Round-Up: PTSB Leagues AHL 1 & 2

Ballyboden St Enda’s were crowned Division 1 champions in the PTSB Dublin Adult Hurling League following their 0-23 to 0-13 victory over St Vincent’s at a sunny Páirc Uí Mhurchú on Saturday afternoon. 

With their nearest challengers Lucan Sarsfields winning comfortably on Friday night, Boden knew that only a win would clinch the title on the head-to-head rule and they duly delivered with an impressive team performance. 

There was little to separate the teams in a cagey first-half that saw the hosts eke out a narrow 0-9 to 0-8 advantage but they resumed on the front foot with outstanding displays in attack by Davy Gleeson and Luke McDwyer helping enhance their position. 

Goalkeeper Conor O’Donoghue made two vital interventions to keep his side in the ascendancy and as Boden finished strongly, they made sure of the win with substitute Cian Cosgrove, son of former Dublin footballer Ray Cosgrove, landing two insurance scores. 

Much of the weekend action was focussed on the opposite end of the table as St Brigid’s ensured their safety with a convincing 2-26 to 2-16 win over St Jude’s at Tymon Park. 

Much of the damage was down in the opening half with goals from Dan Hawkshaw and Shane Maher building a 2-17 to 0-5 interval lead for the visitors. 

Paul Winters kept the away scoreboard ticking over throughout from both frees and open play and with Brian Moran a constant threat at full-forward, St Brigid’s eased home thanks to strong showings at the back by full-back Eoin Leen and centre-back Andy Dunphy. 

Faughs were another team that preserved their top-flight status in Tymon Park as they overcame Craobh Chiaráin by 3-18 to 2-13. 

Chris Bennett made another valuable contribution for the hosts, scoring 1-4 from play, and with Niall Fitzgibbon and Ciaran Brennan also raising green flags, Faughs made sure of their win thanks to further scores from Cormac O’Dowd, Ciaran Nagle, Conor Kenny and Sean McDonald.    

PTSB AHL1: Lucan Sarsfields 3-31 Castleknock 1-13; Kilmacud Crokes 3-27 Naomh Barróg0-12; Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-23 St Vincent’s 0-13; Cuala 3-22 Na Fianna 0-21; Faughs 3-18Craobh Chiaráin 2-13; St Jude’s 2-16 St Brigid’s 2-26. 

In AHL2, both St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh and Erin’s Isle were promoted following contrasting manner of victories over the weekend. 

While Plunkett’s received a walkover from Naomh Olaf, Isles were pushed all the way before sealing the title with an impressive 4-23 to 4-16 victory over promotion hopefuls Clontarf at Farnham Drive.

Paddy Smyth excelled in the uncustomary position of full-forward for the visitors as they enjoyed a 2-8 to 0-11 interval lead but with Conor Donohoe and Ollie Gaffney to the fore, the hosts controlled the final quarter to ease home by the final whistle. 

Elsewhere, Naomh Mearnóg finished their campaign on a high with their third win in succession leaving them in joint third spot in the table. 

They achieved that by beating Commercials by 1-22 to 0-16 in Páirc Mearnóg with Mark O’Callagan’s first-half goal going a long way to deciding the outcome. 

Both Rory O’Loughlin and Jack Keogh starred in the home defence as they built up a winning tally through some impressive long-range points from Shane Kavanagh and Joey Kinnane.

PTSB AHL2: St Sylvester’s w/o Ballyboden St Enda’s scr; Erin’s Isle 4-23 Clontarf 4-16; Thomas Davis 3-29 Fingallians 4-23; Naomh Olaf scr St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER w/o; Naomh Mearnóg 1-22 Commercials 0-16; Raheny 4-15 Ballinteer St John’s 0-13.