Last week was a good week for Adult Football  with 7 wins from 8 games.

After a very disappointing home defeat to Castleknock on Saturday  May10th, we faced into two tough games last week. Our away game on Tuesday night V St Judes, saw us put in a brilliant display of attacking  football to win by 3-15 to 2-9, a scoreline that didn’t flatter us.

On Saturday we entertained our neighbours in a wet blustery Marlay Park. We opted to play down the hill and against the breeze and  got off to a great start when Jack Lundy converted a 2 pointer free to be followed by a point by Johhny Quirke from play. Crokes then hit their first point after 7 minutes and we followed up with a point when Jack Long won a long 50/50 ball in ,to kick a great point. The next score  was again from play when a lay off from Ronan Cullen saw his brother Luke finish with a point. Two  more points from frees saw us 0-7 to 0-2 up when a soft turnover in our defence allowed Crokes in for a penalty which was saved by John Clair. We defended well around the arc and forced Crokes into kicking a lot of wides . We went 0-9 to 0- 3 up when Eoin Fitzpatrick was fouled ,for Jack Lundy to kick another 2 pointer. On the 24 th minute Crokes were penalised for a 3V 3 infringement . Jack Lundy opted to take the ball outside the arc and duly obliged with a 2 pointer. Half time score 0-11 to 0-5

Crokes started the second half with a point and it was 6 minutes in ,after kicking some bad wides, that Luke Cullen picked up a long pass  on the right wing  to turn his man and kick a point off his left. Crokes kicked a 2 pointer in the 11th minute of the half to leave it 0-12 to 0-7 . Glynn Whelan settled the nerves when he took a lovely through ball from Liam Smith to turn and kick off his left . Glynn followed up again with a very similar point before Luke Cullen again on the end of a long pass turned his man to kick good point. In the 20th minute of the half Dan O leary laid off to Jack Lundy who kicked a great 2 pointer. Crokes missed a goal chance in the 23rd minute when the score was 0-17 to 0-9. The next score was from a turnover in our own square and  a fast movement up the field to Donnacha Carey saw him slot over from a tight position. Eoin Fitzpatrick then kicked a long range point . The last score fell to Luke Cullen who broke the tackle to fist over. Final score BSJ 0-22Crokes 0-10. It was a comprehensive win with some great scores from good movements, on a pitch that was hard and very slippery. This was a great team performance from all the players including those  coming off the bench. Best from Johns were Colm Fitzpatrick, Dan O leary, Liam Smith who was excellent in his tackling and moving the ball quickly into attack, Captain Eoin Fitzpatrick at midfield , Jack Lundy who gave an exhibition of 2 pointers scoring , Luke Cullen and Glynn Whelan,

We move onto our next game V Cuala in Hyde Pk( it seems like a permanent fixture in the Hyde)  on Tuesday 3rd June at 7-30 

 

The Inter started out the week with a hard fought win over St Finians of Newcastle on Tuesday. We set up a good lead from the start but had to pull out all stops to hold on in the end  to win on a scoreline of 2-15 to 3-9 ,and  gain two valuable points. 

On Saturday in Marlay we faced Fingal Ravens in what was a critical match as both teams were looking for points in the battle in the lower end of the table. Playing downhill against the breeze we started well with Sam Tully kicking the first point. Ravens against the run of play scored a goal in the seventh minute and followed up with a point. James Bates got a great point before Conor Browne finished a great move to the net. Ravens kicked a 2 pointer before Conor Browne kicked a point to leave the score 1-5 to 1-3 in favour of Ravens .  We were playing good attacking football and were rewarded with points by James Bates and Senan Phelan . Ravens however kicked the last 2 points of the half to leave the score 1-5 to 1-7 in their favour . 

With  a strong breeze in our favour we expected to get early scores at the start of the second half ,however it was Ravens who started stronger with 3 points on the trot, due to dominating possession around midfield. Then disaster struck , when a high ball into our square was fumbled and the Ravens forward tapped the ball into the net. Niall Dunphy pulled back a point to leave the score 1-6 to 2-10 with 12 minutes remaining. A brilliant run by Sam Tully from  the right wing saw him bury the ball in the left hand corner of the net. Joey Quirke kicked a point from play and Ravens responded with a point . Joey kicked another point to leave 2 in it going into injury time. A Ravens kick out was won by Senan Phelan  30 metres out. He went straight for goal with only one thing in his mind and he duly buried the ball in the back of the net. With a few minutes of injury time remaining we fought a great rearguard battle to retain our 2 point advantage for a great win. It was a great team performance as we came from 7 points down with 12 minutes left and with scores at a premium. Best for BSJ were Cody Graham at centre back, Eamon Naughton , Owen Byrne who fought a hard battle at midfield against two towering Ravens midfielders , James Bates, Sam Tully, Senan Phelan, Conor Browne  and our young minor Thomas Taylor. 

Our next match is away to ManO War away on Tuesday 3rd June at 7-30. Another win will go a long way towards retaining our Div 4 status. 

 

Our Junior A team had a very easy win at home on Wednesday  against St Peregrines . On Sunday however the table was turned on us when comprehensibly beaten by a previously unbeaten strong Clann Mhuire team. We are up next against Raheny  in Marlay on Wednesday 4th June at 7-30 ,as we try to maintain our challenge for promotion

 

Our Junior B team  maintained their challenge for promotion from Division 10 with a comprehensive win against St Colmcille on Thursday night. On Monday night we won against Round Towers of Clondalkin on a scoreline of 2-9 to 4-2, with a gale force wind dominating proceedings. We are joint third in the table with 6 matches to play. 

Next up is away to Man O War on Thursday 5th June at 7-30