Clontarf no match for Fingallians
FINGALLIANS........... 2- 16 CLONTARF.................. 0- 3
Wednesday September 01 2010
FINGALLIANS had an easier than expected win over their division three opponents at the Naul on Saturday to advance to the last 32 of the competition.
Still in contention for a play-off spot, Clontarf were fancied to do well by many prior to the throw in, but on the day they struggled to contain a well-drilled Fingallians side who were playing in a changed blue strip.
Donal Farrell had hit two first half goals as Fins raced into a ten-point lead at the interval.
Starting in midfield was their Dublin forward Paul Flynn, who was impressive on the day, as was his playing partner Eddie Sweeney, who hit in one lovely pass to set up David Killeen for a score in the second half.
Elsewhere David Fagan hit the ground running from full back, while the mobile Greg Lewis, who dropped back to defence early in the game, covered a lot of ground for the Swords men.
Clontarf had begun well though, with Damien Mullins, nephew of legendary Dublin midfielder Brian, sending over an early free for the Dublin 3 outfit.
But they were rocked by a goal when Flynn laid off to Farrell who took the ball on a few metres and slammed his finish past Rossa O'Brien.
Ciaran McLoughlin ( free) and Peter Murtagh tagged on two more points for Fingallians before Mullins curled in a score from the right to reduce the gap to three points mid-way through the half.
Points off each side from Farrell and Donal Keane saw Fins increase their lead again before ' Tarf centre forward Chris Morrison sent over what was to prove their last point on twenty minutes.
Back-to-back scores from David Killeen ( free) and Flynn was followed by a brief skirmish which saw referee Mick Bissett hand out yellow cards to two players from each side. When play resumed Keane sent over his second point of the game, and already trailing by seven points, Clontarf were then dealt a hammer blow in the first minute of injury time when off Barry Clarke's ball from the right, Farrell dispatched the ball past the keeper.
That left Fins comfortably in front by 2-7 to 0-3 at halftime and there was only one team in it after the break, with Killeen on top form with four points, three of which came from play.
Barry Clarke, and Ciaran McLoughlin also found the target, while Flynn hit two fine points in the final five minutes as Fins ran out comfortable 19-point winners in the end. FINGALLIANS: Ross Kelliher, David Fagan, Donal Clarke, Stephen Hannigan, Adam Hanley, Gary Donnelly, Peter Murtagh 0-1, Paul Flynn 0-3, Eddie Sweeney, Donal Keane 0-2, Donal Farrell 2-1, Barry Clarke 0-1, David Killeen 0-5 ( 0-2f), Ciaran McLoughlin 0-3 ( 0-2f), Greg Lewis. Subs: Eoin Collins for Farrell ( 45), Ciaran Costello for Hanley ( 53), Carl McCallion for B Clarke ( 58). CLONTARF: Rossa O'Brien, Ciaran Delargy, Damien Fennelly, Aidan O'Halloran, Eoin Cronin, Brian Stokes, John Maguire, Kevin Devine, Ger Devine, Gareth Johnson, Chris Morrison 0-1, Conor Cronin, Damien Mullins 0-2 ( 0-1f), Mark McNamee. Subs: Francie Graham for Maguire ( 17) Paddy Curran for Morrison ( 45), Ger Carey for Johnson half time, Robbie Stokes for Cronin ( 55) REFEREE: Mick Bissett.
- Rory KERR
