Round-Up of the Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Championship

Kilmacud Crokes picked up their third successive victory in Group 2 of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship when overcoming St Vincent’s by 0-25 to 1-14 at Parnell Park on Friday night.

Crokes seized the initiative in the first quarter through points from Oisín O’Rorke, Caolán Conway and Brendan Scanlan as they increased their lead through further scores by Fergal Whitely, Brendan Kenny and O’Rorke.

A brace of Conor Burke points offered hope to St Vincent’s in the second quarter but Kilmacud finished the half strongly with late scores by Michael Roche and Cian Ryan building a 0-13 to 0-5 interval advantage.

A goal from John Hetherton within two minutes of the restart brought fresh life to the Vinnies challenge and a trio of Brian Bolger scores brought their deficit down to four points.

However, Kenny, who finished with 0-5, and his midfield partner Brian Hayes, controlled the closing stages as Roche completed the scoring with a late brace.     

Earlier that evening, a first-half hat-trick from Daniel Moore set Naomh Barróg on course for a comprehensive 5-24 to 2-14 win against Craobh Chiaráin.

Moore served early notice of his intent when netting inside three minutes as Barróg pulled further away thanks to a second goal by Eoin Hart.

The half finished with a glut of goals as Moore netted twice inside four minutes put goals at the opposite end by Gary Kelly and Aaron Cooling helped trim the Craobh deficit to 4-10 to 2-8 by half-time.

A Nathan Kidd goal in the 39th minute effectively settled the issue with Billy Ryan’s nine points for Craobh proving in vain by the final whistle.  

At the opposite end of Group 1, holders Na Fianna were pushed all the way before edging Ballyboden St Enda’s by 2-21 to 1-21 at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

The holders lined out without the likes of Donal Burke, Seán Currie and AJ Murphy but recovered from a sluggish start to lead by 2-13 to 1-11 by half-time with Tom Brennan scoring both goals.

The dismissal of Na Fianna full-back Sean Burke in the third quarter offered St Enda’s a lifeline and seven points from David Gleeson helped them trim their deficit to the bare minimum in the closing stages.

However, Na Fianna showed sufficient composure and experience in added time with late points from Jack Meagher and Gavin King confirming their third straight win in the group.

They are joined in top spot by a Lucan Sarsfields team that preserved their perfect record to date when beating St Jude’s by 2-24 to 0-15.

Lucan led by 0-12 to 0-9 at the break with Charlie Keher and Paul Crummey accounting for the bulk of their scores and they pulled away by the end courtesy of goals from Donie Flannery and David Mulqueen.  

In Group 2, Cuala picked up their first win of the campaign as they edged St Brigid’s by 0-22 to 0-21 in Parnell Park. 

Cuala that enjoyed the narrowest of leads at half-time with two points from play apiece by Jamie Conroy, David Treacy and Diarmaid Ó Floinn eking out an 0-12 to 0-11 interval advantage.

Matters remained tense throughout the second-half but a brace of scores from Donal O’Shea in added time edged Cuala home to a crucial win, despite Cian O’Sullivan scoring six points from play for St Brigid’s. 

It proved similarly tight across in O’Toole Park as Whitehall Colmcille finished strongly to pip St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh by 2-19 to 2-18.

Goals from Cillian Hayes and Ben McSweeney helped Plunkett’s to a 2-9 to 1-8 interval lead with Eoghan O’Donnell raising Whitehall’s green flag.

That lead was maintained for the bulk of the second-half but a superb solo goals from Cormac Costello turned the tide in Whitehall’s favour and they pushed on through points by Conor Sheedy and O’Donnell.   

SHC1 Group 1: Naomh Barróg 5-24 Craobh Chiaráin 2-14; Lucan Sarsfields 2-24 St Jude’s 0-15; Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-21 Na Fianna 2-21.

SHC1 Group 2: Kilmacud Crokes 0-25 St Vincent’s 1-14; St Brigid’s 0-21 Cuala 0-22; Whitehall Colmcille 2-19 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 2-18.