Dublin Senior Football Championship quarter final round up

The Dublin Senior Football Championship draw was announced yesterday with reigning champions St Vincent’s due to play Ballyboden St Enda’s and St Oliver Plunkett’s facing off against St Jude’s.

The big shock of the quarter final stage was the exit of early favourites Ballymun Kickhams at the hands of St Oliver Plunkett’s E.R. The Cabra outfit dispatched of their north Dublin rivals thanks to goals from cousins James and Alan Brogan. The first goal of the match was registered on the 15^th minute mark, just four minutes before Alan Brogan slid a shot past Sean Currie with the inside of his left boot.

Brothers in arms, Alan and Bernard Brogan of Plunkett's.

Paul Curran’s men were unable to deal with numerous fast paced attacks from Plunkett’s. Dublin underage star Niall Walsh was constantly dropping back from his corner forward position to give Plunkett’s midfielder Craig Dunleavy a consistent outlet, as the Cabra men bossed this physical encounter. Plunkett’s were fully deserving of their 2-12 to 0-10 victory.

A spectacular effort from Bernard Brogan summed up the match as everything seemed to sail over the black spot for Plunkett’s. Ballymun will be rueing missed opportunities on a day when they were outclassed across the pitch and outscored by tactically smart Plunkett’s team.

In the second match on Saturday afternoon in Parnell Park, current All Ireland Club champions St Vincent’s saw off Templeogue Synge Street with a comprehensive 11 point victory. A second half hat trick from Tomas Quinn ensured victory after a first half which was very much in the balance. The teams were level at the interval, 0-09 to 1-06, after a Ger Vickery goal had St Vincent’s on the back-foot.

St Vincent’s blitzed their opponents in the opening 14 minutes of the half scoring 3-06 without reply. Diarmuid Connolly was pulling the strings from centre forward with ease. The evergreen Tomas Quinn capitalised on every moment of possession given to the potent corner forward. St Vincent’s other corner forward Ruairi Trainor also scored four magnificently taken points to see Vinnies over the line.

Templeogue Synge Street managed to score an unanswered 2-02 in the last five minutes of the match thanks to a brace of points from Niall Scully and goals from Eoghan O’Gara and substitute Jack Swaine. However, it was too little too late for the south Dublin outfit. Vinnies quelled the aerial threat of Eoghan O’Gara by doubling up on him for most of the match thanks to a resilient full back line.

St Vincent’s quick movement of the ball was a joy to behold scoring from acute angles with ease. With Ballymun bowing out of this years Championship, it is hard to look past St Vincent’s regaining their Dublin Senior Football crown after a pulsating performance in Parnell Park, finishing 3-20 to 3-09.

St Vincent's Daithi Murphy under pressure form a resilient Templeogue defence.

On Sunday in O’Toole Park, St Jude’s got the better of St Brigid’s. Their performance was inspired by a mesmerising display from centre forward Kevin McManamon. The Dublin inter-county star scored 3-05, with all but one point coming from play, to see his team see off St Brigid’s on a score line of 3-11 to 0-12.

The result was beyond doubt at half time with St Jude’s leading 1-07 to 0-01, after a rampant opening 30 minutes. Tony McEntee’s men attempted to regain respectability after an embarrassing first half which saw St Brigid’s miss a plethora of kickable opportunities. In a near flawless performance, St Jude’s were on top in every area of the pitch. St Jude’s will meet a confident St Oliver Plunkett’s team in the pick of the two semi finals.

In the last quarter final match to be played, Ballyboden St Enda’s beat Lucan Sarsfields 0-14 to 0-09 in O’Toole Park. ‘Boden scored the first four points of the match without reply, led masterfully by former Dublin star Declan O’Mahony. It was another former Dublin player, Stephen O’Shaugnessy, who was linking up well in the Lucan forwards line.

O’Shaugnessy, whose favoured position is across the full back line, was creating problems for ‘Boden along with young Emmet O’Conghaile. However, Ballyboden showcased a regimented performance leading from start to finish. The Rathfarnham outfit were leading by seven points with just 20 minutes played in a match they thoroughly dominated.

Try as they might, Lucan could not manage to get a foothold in the match. Ballyboden were in firm control of this quarter final which was largely expected before throw in. ‘Boden will face a stiff test against St Vincent’s knowing they will be up against much tougher opponents in their next outing.

The date and throw in times of this years semi final matches are due to be announced later this week.

 Full list of Dublin Senior Football Championship Semi Final matches:

St Vincent’s vs Ballyboden St Enda’s

St Jude’s vs St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh

S.DAWSON 06/10/14