Wins in SFC1 for Vins, Castleknock, Jude’s and Sylvester’s

Sat, 28th April 2018

Holders St Vincent's did just enough to hold off Na Fianna, 2-17 to 2-15, in a highly entertaining Dublin SFC1 Group 2 duel in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Two goals in quick succession in the opening half from ace marksmen Tomás Quinn and Enda Varley helped the Marino side into a 2-8 to 1-9 lead.

The opening half was very evenly balanced with Conor McHugh's seventh minute goal, after Seán Caffrey's original effort was blocked by James McCusker, giving his side a 1-3 to 0-2 lead.

However, the next two scores were both goals for Vins with Quinn placing his effort low to the corner of the net and Varley following up with a goal shortly afterwards, both came from route one deliveries into the danger zone.

But inspired by some excellent shooting from Glenn O'Reilly Na Fianna rebounded impressively and with James Doran also getting in on the scoring act the sides were level, 2-4 to 1-7, after 25 minutes.

The sides traded points until the interval with the impressive Varley, Lorcan Smyth (two) and Quinn (free) on target for Vins with Conor McHugh and Doran clipping points for Na Fianna who trailed 2-8 to 1-9 at the break.

Vincent's restarted will with points form Varley, following good work by the influential Nathan Mullins, and Shane Carthy both pointing with a minute.

But a brilliantly taken Seán Caffrey goal left just a point between the sides, 2-10 to 2-9.

Two Quinn frees moved Vins lead out to three points and it was a lead they protected to the close.

In the earlier game at Parnell Park Castleknock impressed in their 1-16 to 0-7 Dublin SF1 Group 4 over Dublin 15 neigbours St Brigid's.

The Russell Park side opened well to lead 0-3 to 0-1 after six minutes, with Lorcan McCarthy slotting three frees, however their challenge began to peter out as the half progressed as Brigid's struggled up front in the absence of Paddy Andrews.

Both sides had early goal chances but Brigid's keeper Stephen Moore denied Thomas McDaniel at one end and Seán Egan has his attempt blocked by Eoin O'Brien at the other.

In the 17th minute Ciarán Kilkenny blasted to the net for Knock following good approach play by the pacey McDaniel and the Somerton side came alive as the half moved on, moving with greater pace and potency to lead 1-8 to 0-4 at half-time.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Castleknock keeper Morven Connolly denied Philly Ryan, before the finish of the game Ryan was red-carded to add to his woe.

Two Rob Shaw points, a current Dublin U20 who finished with 0-4, either side of a Lorcan McCarthy free had Castleknock 1-12 to 0-6 ahead.

Further points from sub James Sherry and the hard-working Kindlon brothers, John and Kevin, had Castleknock out of sight as they recorded their second win of the group.

Out in O'Toole Park St Jude's defeated Parnell's 1-22 to 0-8 in SFC1 Group 3 action and in the same group St Sylvester's edged out Ballinteer St John's 0-16 to 2-9.

Niall Coakley kicked 0-6 (0-2f) for Jude's who led 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time and Neal Mangan's goal 14 minutes into the second half put the Tymon North men welll on their way to victory.

Micheál McCarthy was the top-scorer for Syls as he slotted seven points from play as well as a free.

However, it was sub Ed Walsh, who scored 0-5 (0-1f) in total, who was the late, late hero for the Malahide men as his point two minutes into added time separated the sides.

St John's led 2-6 to 0-6 at the interval with goals from Ferghal Duffy, following good work by Aaron Bradshaw, and Luke Naughton.

In SFC2 Paul Flynn kicked 1-1 on his return to action for Fingallians in their Group 2 victory over St Pat’s of Palmerstown, 2-17 t0 1-9 with Oisín Lynch kicking 0-14 (0-3f) for the Swords side.