Round-Up: Go-Ahead Ireland AHL1 & AHL2 March 15th

Castleknock turned on the style after the break as they accounted for Naomh Barróg by 3-18 to 1-14 in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 1 encounter at Somerton Park on Sunday morning. 

The win secured their first ever victory in AHL1 following their narrow loss to St Vincent’s in Round 1 with second-half goals by Brian Hughes and Cian Boyle sealing their win. 

The visitors impressed initially, with Sean Doyle proving a handful at centre-forward but a well-worked move involving Rian Buckley and Boyle saw Conor Chawke net to leave the teams deadlocked at 1-7 apiece by half-time. 

The hosts raced out of the blocks upon the restart as a Hughes goal was augmented by points from Boyle, Chawke and Conal Purcell. 

With Barróg reduced to fourteen players, Castleknock took full advantage and pulled away by the final whistle through Boyle’s goal and further scores by Buckley, Michael Ryan, Neil Hogan and Reuben Cahill. 

There was another comfortable home win at the 12th Lock as Lucan Sarsfields defeated Craobh Chiaráin by 5-21 to 1-11. 

First-half goals by Darragh Meehan, Matt Coogan and Charlie Keher set the tone for the hosts with points at the opposite end by Cian Derwin and Kevin Hetherton of mereconsolation value to the visitors. 

Lucan continued to dominate in the second-half through the efforts of Liam Garrigan, Ryan Clancy, Coogan and Darragh Lyons and added further goals courtesy of Meehan and Coogan by the final whistle.      

The action commenced in UCD on Thursday night as Na Fianna picked up their second successive win when edging Kilmacud Crokes by 1-17 to 1-15.

The hosts enjoyed a wind-assisted 0-9 to 0-4 interval lead with Brendan Scanlan doing the bulk of the damage and his goal early in the second-half extended the Crokes lead. 

The free-taking of Joe Kavanagh brought Na Fianna back into the mix and his late goal edged his team in front before Brian Ryan added an insurance point in injury time. 

GO-AHEAD IRELAND AHL1 RESULTS: Kilmacud Crokes 1-15 Na Fianna 1-17; Lucan Sarsfields 5-21 Craobh Chiaráin 1-11; Castleknock 3-18 Naomh Barróg 1-14; Faughs 0-20 St Brigid’s 0-13; St Jude’s 0-12 St Vincent’s 3-17; Cuala v Ballyboden St Enda’s OFF.

In AHL2, St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh dominated from the outset as they enjoyed a comfortable 4-19 to 0-10 win against Naomh Mearnóg at Páirc Mearnóg. 

First-half goals by Ben McSweeney (1-3) and debutant Tom Collins built a healthy 2-10 to 0-5 interval lead for the visitors, who amassed seventeen wides over the hour. 

Plunketts continued to dominate after the break with Jack O’Shea and Conor Scully excelling in their half-back line and they pulled away through further goals by Ger Ryan (1-8) and substitute Fionn Brennan. 

In Farnham Drive, the likes of Darragh Holmes, Peter Keane and Cian McDaid played key roles as Naomh Olaf defeated Erin’s Isle by 0-15 to 0-7. 

Raheny were the only side of the six home teams to register a victory as they eased past Ballyboden St Enda’s by 4-19 to 0-13 in St Anne’s Park. 

Rob McGuirk and Ben Kennedy set the tone for the hosts with a dominant showing at midfield and with Ciaran Harnett excelling at centre-back, they pulled away through the scoring returns of Liam Dunne, Adam Ryan and Thomas Hurley.   

GO-AHEAD IRELAND AHL2 RESULTS: Erin’s Isle 0-7 Naomh Olaf 0-15; Thomas Davis 3-11 St Sylvester’s 2-14; Fingallians2-18 Clontarf 3-15; Namh Mearnóg 0-10 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 4-19; Commercials 1-14Ballinteer St John’s 1-17; Raheny 4-19 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-13.