Following a comprehensive victory two weeks ago against Crumlin, The St Brendan's 2nd XV (in partnership with Stoneybatter Pride of Place, but wearing the 1st Xv jerseys this afternoon) travelled to Kiltipper Road in Tallaght and a Round 2 AFL10 South fixture against Thomas Davis and bidding for the team's 2nd Oneupmanship of the season after the 1st's loss this morning. No worries about numbers today because 18 players were available for both Billy Kelly and John Tuffy and thus no need for both men to tog out. Two of the 18 were dedutants in Ryan McGuinness and Oisin Dolan.

The Tallaghtforians got out of the blocks quickly but hitting one goal and point point after seven minutes. The Tourlestrane Terrier John Quinn got The Darkest Force on the board with a point with the final pass coming from Oisin Dolan who was settling into the game nicely on his debut.

Indeed Quinn would make it a brace of points in the 13th minute with some excellent work from Eoghan McGinty and Dave Ryan. Quinn's fellow Sligomen, Paddy McGuinn and Brendan 'The Shoeman' Brogan were cleaning up possession in defence, the Sligo team could have done with that trio yesterday in Markievicz Park against Mayo. For the first time in 2021, Graham Henry unleashed his Golden Citeog for the third St Brendan's point after brilliant play involving Dave Ryan and Padraig Pratt and given acres of space to do so.

The score was 1-3 to 0-3 with three minutes to go in which a Davis goal attempt was twarted by Lorcan Walshe who blocked the shot with his whole body and Malachi Doyle was guilty with a brace of wides and getting absolutely lambasted by Billy Kelly. The Wicklow Wizard answered that wrath in spactacular fashion with a long range point after Eoghan McGinty won a Davis kick out. 1-3 to 0-4 which was also the half time score.

Thomas Davis started the second half in the same way they started the first, with a goal and a point, but Graham Henry's Golden Citeog was back in action and notched up St Brendan's 5th point after Dave Ryan won Darragh Donnolly's kick out. Malachi Doyle notched up his 2nd point and this sides 6th with a short diatnce point following good work from Pearse Ryan.

After a quiet period, John Quinn hit back by hitting the 7th point of the afternoon with debutatnt Ryan McGuinness supplying the final pass. Dave Ryan could have made things interesting when a goal attempt sailed wide, after Quinn played an eye of a needle pass to Dolan and onto Ryan and a good opportunity gone a begging, but the score remained 2-6 to 0-7. Quinn hit a free over the bar and protective netting to make it a four point game going into the second half swig of the magic bottle.

Quinn made it a brace of point after the waterbreak with another free in after a high tackle Brendan Brogan. The Tourlestance Terrier was on serious fire when ploughing through the Davis defence and got high tackled in the process, he took the free and sailed over the bar for a hat trick of points, 2-6 to 0-10. Quinn turned supplier to Oisin Dolan to make his debut in the Black and Amber with a well taken point to put one between the sides.

The Tallaghtforians woke up from their temporary slumber hit scoring a brace of free in's to put three between the sides, with five minutes to go, St Brendan's got the goal they have been craving thanks to 'The Son of Maurice' Padraig Pratt, with up to four Davis players surrounding him, The Corkman delivered a sublime shot low and into the back of net to make it 2-8 to 1-11.

One minute later, another free in had Thomas Davis noses in front. in Injury time, St Brendan's had one final effort to level matters when Rory Walshe won a turnover and Pearse Ryan's low shot was not picked up properly by John Quinn and the ball hit his ankle and trickled wide. That was the last action in what was a thrilling encounter. St Brendan's 2nds will be disappointed to get nothing out of the game but can take great heart with the preformance and will have high hopes going into the next fixture on July 8th against St Peregrines.

Final Score from Kiltipper Road St Brendan's 1-11 Thomas Davis 2-9.

The St Brendan's Girls Under 14 team played their first competitive fixture at Longmeadows also this Sunday but were beaten by Fingal Ravans, no doubt the girls can put the experience to good use in future matches.