The opening round of the SFC was completed at Paddy O''Brien Park on Friday night when Simonstown held off a strong Wolfe Tones challenge in an engrossing encounter.

Simonstown ....... 2-8
Wolfe Tones .......1-9

Simonstown made most of the running and responded well in the final minutes after the 'Tones levelled matters for the second and final time, from a Cian Ward 55th minute free. 

Des Lane's charges outscored their neighbours by 0-3 to 0-1 thereafter with three players contributing. 

Before the throw-in a minute's silence was observed in memory of Ena Tobin, who lost her life in a traffic accident seven days earlier. 

Her brother Sean didn't get on the scoresheet for the 'Gaels but assisted in several of his team's scores. 

Seven second-half wides could have undermined Simonstown's bid for victory. 

Wolfe Tones led for four first quarter minutes following Cian Ward's brilliantly struck sixth minute penalty made it 1-0 to 0-2.

A foul on Mark McCabe led to a Simonstown penalty. 'Tones' 'keeper Trevor Browne saved the initial effort but couldn't contain Ben Hoey's follow-up that went with his opening brace of points from play and left it 1-2 to 0-2.  Hoey was the 'Gaels to scorer and complimented his tally of 1-2 with an industrious display.

Simonstown moved 1-4 to 1-0 clear by the mid-point of the half and looked well-placed to build on their advantage. The second quarter yielded three Wolfe Tones' points (Cian Ward (two) and one from Tomas O'Reilly). 

During this phase a Mark McCabe goal attempt was denied by the crossbar while the final score of the half came from a Cian Ward 45. It left Tony Kearney's side just one point off the pace, 1-4 to 1-3, at the interval. 

Within three minutes of the restart, a fourth consecutive Wolfe Tones point - with Cian Ward placing Saran O Fionnagain - levelled matters for the first time. 

To their credit, Simonstown responded positively. Sean Tobin and Padraig McKeever were involved in a move that was finished to the net by Mark McCabe, to leave the board reading 2-4 to 1-4. 

Undaunted, the Tones rallied again, outscoring their neighbours by 0-4 to 0-1 over the next 20 minutes as the north Navan side's tally of wides mounted. 

Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch's 47th minute score trimmed the deficit to the minimum. Another seven minutes elapsed before Cian Ward's leveller. 

That was as good as it got for Wolfe Tones. A draw was on the cards until Mark McCabe's 59th minute point broke the deadlock with Sean Tobin providing the assist. 

Simonstown prevailed on this occassion, but if Wolfe Tones can get injured players, such as Niall McLoughlin, Eoghan Harrington and Dan O'Neill, back to action they have something to build on.

Simonstown - Robert Burlingham; Michael Gavin, Stephen Moran, Shane Gallagher (0-1); Brian McGrath, Brian Conlon, Mark Gardiner; Sean Tobin, Conor Sheridan; James Heaney, Ben Hoey (1-2, 1-0 pen), Mark McCabe (1-1); Shane Barry (0-1), Padraig McKeever (0-2), Nathan O'Brien. Subs - Andrew Kearney (0-1) for Nathan O'Brien (bc 28), Ian O'Rourke for McGrath (47), Sean Conlon for Nicky O'Brien (55)

Wolfe Tones - Trevor Browne; Eanna Harrington, Shane Glynn, Robbie White;Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch (0-1), Brughach O Fionnagain, Conor Sheppard; Alan Callaghan, Stephen Sheppard; Thomas O'Reilly (0-1), Cian Ward (1-5, 1-0 pen, 0-2 fs, 0-1 45),Niall O'Reilly (0-1); Saran O Fionnagain (0-1), Padraic Diamond, Fiachra  Ward. Subs - Cian O'Neill for Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch (18), Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch for Robbie White (37). 

Referee - David Gough (Slane)

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