Round-Up: PTSB Dublin SHC 2 Round 3

Image Courtesy: Matthew Burke

Commercials moved closer to securing a knockout berth in the PTSB Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship following their high-scoring 4-19 to 3-17 victory against Ballinteer St John’s in Rathcoole on Saturday night.

St John’s impressed initially and were full value for their 1-11 to 0-12 interval lead but the hosts assumed control after the break with David Dungan netting twice to turn the tide in their favour. 

Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing kept the home scoreboard ticking over with 1-13 (0-12f) and with Jack O’Keeffe adding 1-2, Commercials held on with Ferdia Ó Nualláin at wing-forward and Éanna Ó Nualláin at corner-back to the fore. 

Elsewhere in Group 2, Castleknock recovered from an eight-point interval deficit to pip near neighbours St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh by 1-21 to 0-21 at Martin Savage Park. 

Jack O’Shea excelled in a defensive capacity for the hosts with Castleknock restricted to five Cian Boyle frees and a Matthew Lynam point as they trailed by 0-14 to 0-6 at half-time. 

The visitors improved significantly in the second-half with substitute Bill McDowell and wing-forward Reuben Cahill catching the eye and were back on level terms by the 50thminute thanks largely to four points from play by Neil Hogan and a Boyle goal. 

The lead exchanged hands a number of times from that juncture but the visitors preserved their unbeaten run thanks to two points apiece in the closing stages from Boyle and Hogan with goalkeeper Matthew Nolan converting an insurance free in injury time. 

The remaining fixture saw Naomh Mearnóg secure their first win of the campaign as they beat Ballyboden St Enda’s by 6-17 to 0-18 in Páirc Mearnóg. 

Sean Gorey’s penalty save was an early boost for the hosts and with Shane Nangle and Chris Farrelly tagging on points, Mearnóg enjoyed a six-point interval lead courtesy of goals by Bernard Deay and Farrelly. 

The contest remained competitive in the third quarter but Dan Maddock was a resolute presence in the home defence and Mearnóg made certain of victory through further goals by Farrelly and Mark O’Callaghan. 

In Group 1, St Sylvester’s also picked up their first victory as they narrowly overcame fellow strugglers Kilmacud Crokes by 2-24 to 0-27 in Broomfield. 

Both teams lost their opening two fixtures and it was Crokes that controlled large parts of the first-half as they enjoyed a seven-point buffer by the turnaround. 

That margin was increased to ten points in the third quarter but Syls clawed their way back into contention with Cian Whitney scoring 0-10 in total while Alan Kenny added three points from play. 

Goals from PJ O’Toole and Dan Murphy helped complete their comeback with Liam Foley, Ciaran McLoughney, Killian O’Flynn, Sean Murphy, Kevin O’Flynn, Josh Moore and Niall McCarthy all contributing on the scoreboard. 

At the opposite end of the table, both Clontarf and Craobh Chiaráin maintained their perfect starts with home wins against Raheny and Thomas Davis respectively. 

In Clonshaugh, goals in either half by Justin Kelly and Eoin Forbes saw Craobh account for Thomas Davis by 2-19 to 0-19. 

Cian Derwin top scored for the hosts with eight points and with Billy Ryan adding four from play, they did enough to prevail thanks to further scores by Kelly, Matthew Forbes, Jack Murray, Conor Newton, Eoin Forbes and Darren Kelly. 

PTSB SHC2 Group 1: St Sylvester’s 2-24 Kilmacud Crokes 0-27; Craobh Chiaráin 2-19Thomas Davis 0-19; Clontarf 4-18 Raheny 2-12. 

PTSB SHC2 Group 2: St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 0-21 Castleknock 1-21; Naomh Mearnóg 6-17Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-18; Commercials 4-19 Ballinteer St John’s 3-17.