Great Football Season Start for St Sylvester’s Senior Men

Our senior team kicked off their league campaign versus Kilmacud Croke this morning in Broomfield.

As well as a new management teams, St.Sylvesters had a new look senior playing panel with AFL debuts for Sean Daly and Dan Deneher. Minor player Josh Bannon was also part of the panel. Returning to senior action were Mark Finnerty, Mark Hazley and Pearse Gibney. 

Playing with the wind in the first half St.Sylvesters had some wayward shooting and failed to capitalise on some good possession and support play. Mark Finnerty’s goal showed some good anticipation to a finish a hopeful ball in his direction to the net. Otherwise St.Sylvesters really failed to fire in the first half and would have been glad for near parity at half time. 

Some of the substitutions in the second-half proved important with Dave Sexton and Eoghan Hamill prominent. Daniel Brennan’s work-rate off the ball and willingness to attack the defence while in possession offered Croke some different problems to the first half and testament to this was three more second half goals. Mark Finnerty once again finished his chance well and both Alex Wright’s goals showed excellent composure, vision and finishing power.

With the home-team four points up with less than five minutes to go Crokes were offered a life-line with a dubious penalty that they dispatched to leave one between the teams. However our seniors showed confidence, composure and industry to finish strongly and secure their first two points of the AFL 2 campaign. With the likes of Fionn Carney, Conor Meaney, Jack Hazley and Glenn Hazley yet to return from injury and a focus on integrating youth players into their wider panel, team management are very hopeful and expecting to add to a solid pre-season and today’s win with some more exciting performances in the coming rounds of matches.