, John Spillane; Colm Murphy, Seamus Noone; David Sheehy, Darragh Rooney, Daragh Kavanagh; Ronan Joyce, Kieran Doherty, Liam Connerton.Subs:Seamus Ryan for Noone (38), Alan McLoughlin for Sheehy (50), Eoin Kenny for Connerton (52), Sean Kirwan for S Kavanagh (54), Conor Durkan for Joyce (58). 

CLONTARF:Brian Dufficy; Alex Byrne, Liam Howley, Phillip Lynch; Declan Monaghan, Dave Egan, Barry Mangan; Senan McCann, Leo Cunningham; Fergal O’Byrne, Nathan Doran, Cillian Doran; Matthew McMahon, Karl Millar, Daragh Fagan.Subs:Kieran McKeon for McMahon (20), Daragh Devilly for Monaghan (33), Ciaran Kyne for Egan (41), Luke O’Higgins for Mangan (53), Mark Winters for C Doran (58). 

Referee:Ronnie Malone (St Mary’s Saggart).