Round-Up: Dublin U21 Hurling Championship

The Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Under 21 ‘A’ Hurling Championship commenced on Saturday afternoon with Cuala advancing to the last four following their impressive 3-13 to 1-7 victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s in Bray. 

The hosts dominated the first-half, opening up an early lead through points from Aodhán English, Cillian Small and Lochlainn Sheehan while goals from English and Callum Dee leftthem well placed at half-time, leading by 2-9 to 0-1. 

Ballyboden were far more competitive after the break but Cuala kept matters tight at the back through Dan Fay and Eoghan O’Carroll as they eased home by the final whistle with goalkeeper Adam O’Toole making three fine saves to preserve his team’s buffer. 

There was another comfortable home win at the 12th Lock as Lucan Sarsfields eased past St Jude’s by 3-18 to 0-2. 

David Mulqueen netted twice for the hosts in the opening half and with substitute Cormac Coffey adding 1-1 from the bench, Lucan maintained their control through influential displays by Cathal Kenedy, Jack Behan, Luke Mooney and Liam Garrigan. 

Matters were far tighter in Marino as St Vincent’s edged Raheny by 2-21 to 2-18 with Harry Curley shining at the back for the winners. 

Brian Murray and Aaron Cosgrave were others to impress for St Vincent’s, who did enough to prevail courtesy of crucial scores from Stephen Williams in attack. 

The only away win arrived at St Mobhi Road as Kilmacud Crokes proved too strong for Na Fianna, winning by 1-24 to 0-13. 

David Purcell looked lively in the Crokes attack during the first-half, helping himself to 1-2 before being forced off at the turnaround through illness. 

Leading by nine points at the break, Kilmacud continued to dominate through captain Eoin Keys at midfield, wing-forward James Neary and Gearóid Flannery, with the latter helping himself to ten points over the hour. 

Ciaran Donovan also sparkled with five points from play as the visitors advanced to a last four meeting with Lucan thanks to further scores by Brendan Kenny, Keys, Oran O’Keeffe, Neary, Conal Ó Criostóir, Andrew Dillon and Ben Lynch. 

In the ‘B’ Championship, Ballinteer St John’s edged their way past Castleknock with goals from Joey Quirke, Dylan Bannan and Tommy Cullen seeing them prevail by 3-18 to 2-20 after extra-time. 

Clontarf were another team to advance to the semi-finals with Conor Newton scoring 1-5 from play as they defeated Thomas Davis by 5-22 to 3-7. 

The hosts were rarely troubled as they exerted a strong control throughout thanks to impressive displays by goalkeeper Fionn Magner, Joe Sheppard, Jack Ryan and Donagh Murphy. 

The ‘C’ Championship saw Naomh Barróg finish strongly on their way to a 0-15 to 1-8 home victory over Scoil Uí Chonaill. 

Six Jack Kennedy points helped Scoil to edge a point clear with ten minutes remaining but the scoring returns of Finn McDonald (0-5), Mícheál Tierney (0-3) and Darragh Nolan (0-3) saw Barróg home to safety.    

U21 ‘A’ HC quarter-finals: Lucan Sarsfields 3-18 St Jude’s 0-2; Cuala 3-13 Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-7; Raheny 2-18 St Vincent’s 2-21; Na Fianna 0-13 Kilmacud Crokes 1-24. 

U21 ‘B’ HC quarter-finals: Erin’s Isle 0-10 Faughs 1-18; Ballinteer St John’s 3-18 Castleknock 2-20 AET; Commercials 1-25 St Peregrine’s & Garda WMT 1-11; Clontarf 5-22 Thomas Davis 3-7.