Commercials Claim a First Round Win in the Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship

COMMERCIALS 3-19 

NAOMH BRÍD 0-12

Commercials progressed to the last four of the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship after overcoming Naomh Bríd by sixteen points at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

The Dublin champions enjoyed a 2-9 to 0-7 interval advantage with goals from Sean McCarthy and Ferdia Ó Nualláin putting a slightly flattering complexion on the scoreboard at the break.

They completely controlled the third quarter, putting the contest to bed through a goal from substitute Jamie Flanagan while the clean sheet at the opposite end ensured a resounding win by the final whistle. 

It was Commercials that started on the front foot as Adam Drewett drove over the crossbar in the 2nd minute while midfielder Conor Cleary doubled their lead with a fine score from distance soon after. 

The visitors gradually found their rhythm through an excellent Aaron Amond point and the lively corner-forward restored parity when converting a 7th minute free. 

The sides continued to trade scores as Daniel O’Kelly edged the hosts back in front only for late replacement Jack Connolly to level matters by the 9th minute. 

It was at this stage that Commercials began to take control as the influential O’Kelly popped over his second score before Neil Lawless found Sean McCarthy in acres of space and he batted home from close range past Alan Brennan in the Naomh Bríd goal. 

Points followed by the end of the first quarter through O’Kelly and Dean Simpson with Amond briefly stemming the flow with his third point of the day in the 17th minute. 

Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing extended the Commercials lead to seven points after a quickfire brace but the Carlow champions kept their deficit at a manageable level through successive points from John Murphy and Mikey Bambrick. 

However, their challenge was undermined in added time as McCarthy burst through and Ó Nualláin was on hand to convert from six yards, pushing his side eight points clear in the process. 

An Ó Dúlaing free edged Commercials further clear within three minutes of the restart and Cleary’s well-taken score two minutes later was just reward for their bright start to the second-half. 

They should well have settled the issue as O’Kelly and Rhys Butler spurned presentable goal chances but a brace of Ó Dúlaing frees and a Drewett point saw them gain tangible reward for the growing supremacy. 

The third goal that their efforts merited eventually arrived in spectacular fashion in the 42nd as Flanagan found the top corner from fifteen metres.

The hosts took their collective foot off the gas from that juncture as Amond converted four frees on the bounce but a classy Ó Dúlaing point in the 54th minute helped focus minds as he ended a barren spell of twelve minutes.  

Scorers – Commercials: D Ó Dúlaing 0-8 (4f); S McCarthy 1-2; F Ó Nualláin, J Flanagan 1-0 each; D O’Kelly 0-3; A Drewett, C Cleary 0-2 each; D Simpson, J O’Keeffe 0-1 apiece. Naomh Bríd: A Amond 0-8 (6f); J Connolly 0-2; M Bambrick, J Murphy 0-1 apiece.

Commercials: S Clohessy; N Lawless, K Butler, M O’Keeffe; N Lawless, C Morris, C McCarthy; R Butler, C Cleary; F Ó Nualláin, D Ó Dúlaing, D O’Kelly; S McCarthy, A Drewett, D Simpson. Subs: J Flanagan for Simpson (half-time), A McGarr for J Morris (half-time), C Ó Luasa for Ó Nualláin (47), J O’Keeffe for Cleary (47), S Dungan for O’Kelly (56).  

Naomh Bríd: A Brennan; S Kirwan, A Dunne, R Dermody; T O’Neill, F O’Toole, G Dunne; M Bambrick, E Holland; J Connolly, J Murphy, M Fitzgerald; A Amond, R O’Neill, J Doyle. Subs: N Roche for A Dunne (26), C Delacey for Holland (39), C Byrne for Doyle (45), G Slattery for O’Neill (50), D Roche for G Dunne (62).  

Referee: Jimmy Heavey (Wexford).