Skerries Seconds claim crucial point in Championship opener

22 August 2026

Dublin Intermediate Championship AC1

Ballymun Kickhams 0-19

Skerries Harps 2-13

It's Championship football. Over 30 league positions separated AFL4 Ballymun Kickhams and AFL6 Skerries Harps, but the seasiders claimed a richly deserved point in an absorbing encounter in Pairc Ciceam on Saturday evening.

It was toe-to-toe at the start but the accurate Ballymun side used the breeze to their advantage to keep the scoreboard ticking and outscored Skerries throughout the opening 30, taking a healthy 0-16 to 0-7 into the break.

Skerries, who lost corner back Shane Murphy to a broken foot, slipped further to nine behind and looked out of the running at the start of the second period.

However, a sensational fourth-quarter rally turned the game on its head. With some big impact coming from the bench, unanswered goals from Daire Geoghegan and Luke Harrison, along with a further five points, saw the Harps roar into the lead. Ballymun, though, had a final sting in the tail, with two late points, the latter being the final kick of the game, which drew them level and shared the spoils.

While there was some initial disappointment to not get the big upset win, this quickly faded as the Skerries second team reflected on the result. A performance full of fighting spirit and no little skill, it leaves the Harps in a strong position going into their two remaining group games - both of which will take place at home.

Skerries Harps: Jordo Collins, Shane Murphy, Sean Wilson, Darragh Payne (0-1), Adam Bund (0-1), Cal Kelly, Cian Griffin, Tim O’Donovan, Luke Ryan, Conor O’Reilly, Fionn McAfee, James McLoughlin (0-1), Neil McConvey (0-2), Daire Geoghegan (1-2), Luke Harrison (1-5). Subs: Jack Fitzpatrick (0-1), Aaron Downes, Emmett Trant, Liam Byrne, Éanna Keoghan.