Round-Up: PTSB Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship R5

Castleknock confirmed top spot in Group 2 of the PTSB Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship as they edged Ballyboden St Enda’s by 1-17 to 1-14 in Somerton Park on Saturday evening. 

In what was a scrappy enough affair, the visitors belied their lowly position with a battling display, especially after conceding a goal to Colum Breslin in the early stages.    

Boden netted a fine goal of their own and trailed by just 1-8 to 1-7 at the break with Cian Boyle and Neil Hogan accounting for the bulk of the home scores. 

Boyle finished the game with ten points to his name and with Hogan adding 0-4, Castleknock did enough to prevail through an impressive display from goalkeeper Matthew Nolan and points by Breslin, Cillian Beere and Conor Chawke. 

St Oliver Plunkett’s finished in second spot in the table on head-to-head as they defeated Ballinteer St John’s by 2-23 to 1-16 in Martin Savage Park. 

The visitors impressed in the opening-half with a Cody Graham goal edging them three points clear by half-time despite playing against the elements. 

Plunkett’s found their form in the second-half with a Ger Ryan penalty getting them back on track while three points by substitute Mugurel Popa and a late goal from Tom Collins helped complete their comeback.   

With Commercials already guaranteed third spot in Group 2, Ballinteer will claim the remaining quarter-final spot should the Rathcoole outfit defeat Naomh Mearnóg in their remaining match. 

In Group 1, Clontarf completed their fifth successive victory this campaign as they accounted for previously unbeaten Craobh Chiaráin by 1-18 to 1-13 in Clonshaugh. 

The foundation for their victory lay in the defensive solidity provided by Harry Digan, Joe Sheppard and Charlie Digan while Tommy O’Neill enjoyed an influential showing for ‘Tarfaround the middle third. 

With Paddy Smyth giving an exceptional display in the away attack, Clontarf built up an unassailable lead thanks to eight Mikey Devine points, 1-4 from Tom Higgins and a trio of Kevin Lillis scores. 

In Broomfield, St Sylvester’s did just enough to book their place in the last eight as they edged Thomas by 0-20 to 0-18. 

There was never much to separate the teams as the visitors started on the front foot before Cian Whitney and Sean Foley replied for Syls to leave the teams on level terms. 

Whitney proved a thorn in the Thomas Davis side throughout as he accumulated eleven points and PJ O’Toole’s scoring contributions saw the hosts move into a three-point interval lead. 

They maintained that momentum after the turnaround through scores from Josh Moore, Alan Kenny, Whitney and Ciaran McLoughney to seize control of matters while their defensive security was typified by goalkeeper Dave Kennedy. 

St Sylvester’s are joined in the quarter-finals by a Raheny side that consigned KilmacudCrokes to their fifth loss on the bounce when winning by 3-18 to 0-20 in Silver Park. 

Mark Murphy and Jamie Kearns produced strong performance for the visitors while the goals shared by Liam Dunne and Thomas Hurley saw them home with a fair degree of comfort. 

That defeat means Crokes now face a relegation play-off, where they will be joined from Group 1 by Thomas Davis.      

PTSB SHC2 Group 1: St Sylvester’s 0-18 Thomas Davis 0-16; Craobh Chiaráin 1-13 Clontarf 1-18; Kilmacud Crokes 0-20 Raheny 3-18. 

PTSB SHC2 Group 2: St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 2-23 Ballinteer St John’s 1-16; Commercials v Naomh Mearnóg OFF; Castleknock 1-17 Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-14.