Image courtesy Mark McDonagh
Fingal Ravens bounced back from the disappointment of their Round 1 defeat to Naomh Barróg when defeating St Patrick’s Donabate by 2-13 to 0-7 in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 2 Football Championship Group 2 encounter in Rolestown on Saturday evening.
The hosts controlled the first-half, taking the lead in the opening quarter through points by James O’Donnell, the influential Dan Cibotar and Jake Pope.
They were handed further momentum as O’Donnell flicked home from a rebound and Ravens finished the half strongly through a Dylan Kettle point and a Cibotar brace to lead by 1-7 to 0-2 at half-time.
The visitors improved significantly after the break but failed to translate this greater possession into scores as the hosts maintained their buffer following scores by Sam Hannigan and Cibotar.
St Pat’s were then reduced to fourteen, effectively settling the issue, as Ravens took full advantage in the final quarter thanks to a quickfire 1-2 from Kettle and a Sean Kinsella score.
The other contest in Group 2 saw Naomh Barróg complete their second successive win as they defeated Scoil Uí Chonaill by 1-14 to 0-12.
In Group 1, Whitehall Colmcille continue to impress as they proved too strong for Naomh Olaf, winning by 0-19 to 1-10 at Collins Avenue.
Despite playing against the elements in the first-half, the hosts looked resolute at the back and threatening on the counter-attack with Cormac Costello in exceptional form over the hour.
Costello kicked six points for the winners and while Olaf’s netted a consolation goal in added time, Whitehall had built up an unassailable lead thanks to three points apiece by Matt Moran and Sean Gannon and further scores from Adam McDermott, Luke McCarthy, Sean Foran, Eddie Moran and Sean Giles.
At Monastery Road, neither tower could be toppled as Round Towers Clondalkin and Round Towers Lusk drew by 0-11 to 1-8, keeping both teams in the mix for a quarter-final berth.
St Mary’s Saggart were another team to get their campaign back on track as they pulled away from St Maur’s, winning their home Group 3 encounter by 4-15 to 1-8.
Conor Jameson was in sparkling form for the hosts with his 25th minute goal helping build a sizeable 1-9 to 0-4 interval advantage.
St Mary’s resumed in a similarly dominant manner upon the restart with goals from Jacob Clarke, Shaun O’Toole and Jameson, who finished the game with 2-8 to his name, seeing them home with sixteen points to spare.
They now meet Parnell’s in their final group game, with both teams needing victory to advance to the last eight after the Coolock outfit succumbed to Templeogue Synge Street by 0-11 to 1-7 in Chanel.
In Group 4, St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh overcame the first-half dismissal of Seán Bugler to get the better of local rivals St Brigid’s by 1-11 to 0-8.
Defences were on top for the large part with corner-back Mick McManus and wing-back Liam Keating impressing for the hosts and they struck for the game’s solitary goal through substitute Ted Furman.
GO-AHEAD IRELAND SFC2 Group 1: Whitehall Colmcille 0-19 Naomh Olaf 1-10; Round Towers Clondalkin 0-11 Round Towers Lusk 1-8.
GO-AHEAD IRELAND SFC2 Group 2: Naomh Barróg 1-14 Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-12; Fingal Ravens 2-13 St Patrick’s Donabate 0-7.
GO-AHEAD IRELAND SFC2 Group 3: St Mary’s Saggart 4-15 St Maur’s 1-8; Parnell’s 1-7 Templeogue Synge Street 0-11.
GO-AHEAD IRELAND SFC2 Group 4: Erin’s Isle 2-14 Ballyboughal 1-12; St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 1-11 St Brigid’s 0-8.