Thomas Davis Open Go-Ahead Football Championship Campaign With Win Over Lucan Sarsfields

Sat, 12th August 2023

THOMAS DAVIS 3-12

LUCAN SARSFIELDS 1-9

Thomas Davis made a winning start to their Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Group 3 campaign as they accounted for Lucan Sarsfields by nine points at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon.

After a sticky opening quarter, Thomas Davis gradually seized control of the contest and while they trailed by a point at half-time, they availed fully of the breeze at their backs in the second-half to ease home by the final whistle.

Goals from Mark Nolan, Conor Guilfoyle (penalty) and Davy Keogh were just reward for the control they exerted upon the resumption with the 50^th dismissal of Chris Sallier failing to inconvenience them in the final quarter.

The Tallaght outfit impressed initially and were unfortunate not to find the net in the 2^nd minute as Eoin Kirby’s rising shot cannoned off the crossbar with Fionn Murray on hand to pop over from the rebound.

A point from Guilfoyle soon after doubled their advantage before Lucan enjoyed a purple patch that saw them plunder 1-4 without reply in the space of five minutes.

Alan murphy opened the Sarsfields account in the 5^th minute as they struck the opening goal a minute later as Sean Cleary was on hand to crash home following a decisive pass by Henry Keogh.

Cleary, a cracking point from Colm Walsh and Brendan Gallagher added points in the blink of an eye as Lucan raced five points ahead by the 9^th minute but after a feast of scores, a famine ensued as they failed to score for the remainder of the half.

Eamonn Conroy and a brace of Murray frees saw Thomas Davis reduce their deficit to two points by the start of the second quarter with a 27^th minute point by Guilfoyle leaving Lucan leading by just 1-4 to 0-6 at half-time.

Substitute Sallier made an instant impact when pointing in the opening seconds of the second-half and Conroy’s second point of the game in the 33^rd minute saw Thomas Davis restore their lead.

Nolan’s goal arrived a minute later, as he followed up well after Sean Kennedy’s shot had crashed off the crossbar with another Murray free leaving the Kiltipper Road outfit five points clear by the 37^th minute.

Harry Ladd finally ended a barren period of thirty minutes for Lucan when pointing in the 39^th minute while Gallagher’s free soon after offered optimism of a Lucan comeback.

Those hopes were dashed as Byrne was impeded inside the large square in the 44^th minute, allowing Guilfoyle the chance to slot home past Alec Birnie with Murray and Guilfoyle points enhancing their position of prominence.

Gallagher kicked three further points as the final quarter evolved but Byrne was to have the final word with his 56^th finish past the horribly exposed Birnie completing an ultimaltely routine win for Ciaran Farrelly’s side.

Scorers – Thomas Davis: F Murray 0-6 (4f, 1 ’45), C Guilfoyle 1-3 (1-0pen), M Nolan, D Keogh 1-0 each, E Conroy 0-2, C Sallier 0-1. Lucan Sarsfields: B Gallagher 0-5 (3f), S Cleary 1-1, C Walsh, A Murphy, H Ladd 0-1 apiece.

Thomas Davis: R Crilly; A Shorten, E Lambert, S Kennedy; D Keogh, A Waddick, C Murphy; R Deegan, E Conroy; S Farrelly, M Nolan, R Mullarkey; C Guilfoyle, E kirby, F Murray. Subs: C Sallier for Mullarkey (half-time), G Carruth for Farrelly (42), S Byrne for Keogh (56), S Reilly for Nolan (61).

Lucan Sarsfields: A Birnie; F Bruton, D Cahill, R Ennis; C Walsh, L Gavigan, A Murphy; D Newcombe, D Gavin; S Newcombe, B Gallagher, L Walsh; H Keogh, S Cleary, C Gallagher. Subs: H Ladd for Keogh (half-time), C Coffey for S Newcombe (half-time), J Lawlor for C Gallagher (42), S Quinn for C Walsh (58).

Referee: Seamus Farrelly (Ballinteer St John’s)