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Sylvesters vs Skerries Harps AFL 1 2023

March 06, 2023

St. Sylvester’s maintained their strong start to their AFL 1 campaign with a 2:11 to 0:08 win away in Skerries, having now won both of their opening fixtures by a margin of nine points.

Skerries opened the scoring with a curling effort from close in, but they were soon met with a firm response. Paidí White spun his man with a clever feint and slotted over from close range to level the scoring. There was a lovely passage of play when Alex Wright delivered a perfect pass to Dylan Connolly running into space, who sent in a low ball across goal for Paidí to fist over his second of the match.

Mark Hazley dispatched a free after he was impeded on the edge of the box. Dan Brennan’s attempt from wide dropped short but met the fist of Dylan Connolly, beating the goalkeeper to the ball and putting it into the net to increase the lead to four points.

A brief period of Skerries dominance saw the home team produce three scores but they were quickly cancelled out when Mick Shiel’s long kickout was won by Dylan Connolly in the Skerries half. He beat his man, laid it off to Scooby coming off his shoulder at speed who put it on a plate for Karl Archibald to slot home and grab Sylvester’s second goal of the half.

Skerries kept things close by dispatching a free, but Sylvester’s ended the half stronger. Seán Guiden successfully struck a free from off the deck and soon after had another from play. Sylvester’s walked into the break with the scoreline at 2:05 to 0:06

Jack Whelan made a welcome return from injury replacing Karl Archibald for the second half. Paidí started the second half as he did the first by opening the scoring, with an in swinging shot from the left-hand side of the D that sailed over the bar. Giddy was on the double again putting over a free from 45 metres out and within minutes had another long-range strike go over.

Paidí received a harsh black card for a third man tackle, however Syls managed the game well with fourteen men, both Euan Farquharson and Jack Boyne coming on to help see out the match. Skerries added on another two free’s but Sylvester’s capped off the day with a point from Alex Wright and Ross Keogh tagging on two from off the bench.

Final score;

Skerries Harps 0:08

St Sylvester’s 2:11

Up next for Syls are reigning All-Ireland club champions Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday of St. Patricks weekend, which should draw a large crowd to Broomfield.

Scorers

Sean Guiden 0-4

Padí White 0-3

Karl Archibald 1-0

Dylan Connolly 1-0

Ross Keogh 0-2

Alex Wright 0-1

Mark Hazley 0-1

Report: Sean McStay