TWO early goals helped Templeogue Synge Street account for St Anne's by 3-13 to 1-11 in their Dublin AFL Division 2 promotion play-off encounter at Dolphin Park yesterday morning.
Alan O'Brien and Eoghan O'Gara found the net for the winners inside the opening ten minutes and despite Conor McKiernan being dismissed in the 20th minute, Synger held the upper hand through the defensive efforts of Ronan Finlay-O'Donnell and Mark Swaine.
The visitors whittled their deficit to just two points early in the second-half but with Cathal Morley impressing in attack and Denis Bastick redeployed to telling effect at midfield, the hosts pulled clear thanks to points from Niall Scully and Mark Hiney with Ger Vickery's goal ensuring Templeogue a final berth against either Skerries Harps or Ballinteer.
In AHL2, Ballinteer St John's registered a morale-boosting win over Nh Fionnbarra in Marley Park on Saturday with dual player Glenn Whelan hitting four points from play in their 0-16 to 1-7 win.
As a consequence, St John's secured home advantage in their promotion play-off tie against Raheny with Finbarrs, for whom Eamonn Dillon scored a consolation goal, hosting Setanta in the remaining semi-final.
Castleknock overcame St Brigid's by 0-8 to 0-5 to clinch promotion to AFL2 in Russell Park yesterday morning.
The visitors led for the duration with Graham Hannigan, Rory Corcoran and Ciarán Kilkenny to the fore while Kevin Kindlon's excellent second-half proved pivotal.
AFL2: Templeogue Synge Street 3-13 St Anne's 1-11. AHL2: Ballinteer St John's 0-16 Nh Fionnbarra 1-7.
