Fionn fires 'Croft into last eight
Fionn Dowling was in excellent form for Suncroft today
Fionn Dowling hit ten points as Suncroft impressively saw off Ellistown to book a date with Sallins in the National Electrical Wholesalers Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final.
In a game heavily impacted by the strong that favoured Suncroft in the first half, they built up a seven point by half time but rather just defending that lead in the second half, they actually built on it and in the end were comfortable winners long before the final whistle blew.
The game had an electrifying start when Tadhg Waton’s looping second minute shot dropped over the head of Dave Sutton and into the net.
Suncroft’s response was instantaneous as Eoghan Lawless set up Sam Murphy for chance that he gleefully took by firing past Oran Donnelly.
There should have been further goals in the first half for Suncroft but Fionn Dowling struck the crossbar in the fourth minute and twice Tom Martin was clean through on goal only to be denied by fine saves from Donnelly.
Dowling scored three points in a row to make to 1-4 to 1-0 by the 14th minute and although that run of scores was ended by a Tadhg Watson free, the former Kildare man landed two inspirational two pointers for Suncroft in quick succession just after the 20 minute mark After a two point effort from a Harry Donnelly was touched over the bar by Dave Sutton for a one point score, Lawless skipped through the Ellistown backline for a cracking score, followed by corner back Jack Setright getting forward to make it 1-11 to 1-2.
Two points late in the half for Ellistown gave them hope going in at half time and a seven point gap didn’t seem huge given the conditions.
In the end, it was more than enough as Ellistown only added three further points to their tally in the second half.
One of those came within a minute of the restart through Conor Lindy.
They had a big goal chance in the 37th minute that could have changed the course of the game but Leo Lennox’s shot was blocked. Harry Donnelly’s effort on the rebound was blocked by Harry Dillon and there were loud appeals from Ellistown that a foot was used and Suncroft might have found it hard to argue if a penalty was awarded but referee Colm Kearney remained unmoved.
Watson landed a free two minutes after that to cut the gap to six but that was as close as Ellistown got.
Dowling (2), county hurler Conn Kehoe and Chris Phillips scored in succession to push Suncroft into an unassailable ten point lead.
The game was well and truly put to bed in the 54th minute when a good move sent Kehoe in on goal and he showed composure in beating Donnelly.
Ellistown’s frustrating day was summed on late on when Harry Donnelly struck the outside of the post and Harry Donnelly fired just across the face of the goal and wide but they were second best on the day.
Dave Sutton; Jack Setright 0-1, Danny Morgan, Harry Dillon, Conor Kiely, Adam Talbot, Mikey Troy; Conn Kehoe 1-1, Tom Martin; Eoghan Lawless 0-3, Chris Phillps 0-1, Sam Murphy 1-0, Fionn Dowling 0-10 (2tp, 4fs), Darragh Malone, Mark Brown. Subs: Conor Martin for Brown, h/t; Senan Brannock for Murphy, 43; Kevin Crowley for Malone, 52; Ryan Behan O’Shea for Phillips, 58; Ben Crawford for Kiely, 60.
Oran Donnelly; Kevin Martin, Max Lennox, James Neilson, Oisin Molloy, Darragh Watson, Pat Martin 0-1; Leo Lennox, James Sutton; Ciaran Lindy, Conor Lindy 0-2(1f), Evan Donnelly, Tadhg Watson 1-2fs, Conor O’Loughlin, Harry Donnelly 0-2fs. Subs : Callum Donnelly for Ciaran Lindy, 44 ; Darren Kelly for Sutton, 44; Sean Lindy for K Martin, 44; David Dunne for O’Loughlin, 50.
Colm Kearney.
