Round-Up: Go-Ahead Ireland AHL 1& AHL 2 April 18th & 19th

Image Courtesy Matthew Burke

Round 4 in Division 1 of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Hurling League took place across the weekend with Kilmacud Crokes getting the better of joint leaders St Vincent’s by 2-24 to 2-17 at Silver Park on Saturday afternoon. 

The visitors netted early on but Crokes settled into the contest through a Cian Mac Gabhann point and they began to control matters thanks to further scores by Alex Hatt, Oisín O’Rorke, Eoin Keys and Caolán Conway.  

Kilmacud continued to impress and built up an unassailable 1-15 to 1-4 lead by half-time with Ciaran Donovan putting the finishing touches to a well-worked move for their opening goal. 

That defeat saw Vinnies fall two points behind a Lucan Sarsfields team that secured their fourth win on the bounce when beating Faughs by 1-23 to 0-10. 

Across in Somerton Park, Liam Murphy scored 2-8 as Cuala cemented their mid-table position with a 3-24 to 3-20 victory over Castleknock.

The Dalkey outfit were well served over the hour by the likes of Sean Moran, Michael Conroy and Colm Cronin with Conall O’Toole (1-2), Jack Twomey (0-4) and Jamie Conroy (0-3) making valuable contributions on the scoring front.    

On Thursday night, Craobh Chiaráin delivered an excellent team performance when overcoming Ballyboden St Enda’s by 0-27 to 2-17 in Clonshaugh, picking up their first league win of the season in the process. 

The hosts were full value for their victory, from goalkeeper Kieran McGouran through the likes of Sam Keely, Colin Fagan and Stephen Kelly as eleven of their starting line-up contributed on the scoreboard. 

Cian Derwin led the way in terms of scores with Gary Kelly, Billy Ryan, Eoin Forbes, Sean McHugh and Carl Sammon all chipping in with vital points for the Donnycarney side. 

In what was an encouraging weekend for the bottom sides, Naomh Barróg also got off the mark by virtue of their 2-21 to 2-16 home win against St Jude’s. 

Go-Ahead Ireland AHL1: Lucan Sarsfields 1-23 Faughs 0-10; Craobh Chiaráin 0-27 Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-17; Naomh Barróg 2-21 St Jude’s 2-16; Kilmacud Crokes 2-24 St Vincent’s 2-17; Castleknock 3-20 Cuala 3-24; Na Fianna 2-16 St Brigid’s 0-21. 

In the Go-Ahead Ireland AHL2, leaders St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh registered their fourth successive victory as they finished strongly to defeat Thomas Davis by 0-32 to 2-16 at Martin Savage Park. 

The visitors led by 2-8 to 0-12 at half-time through goals from a free by Kevin Ward and Sean Reilly (1-3) with the latter impressing throughout alongside Tomas Moore (0-4) in the Thomas Davis full-forward line. 

However, the hosts seized the initiative through strong defensive displays from Neil Clerkin, Conal Doohan and Jack O’Shea and with Ger Ryan scoring nine points, Plunkett’s eased home courtesy of four Tom Collins scores and three points apiece by Irinel Popa, Darragh Bugler and Cian O’Connor.

Clontarf continue to remain unbeaten this year, having drawn their opening two games, as they defeated Commercials by 2-14 to 1-11 in St Anne’s Park.

Elsewhere, goals proved pivotal on Saturday afternoon as Naomh Mearnóg defeated Ballinteer St John’s by 3-10 to 0-13 while in Sancta Maria, Fingallians accounted for Ballyboden St Enda’s by 4-14 to 0-24.

Mick Rock was central to those Fins goals but the winning of the match was largely down to the solidity of their full-back line of Dan King, Shane Howard and Finnín Brady while Cianan Markey battled away effectively at midfield for the visitors.         

Go-Ahead Ireland AHL2: St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 0-32 Thomas Davis 2-16; Clontarf 2-14 Commercials 1-11; St Sylvester’s 1-13 Erin’s Isle 0-19; Ballinteer St John’s 0-13 Naomh Mearnóg 3-10; Naomh Olaf 0-15 Raheny 2-18; Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-24 Fingallians 4-14.