Round Up: Go-Ahead Ireland AHL 1 & AHL 2

A strong second quarter proved pivotal as joint leaders Lucan Sarsfields overcame a battling Ballyboden St Enda’s B by 3-18 to 1-17 in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 1 encounter at Sancta Maria on Tuesday evening.

The hosts started brightly through a brace of James Roche points before Lucan stalled their momentum briefly courtesy of a Charlie Keher goal. 

Boden regained the initiative as they outscored their opponents by eight points to three but Sarsfields took over through a Sean Harkness goal and points from Charlie Mulqueen, Donie Flannery, Jack Behan, Hugh Cuffe, Darragh Lyons and Liam Garrigan to lead by 2-13 to 0-12 by the interval. 

Both teams enjoyed pockets of dominance after the break but Lucan chipped over scores at regular intervals to preserve their lead with a late penalty for St Enda’s failing to turn the tide in their favour.   

There was better news for Boden’s first team who registered an impressive 3-28 to 0-18 win against St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh at Martin Savage Park. 

Conor Dooley excelled in the visitors’ half-back line with Sean McDonnell and Jim Kennedy combining well to gain the upper hand at centrefield. 

Their goals arrived through Darragh Kenny, Pierce Christie and Niall Ryan while the excellence of Niall McMorrow in attack left Ballyboden comfortable winners by the final whistle.  

Elsewhere, St Vincent’s and Na Fianna were pushed all the way before registering one-point home victories against St Brigid’s and Naomh Barróg respectively. 

Go-Ahead Ireland AHL1: St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 0-18 Ballyboden St Enda’s A 3-28; Kilmacud Crokes 0-16 St Jude’s 0-12; St Vincent’s 1-19 St Brigid’s 1-18; Na Fianna 4-17 Naomh Barróg 2-22; Ballyboden St Enda’s B 1-17 Lucan Sarsfields 3-18; Cuala 3-22 Faughs 2-16.

In Go-Ahead Ireland AHL2, St Sylvester’s picked up their fourth win of the campaign with a free-scoring 1-30 to 3-15 victory against Whitehall Colmcille at Cloghran. 

Having trailed by two points at the break, the Malahide outfit made the most of the breeze at their backs as they controlled the second-half with Cian Whitney proving their scorer-in-chief with a personal tally of 0-11. 

In what was an impressive team display, Darragh McLoughney, Dan Murphy and Eamonn McLoughney all added four points apiece as Syls began to open up a heathy buffer. 

Sean Murphy raised a green flag for Syls, who eased home courtesy of further scores by Ciaran McLoughney, Tommy Costello, Sean Foley and Killian O’Flynn. 

That defeat leaves Whitehall stranded at the bottom table as Erin’s Isle enjoyed their first win of the campaign when overcoming Naomh Mearnóg by 3-16 to 2-15 in Portmarnock. 

The visitors were well served at the back by the likes of David Lynch, Tadgh Gorman, Jamie Perry and Dan Donaghy and substitute Fran Carroll was hugely influential when introduced off the bench. 

Cian O’Hare (1-3) and Gareth Cronin (1-2) added vital goals for Isles with Mikie Donohoe scoring four points to help his side over the line for a welcome win.  

At the top of the table, Craobh Chiaráin remain unbeaten but had to content themselves with their second draw of the year as they shared the spoils with Raheny.  

Go-Ahead Ireland AHL2: Whitehall Colmcille 3-15 St Sylvester’s 1-30; Craobh Chiaráin 2-11 Raheny 0-17; Naomh Mearnóg 2-15 Erin’s Isle 3-16; Clontarf 4-13 Ballinteer St John’s 2-16.