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

Action in Round 5 of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Hurling Leagues commenced on Thursday evening with Kilmacud Crokes continuing their rich vein of form with a 2-24 to 1-17 victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s at Páirc Uí Mhurchú. 

Backed by a slight breeze, it was Crokes that started the brighter with a number of Caolán Conway points helping build an 0-7 to 0-2 lead by the end of the first quarter. 

Boden gradually found their feet as the half evolved through points from Pearce Christie and Niall McMorrow and two superb saves from goalkeeper Matt Nolan limited the damage as they trailed by 0-14 to 0-9 at half-time. 

The free-taking of Brendan Scanlan kept Crokes on top after the break and they made certain of the victory through goals by Michael Roche and substitute Denis Murray.   

Across in Russell Park, St Brigid’s bounced back from their Round 4 defeat to Na Fianna as they defeated Cuala by 1-20 to 0-17. 

An early Eoghan Healy goal helped the hosts settle into the clash and they maintained their grip on events through solid defensive displays from Cathal Doyle, Jack Hannan and Donnacha Ryan. 

The sides traded scores all the way through the second-half but St Brigid’s regularly added to their tally thanks to Paul Winters, James O’Connell and Jonathan McGuirk. 

The win moved the Blanchardstown side back into top spot, alongside both Kilmacud Crokes and a Lucan Sarsfields team that overcame St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh by 2-26 to 0-21 on Friday night. 

On Saturday afternoon, both St Jude’s and Faughs cemented their mid-table positions with four-point home victories against St Vincent’s and Na Fianna respectively. 

Go-Ahead Ireland AHL1: Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-17 Kilmacud Crokes 2-24; St Brigid’s 1-20 Cuala 0-17; Lucan Sarsfields 2-26 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 0-21; Faughs 4-17 Na Fianna 3-16; Naomh Barróg 2-21 Ballyboden St Enda’s B 3-17; St Jude’s 2-11 St Vincent’s 0-13. 

In Go-Ahead Ireland AHL2, Craobh Chiaráin continue to lead the way at the summit of the table following their narrow 1-16 to 0-16 victory over Ballinteer St John’s at Marlay Park on Saturday evening. 

James Finn plundered the all-important goal for a Craobh side best served over the hour by Stephen O’Brien, Sean Brennan, Aaron Cooling and goalkeeper Kieran McGouran. 

Cian Derwin top scored with eight points and with Billy Ryan chipping in with 0-5, the visitors did enough to prevail through further scores from Matthew Forbes, Kevin Warren and Jack Murray. 

There was another three-point away victory at Silver Park as Clontarf edged Kilmacud Crokes by 3-20 to 3-17. 

Sam Keely delivered an exceptional display from wing-back for the visitors and with Mikey Devine enjoying a perfect record from placed balls, Clontarf enhanced their promotion prospects through a brace of Donagh Murphy goals and another green flag raised by John Hanley. 

At the opposite end of the table, both Erin’s Isle and Whitehall Colmcille remain pointless following losses against Castleknock and St Sylvester’s respectively.  

Go-Ahead Ireland AHL2: Thomas Davis 1-18 Naomh Mearnóg 1-18; St Sylvester’s 1-21 Fingallians 1-14; Erin’s Isle 1-16 Castleknock 4-26; Ballinteer St John’s 0-16 Craobh Chiaráin 1-16; Kilmacud Crokes 3-17 Clontarf 3-20; Raheny 2-13 Whitehall Colmcille 2-10.