Round-Up: Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 2 Hurling Championship Round 4

Erin’s Isle delivered an exceptional defensive performance when overcoming Kilmacud Crokes by 1-15 to 0-12 in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship encounter at Silver Park on Saturday evening.

The victory kept them in top spot of Group 1 on seven points with the likes of Jamie Perry, Lorcan Finnegan and Darragh Gorman leading the way with their solid contributions at the back.

Mikie Donohoe top scored with 1-7 for the visitors and with Conor Donohoe adding three points, Isles confirmed their win thanks to two points apiece by the influential Conor Berigan and Graham Williams with Fran Carroll completing their scoring.

Their lead over the chasing pack remains a narrow one as Ballyboden St Enda’s and Raheny registered home wins over Clontarf and Ballinteer St John’s respectively to preserve joint second spot in the table.

While Boden were pushed all the way before claiming a 1-24 to 2-17 win in Sancta Maria, Raheny turned on the style after the break to ease past Ballinteer by 6-17 to 1-11 in St Anne’s Park.

There was only a point separating the sides at half-time but backed by a strong breeze upon the resumption, the hosts blitzed their opponents with Liam Dunne catching the eye once again with a personal tally of 4-6.

Brian Howard and Jamie Kearns completed the goalscoring for a Raheny side that ensured there was no way back for St John’s with goalkeeper Ryan Coyne making a couple of superb saves.

In Group 2, Faughs continue to lead the way as they picked up their fourth successive victory on their way to a comprehensive 3-31 to 0-13 win against Fingallians at Tymon Park.

The writing was on the wall by half-time as goals from James O’Brien, Conor Brennan and the influential Conor O’Shea helped build a 3-14 to 0-7 buffer by the turnaround.

O’Brien finished the contest with 1-12 (0-8f) to his name with Brennan’s 1-3 and four points from Liam Mostyn enhancing the Faughs lead as the contest evolved.

Oisín Walsh was rewarded for his efforts with three points, a tally matched by Colm McCabe, as the hosts eased home courtesy of impressive individual displays from goalkeeper Eoghan McNamara, Sean O’Brien and Carl O’Mahony.

Across in Somerton Park, Castleknock ensured they remain two points behind the leaders as they finished strongly to edge Na Fianna by 0-22 to 1-16.      

The action commenced on Wednesday night as Naomh Mearnóg dominated the third quarter on their way to a 2-20 to 2-14 win against Thomas Davis at Pairc Mearnóg.

The win moved the hosts into third spot in the table but they made the worst possible start as Davy Keogh pounced for a Thomas Davis goal in the 2nd minute.

An Aaron Fahy goal from fine approach play by Chris Farrelly and a crucial save from goalkeeper Bobby Smith got the hosts back on track as they limited the damage by half-time, trailing by 1-7 to 1-5.

Mearnóg resumed in a dominant manner as they struck seven points on the bounce with full-back Rory O’Loughlin excelling while Tynam Neville worked tirelessly around the middle third.

Shane Kavanagh kept the home scoreboard ticking over with ten points over the hour and with Fahy (1-2) and Ciaran McCarthy (0-3) also contributing handsomely, they confirmed their win through a superb Bernard Deay goal.

SHC2 Group 1: Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-24 Clontarf 2-17; Kilmacud Crokes 0-12 Erin’s Isle 1-15; Raheny 6-17 Ballinteer St John’s 1-11.

SHC2 Group 2: Faughs 3-31 Fingallians 0-13; Naomh Mearnóg 2-20 Thomas Davis 2-14; Castleknock 0-22 Na Fianna 1-16.