Still raging over the manner of the defeat to Templeogue Synge Street two weeks ago, John Tuffy and Shane Feeney took the learnings from that defeat and put them to use today in Páirc Naomh Uinsionn as the St Brendan’s 1st XV, sponsored by Dynamic Safety Solutions, bid for a 1st on the field victory against St Vincents, who, unlike the Syngers two weeks ago, have a blend of youth and experience in their side. 

But before all that, lets go back to last Wednesday, April 2nd, and all three Ladies Football teams had their first games in their respective Ladies Football Leagues. 

In Division 3, The 1sts, Sponsored by McGowans, started the League campaign on a positive note with a hard fought 3-11 to 3-10 victory away to Ballyboden St Endas with Dangermouse Sinead Reilly hitting two goals and the third scored by Karen Sheehan. 

Their wasn't much luck either for the 2nds and 3rds. The 2nds, sponsored by Bartra Healthcare were beaten 2-14 to 0-6 at home to Fingallians in Division 7, and in Division 11, the 3rd XV, sponsored by FTI Consulting, were beaten 3-8 to 2-6 by the Kilmacud Crokes 5th team. 

So back to Sunday and will the rigorous training done in the last two weeks, and indeed the rigorous warm by Tuffy and Feeney reap some reward today? 

Well, The Dark Force got off to a positive start three minutes into the first half with a point from Diarmuid ‘Dempsey’ Cooney, a kick out from Eoghan ‘The Bridge’ Clogher was Marked by The Golden Mullet Conall Morgan, who then found Stephen Durkan and finally into Cooney, who celebrated becoming a first time father last month in style with the opening score of the match. 

St Vincents equalized afterwards, but could not convert the lions share of their possession into points and even had a point from a free in disallowed for reasons unknown to this writer. 

18 minutes gone and St Brendan’s retook the lead with a Cooney free in which just crept over the bar, after a foul on Tom Gallagher, who then a minute later won a turnover but hit his shot wide. 

Gallagher did turn supplier to Cooney to complete his hat trick of points with a point from play from a tight angle, Another St Vincents point was scored from a free in. 

A long ball from Eoin Fallon found Cooney who completed his four timer with a shot from 20 meters. A Vincents shot that went wide was the last action of the first half with the half time score St Brendan’s (i.e. Diarmuid Cooney) 0-4 St Vincent’s 0-2. 

St Vincents hit the ground running at the start of the second half with three points in a row to lead the contest momentarily. An eye of the needle pass from Horgan to Fallon started the move which lead to Neon Leon Broderick scoring, what turned out to be, the only non Diarmuid Cooney scored score of the morning, 0-5 each. 

Normal service resumed however from Cooney when a super block from Kevin ‘76’ Berry and possession won by Horgan, who passed to Ger Bannon and finally a long kick pass caught by Cooney who moved this way and that to pick his spot and lobbed his shot over the goalkeeper for goal, 1-5 to 0-5. 

The home side hit a brace of points, but Cooney struck for his second goal of the match after collecting a long Gallagher kick pass and then rifled the net with the citeog.  

Another brace for the home side afterwards, but Cooney kept St Brendan’s three point lead intact with another point after a hand pass from Andy ‘The Kei Truck’ Kelly.  

Sean Whelans bid to get his name on the scoresheet ended when Cooney turned provider but the sun got into Whelans eyes and misconnected the ball. But still Tuffy and Feeney were still anxious going into the closing stages.  

Three minutes to go and Diarmuid ‘Dempsey’ Cooney wetted his newborn babys head in style by increasing his personal tally to 2-6 with a point from a free in, after substitute ‘Good Time’ Niall Rogers was pushed in the back when in a good position.  

In the closing stages, St Vincent’s won two frees, the first was a two pointer, the second, probably pretty dubious foul, was only 25 metres from goal and the free taker settled for a single.  

Afterwards the referee called for the ball to end the match with honours even, but St Brendan’s will be disappointed not to leave Marino with the second League point.  

But a first on the pitch win is now achievable for the next home fixture on April 27th against St Marks.  

Final score from Páirc Naomh Uinsionn St Brendan’s 2-7 St Vincent’s 0-13. 

Meanwhile in Arthur Griffith Park in Lucan, The St Brendan's 2nd XV, in partnership with Stoneybatter Pride of Place, went down 4-12 to 2-8 against Lucan Sarsfields with Ciaran Brady getting one of the goals.