Sars stave off determined Davis challenge

Niall Scully

LUCAN SARSFIELDS ... .....................1-12

THOMAS DAVIS ... ... ... ... ...............0-10

O'TOOLE PARK was jammers on Saturday. People, on the new terracing, stretched their necks to get the best view.

There was much to see. The hour was close and compelling. It was only in the last chapter that Lucan began to drive for home.

Five times they were level. There was some sparkling football played. Many of the scores were crafted at Dublin Crystal. On the tight pitch, space was hard to find. The afternoon stayed dry. The wind blew into the road end. It was stiff enough. Lucan had it in the second half.

Davis led by a point at the break, 0-5 to 0-4. Paul Hudson hit the last two points of the first half. He has a left peg that could unwrap a Cadbury's Flake.

Twice more they were level after that. The Sars centre half-back, Stephen O'Shaughnessy, began to have a major say in the debate. He graced the second half with a cultured left-footer five minutes in.

David Quinn also began to play the piano. He hit some monster scores. Lucan spent most of the second period in and around the Tallaght kitchen.

cobwebs

Their golden moment came on 47 minutes. O'Shaughnessy found Dermot Gallagher who fed Stephen Garbutt. Garbutt's strike rattled the cobwebs. He had only been on the pitch a minute. Lucan led 1-8 to 0-7.

Quinn quickly added two more points. Lucan's place in the last four of the Dublin SFC was looking secure.

The Kiltipper Road club replied with a Hudson free. The nimble Dermot Gallagher was again on the mark for Lucan. Joey O'Reilly angled a fine point for Davis. They were still in the race. Six minutes to go and 1-11 to 0-9 for Lucan. Davis needed a goal. Dermot Gallagher ticked another Lucan point. Davis were requiring snookers. In injury-time, they were awarded a close-in free. Ciarán Farrelly went for broke. His shot was deflected over. And that was that, Lucan progress to face Plunkett's.

SCORERS -- Lucan Sarsfields: Dermot Gallagher 0-5, D Quinn 0-4 (1f), S Garbutt 1-0, B Gallagher 0-2 (1f), S O'Shaughnessy 0-1. Thomas Davis: P Hudson 0-5 (4f), E Kirby, S McGrath, C Farrelly (f), J O'Reilly, S Smith 0-1 each.

LUCAN SARSFIELDS: F Gordon; C Larkin, B O'Neill, Dan Gallagher; P Casey, S O'Shaughnessy, A Kirwan; M Twomey, B Collopy; S Newcombe, Dermot Gallagher, D Quinn; J O'Neill, T Brennan, B Gallagher. Subs: K Moran for J O'Neill (42); S Garbutt for Collopy (46); C McHugh for Larkin (56).

THOMAS DAVIS: D Hennessy; A Fallon, Brian Kirby, P Boland; G Carruth, E Behan, C Deasy; J O'Connor, E Kirby; S Reilly, S McGrath, C Farrelly; J O'Reilly, P Hudson, S Smith. Subs: P O'Connor for Smith (35); J Owens for Reilly (47); M Devoy for E Kirby (52).

REF: B Carroll (Fingal Ravens).