Round Up: Go-Ahead Ireland AFL 1

Ballinteer St John’s got their Go-Ahead Ireland Adult Football League Division 1 campaign off to a winning start as they defeatedSt Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh by 3-15 to 1-6 in Abbotstown on Sunday morning.

The visitors started on the front foot through early scores by Eoghan Fitzpatrick, Jack Lundy and Mark McNally before Plunkett’s received a welcome boostat the opposite endthrough a superb individual goal from Ben McSweeney.

Ballinteer responded well to this setback as they regained the lead thanks to a two-point effort by Lundy and another McNally score before a JackLong goal pushed them 1-8 to 1-3 ahead by the interval.

With Nicky Devereux, McNally, Colm Fitzpatrick, Lundy and David Murraycatching the eye, St John’s pushed clear after the break and confirmed their victory courtesy of second-half goalsfromDavid Devereux and Joey Quirke.

It proved far tighter in St Anne’s Park as Clontarf scored crucial points in the dying stages to edge St Jude’s by 0-15 to 0-13.

The visitors led by the bare minimum at half-time with a wasteful Clontarf keeping in touchinitiallythanks to the free-taking abilities of Sean O’Grady.

The hosts improved significantly upon the restart as points from Matthew McMahon, Matias Mac Donncha and Kieron McKeon pushed them four points clear before St Jude’s assumed control to lead by a point with five minutes remaining.

However, Jack McCaffrey began to influence matters with some typically storming runs fromcentre-back, allowing his side tofinish strongly as Tom Sullivan and the impressive Darragh Devilly landed pivotal scores by the final whistle.

There was a similarly tight conclusion in Donabate as St Patrick’s pipped Ballyboden St Enda’s by 1-15 to 1-13 at Robbie Farrell Park on Saturday afternoon.

There was rarely much to separate the teams with an Ollie Brooks goal in the first-half keeping the hosts in the mix and they continued to remain competitive as Conor Moore (0-4) and Stephen Dempsey (0-5) added to their tally at regular intervals.

Adam Conroy and Killian McKeon also chipped in with vital points and with the contest destined for a draw, up popped the returning Adam Dunne, who clipped over a sublime two-point effort with the last kick of the game to secure the precious win.

Elsewhere, Ballymun Kickhams and St Mary’s Saggart enjoyed their home comforts as they defeated Thomas Davis and Fingal Ravens respectively while Castleknock proved too strong for Lucan Sarsfields, winning by 1-15 to 1-6 at the 12th Lock.

Go-Ahead Ireland AFL 1: Lucan Sarsfields1-6 Castleknock 1-15; St Pat’s Donabate1-15 Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-13; Cuala v Kilmacud Crokes OFF; St Oliver Plunkett’s / ER1-6 Ballinteer St John’s3-15; Ballymun Kickhams 2-18 Thomas Davis1-17; St Mary’s Saggart 1-15 Fingal Ravens1-9; Clontarf 0-15 St Jude’s0-13; Na Fianna 2-18 St Sylvester’s0-9.