News

Dublin senior football championship

November 8, 2018

 

Big guns send out signal of intent

DEAN ROCKMUN

Three of Dublin football’s big guns strode into town on Friday night and sent out a clear signal of their Championship intent as Ballymun Kickhams, St Brigid’s and Kilmacud Crokes all secured emphatic victories in Dublin SFC first round action.

The other match of the night finished level – Raheny 1-8 St Maur’s 0-11 after extra-time in Rolestown.

Reigning Dublin and Leinster champions, Ballymun Kickhams, easily saw off the challenge of Clondalkin’s RoundTower 1-19 to 1-3 in ParnellPark.

Conor L’Estrange grabbed a goal for Tower’s in the opening half to give them hope of a shock and by the interval there was little in it with the Mun 0-7 to 1-2 in front.

FormerTower’s man Derek Byrne brought the sides level before two super Philly McMahon points gave Kickhams the interval lead.

On the restart Paul Curran’s men took control.

Four points without reply opened up a gap with Kevin Leahy, Dean Rock (2) and Ted Furman on target.

With six minutes to go former Whitehall Colmcille’s clubman Liam O’Donovan grabbed Ballymun’s goal

Four goals early in the second half propelled Kilmacud Crokes to a convincing 5-16 to 2-5 victory over St Mary’s of Saggart at O’Toole Park.

Cian O’Sullivan, Mark Vaughan, Kevin Nolan and Paul Mannion all raised green flags on the restart

An inside forward line of Vaughan and Mannion tormented the Saggart defence as they accounted for 3-9 of their winning total – Vaughan with 2-4 (0-2f, 0-1 ‘45’) and Mannion with 1-5 (0-1f).

St Brigid’s maintained their promising early season form when they blitzed Division 3′s Whitehall Colmcille 7-16 0-5 in ParnellPark.

The outcome was well and truly decided by the break as the Russell Park men entered the interval holding a 21-point advantage, 5-7 to 0-1.

Dublin senior Paddy Andrews hit a hat-trick of goals and finished with a tally of 3-1 with Daire Plunkett scoring two, and a goal each for Philly Ryan and Kevin Bonner.