Round-Up: PTSB Dublin Premier IHC Semi-Finals & Relegation Playoffs

Lucan Sarsfields confirmed their place in the final of the PTSB Dublin Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship following their impressive 2-23 to 0-19 victory over Setanta in Poppintree on Saturday afternoon. 

While their seniors suffered semi-final heartache a day later, their second team withstood some concerted home pressure after the break to secure their spot in SHC2 for 2027. 

The visitors played with the elements in the first-half and settled into the encounter thanks to early points from Davy Mulqueen and Evin Dowling while Charlie Mulqueen raised their first green flag. 

Lucan continued to control matters with Paddy Ryan, Paul Claffey and Anto McNulty impressing at the back and they entered the break with a healthy 1-15 to 0-5 advantage. 

Setanta were a different proposition upon the restart and while they clipped over points to reduce their arrears to four points at one stage, the goal required to ignite their comeback proved elusive. 

The visitors regrouped with Hugh Cuffe a dominant presence at midfield and with substitutes Conor Dillon, Gareth Kennedy, Bren Kavanagh and Alex Hickey all making strong contributions when introduced, they pulled away through a late goal from Davy Mulqueen. 

They will be joined in the final by a Fingallians team that finished on the front foot when getting the better of Naomh Olaf by 0-19 to 0-14 in Lawless Park. 

Scores were hard to come by in the first-quarter with a brace of Mick Rock points setting Fins on their way and they added to their tally as the contest evolved through scores from Oisin Johnston and Rock. 

Eoin O’Connor added a brace of his own in the second quarter while further points by Johnston and Conall Shaw saw the sides deadlocked at 0-9 apiece by the interval. 

A trio of O’Connor points upon the restart saw the hosts gradually seize the initiative but Olaf’s refused to buckle despite the concession of scores to Rock, Harry Brogan and Cameron Clarke as they trailed by the bare minimum. 

However, the away challenge petered out in the closing stages as Fingallians moved clear by the final whistle with O’Connor, Shaw, Clarke and Johnston all on target. 

The relegation play-offs were similarly tense with Cuala’s ability to find the net proving pivotal as they edged Scoil Uí Chonaill by 2-15 to 0-17 in Shanganagh Park. 

The visitors delivered an exhibition in point-taking in the first-half and they deservedly entered the break with a six-point buffer. 

A strong start to the second-half that yielded two points apiece from Des Duggan and Joseph McDonough saw Cuala back on track and the latter’s free-taking kept the home scoreboard ticking over. 

The hosts also benefitted from the introduction of both Fionn Ó Muirí and Cillian Small and they preserved their Premier status for next year through a brace of goals from the influential Hugh Egan.   

The other play-off was equally tight as Na Fianna did just enough to account for a weakened Naomh Fionnbarra, prevailing by 0-16 to 0-14 at full-time. 

 PTSB Premier IHC semi-finals: Setanta 0-19 Lucan Sarsfields 2-23; Fingallians 0-19 Naomh Olaf 0-14. 

PTSB Premier IHC relegation play-offs: Naomh Fionnbarra 0-14 Na Fianna 0-16; Cuala 2-15Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-17.