Game 5 of the Go Ahead Adult Football League Division 5 took place this Sunday in Grangegorman. 

The St Brendan’s 1st XV, sponsored by Dynamic Safety Solutions are still looking for the first on the field victory of 2025, remember we got a walkover against Skerries Harps last February! The visitors to Grangegorman were St Marks, with one win and two defeats so far this season. 

So, who will win today, well, we will see a little later but first let's see what happened to other St Brendan’s teams during the week. 

On Tuesday 22nd April, The St Brendan’s Camogie team, sponsored by Comtech Engineering and Ryans of Camden Street are still looking for their first win of League Junior 2 after going down 2-5 to 2-0 against Kilmacud Crokes 3rd team. The team have a chance of getting that first win next Tuesday the 29th at home to Ballyboden St Enda’s who are also looking for their first win of the season, so someone will break their duck. 

All three Ladies Football teams were in action on Wednesday the 23rd. 

The 1sts, sponsored by McGowans of Phibsborough continued their fine form in League Division 3 by recording a 2-8 to 2-5 victory over St Sylvesters in Malahide. Sinead Morrissey and Olivia Barrett got the goals. Despite winning all three games thus far, the Female Dark Force sit 4th in Division 3, with Skerries Harps, Kilmacud Crokes and St Vincents above them, all also 3 from 3. 

The 2nds, sponsored by Bartra Heathcare, recorded their first win of League Division 7 with a fine 5-7 to 3-8 victory over Clanna Gael Fontenoy in Grangegorman. Niamh Cooney got 2 goals, whereas Niamh Dwyer, Áine Cleary and Karen Sheehan got the other goals. 

The 3rds, Sponsored by FTI Consulting, went down 3-14 to 0-2 in Longmeadows against Round Towers Clondalkin in League Division 11 

On Friday April 25th, the St Brendan’s Football 2nd XV, in partnership with Stoneybatter Pride Of Place, played, what will be their only Friday evening fixture of 2025 against Castleknock in Go Ahead Division 10A, Despite trailing 0-8 to 0-7 at half time, and The Landlord Andy Moran getting the opening score of the second half, the away side fresher legs pulled away to record a 2-19 to 0-8 defeat for The Darkest Force. 

Now, onto the 1sts v St Marks. Despite the 11am throw in, the referee was eager to start the match early to allow him to travel to Portlaoise for Dublin’s routine Leinster Football Championship Semi Final victory against Meath**, both teams agreed to start the match 10 minutes early, and the ball was in at 10.50am. 

After an initial wide, Diarmuid ‘Dempsey’ Cooney picked up where he left off three weeks ago with the opening point from 20 meters. The Dark Force welcomed back The Return Of The Mack Cillian Morrison, who marked his return with a tremendous point after a kick pass from Eoin Fallon. 

With Eoghan ‘The Bridge’ Clogher absent, Conor ‘Doyle’ Harris picked up the goalkeeper’s gloves and his kick out found The Golden Mullet Conall Morgan who then found The Castlebar Mitchell Colm Harte who scored, what seems to be, his first ever competitive point in the black and amber from the outside of the right boot. 

Morrison showed he was back big time with a fine taken goal after Cooney saw his path blocked by Marks backs, but still found space to pass to the Donegal man with a rasping shot into the net. Morgan then won the kick out with an excellent Mark and despite missing the Vincent’s game through injury, Harry ‘1991’ Beggy made up for the absence with a well taken score. 1-4 to 0-0. 

After The Other Tallaghtfornians broke their scoring duck, Cooney was back in business with another point following excellent play and final pass from Neon Leon Broderick. The away side notched up point number 2, after Harris saved for a 45, which was played in for a close range point. 1-6 to 0-2. 

John Tuffy and Shane Feeney will be pleased with the variety of scorers so far in the contest and Tom Gallagher got his name on the scoresheet with a point after a pass from Stephen Durkan. St Marks went on a mini purple patch with three consecutive points. Corner Back John Dorrian prevented a fourth point with a timely block and clearance by full back Brian Marley, 15 handpasses later and Diarmuid Cooney hit his third point from 25 meters, 1-8 to 0-5. A sixth Marks point followed and a five point lead for St Brendan’s at half time 1-8 to 0-6. 

St Mark’s began the second half with two points, both singles, not 1 2 pointer, to clear things up, but in between, Eoin Fallon pointed after some excellent work from Beggy and Gallagher, 1-9 to 0-8. That became 1-10 thanks to Morrison who despite getting his heels clipped, managed to regain his balance, compose himself and take his shot over the bar. 

A kick out from Conor Harris was punched by Kevin ‘76’ Berry, the ball hit a Marks back and Tom Gallagher won possession and in the end, Cillian Morrison was there to fire the ball into the net for his 2nd goal. 

An eight point St Brendan’s lead was suddenly halved with a point from a free in and then a goal after St Marks won the Harris kick out. Then that four point lead was also halved with a Marks two pointer. 2-10 to 1-11. 

Liam Atkinson was really getting into the game with some good fielding and supplied the pin point pass to Cillian Morrison and The Return Of The Mack completed his hat trick of goals with a daisy cutter into the back of the net, but just when you thought Morrison steadied the ship, St Marks hit back with their second goal to make it 3-10 to 2-11 and some fury from Tuffy and Feeney.  

But The Bombscare Donal Clarke had Tuffy and Feeney in a better mindset with a good point in a move which started with another John Dorrian block and Atkinson pin point pass. But Marks got another point and a 2 point game again 3-11 to 2-12. 

St Marks levelled matters with their 2nd two pointer. But The Golden Mullet Morgan gave his side the lead again with a crucial score in front of the points. A bid for a third 2 pointer from St Marks ended with the forward over carrying and kicking the ball away in disgust, this moved the free in 50 meters, which Gallagher took to Atkinson then onto Diarmuid Cooney who must score and did, after the referee consulted with the umpires, and a two point lead again 3-13 to 2-14. 

Another single for the away side followed, but Cooney was on hand to restore the two point lead with three minutes to go after Morrison saw an effort cleared off the line but Cooney was there to gain possession and take his score 3-14 to 2-15. 

Cooney completed his late second half hat trick of points and a three point lead after John Dorrian won a crucial turnover and pass to The Wexican OIsin Carley to allow Cooney to score.  

Another free in was won after Horgan passed through a cul de sac of players to Eoin Fallon the onto Clarke and back to Cooney who skinned his marker and take his shot which initially looked wide but again the referee consulted with the umpires and give the point. A crucial four point buffer going into injury time, but then again in this two pointer era, that’s pretty irreverent. 

And speaking of two pointers, St Marks hit their third such score which what was the last kick of what was an excellent match played in the right spirit. 

Relief for Tuffy and Feeney as St Brendan’s pick up the first on field victory and, although one third through the league campaign, hopes of picking up the second promotion playoff spot are very much alive with two points separating fourth place Oliver Plunketts and 10th place Naomh Olaf, St Brendan’s are currently 8th and play the 4th place side next on May 6th. 

Final Score from Grangegorman, St Brendan’s 3-16 St Mark’s 2-17. 

** Er… Routine Semi Final Victory? Meath won 0-23 to 1-16 in a marvelous performance, well done Meath.