Dublin SFC: Former Dubs duo rescue Ballymun

Ballymun trailed raging underdogs Lucan two minutes into stoppage time.

Davy Keogh of Thomas Davis in action against Paul Wilde of Skerries Harps during the PTSB Dublin Senior Club Football Championships Round 2 match between Skerries Harps and Thomas Davis at Parnell Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

A couple of ex-Dublin stars came to the rescue for Ballymun Kickhams who secured a dramatic first win in this season's county SFC.

Fresh off a draw with Cuala in Round 1, the 2020 champions were installed as 1/12 favourites to take care of Lucan at the Clann Mhuire grounds in Naul.

But with former Mayo midfielder Seamus O'Shea on the sideline, Ballymun trailed the raging underdogs by a point two minutes into stoppage time.

Former Dublin star Dean Rock, who managed the Sky Blues for a period in this year's Championship, tied the game up at 0-17 apiece in the 65th minute.

His ex-Dublin colleague John Small won the free that Rock converted and when Lucan's subsequent kick-out flew out of play, Ballymun worked the ball to Fiach Andrews to snipe the winning point.

There was still time for a Lucan kick-out but Small once again intervened with a brilliant fetch at midfield - the last action of a terrific encounter that Ballymun edged 0-18 to 0-17.

Rock struck seven points in all for title hopefuls Ballymun though he also tallied five wides on an afternoon when the favourites drilled 10 wides in all, and wasted six decent goal chances.

Former Longford attacker Keelin McGann and Dublin great James McCarthy registered early two-pointers for Ballymun who led 0-11 to 0-10 at half time.

There was no shame in a battling defeat for Lucan who were led by Rian Doherty, 0-6 from play, Mark Lavin and ex-Dublin defender Daire Newcombe.

Cuala won this evening's second Group 4 game, beating St Judes 1-15 to 0-17, leaving Cuala and Ballymun locked on three points at the top.

Meanwhile, holders Ballyboden St Enda's are sitting pretty at the top of Group 1 after beating Castleknock 1-21 to 0-14 at Parnell Park today.

After thrashing Templeogue Synge Street 2-18 to 0-1 in Round 1, 'Boden got a stiffer challenge from a Castleknock side with Ciaran Kilkenny and former Mayo senior Shairoze Akram in their half-back line.

Ryan Basquel struck 1-4 for 'Boden while Daire Sweeney weighed in with 0-7. There was a strong response from Templeogue to their Round 1 disaster as they overcame St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh 1-18 to 0-16 at O'Toole Park.

Similarly, Kilmacud Crokes made amends following their Round 1 loss to Clontarf by beating Whitehall Colmcille 3-13 to 0-6 in Group 2.

Galway star Shane Walsh was a notable absentee again from the Crokes lineup while Paul Mannion, who also missed the Clontarf game, was taken off this time at the interval.

But the Glenalbyn outfit still had too much for Whitehall with Cian O'Connor, 1-3, Shane Horan and Padraig Purcell all scoring goals.

Ballinteer St Johns top Group 2 after beating Clontarf 1-12 to 0-11 to secure back-to-back wins.

Five points from Dublin hurler Conor McHugh helped Na Fianna overcome Raheny 0-16 to 0-11 at St Margaret's on Friday evening in Group 3.

But Thomas Davis are top of the table as they built on their Round 1 win over Na Fianna with a 2-18 to 1-19 defeat of Skerries Harps, Chris Sallier and Fionn Murray with their goals.