Round-Up: PTSB Leagues AHL 1 & AHL 2

Cuala delivered a dominant second-half performance when overcoming local rivals KilmacudCrokes by 1-27 to 1-14 in their PTSB Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 1 encounter at Páirc de Búrca on Tuesday night. 

Liam Murphy top scored for the visitors with 0-7, with five of those points coming from play while Kevin Kirwan (0-4), Donal O’Shea (0-3) and George O’Toole (0-3) chipped in with scores at regular intervals.  

At the opposite end of the field, both full-back Diarmaid Ó Floinn and wing-back Conor Groarke impressed in their defensive duties with Cuala confirming their win thanks to two points apiece by Jamie Conroy, Aodhán Inglis and Jack Twomey, augmented by Dara Twomey’s goal. 

That win leaves the Dalkey outfit three points behind joint leaders Ballyboden St Enda’s and Lucan Sarsfields, who recorded victories over Castleknock and St Jude’s respectively. 

In Somerton Park, first-half goals by Eoin Behan and Niall McMorrow helped Ballyboden to get the better of Castleknock by 3-18 to 3-14. 

The likes of Niall Ryan, McMorrow and Behan helped the visitors post an impressive 2-14 in the first-half and while their scoring dried up upon the restart, a third goal from Johnno O’Driscoll helped maintain their title push.  

Meanwhile in Tymon Park, Faughs scored four first-half goals as they enhanced their survival prospects with a 4-19 to 1-15 victory against St Vincent’s. 

Former Dublin senior Chris Bennett opened the scoring for the hosts, who seized the early initiative thanks to goals in the first quarter by Oisín Walsh and Brian Murray. 

Further goals by Murray and Bennett later in the half enhanced their control with points by Ciaran Nagle, James O’Brien and Niall Fitzgibbon building a healthy 4-8 to 0-8 interval lead. 

The classy Bennett finished with 1-4 to his name while O’Brien scored five points from placed balls to complete their routine win.   

PTSB AHL1: Lucan Sarsfields 5-17 St Jude’s 0-15; Craobh Chiaráin w/o Na Fianna scr; Naomh Barróg 1-17 St Brigid’s 1-23; Kilmacud Crokes 1-14 Cuala 1-27; Castleknock 3-14Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-18; Faughs 4-19 St Vincent’s 1-15. 

In AHL2, Commercials registered their third win on the bounce as four late points saw them edge Raheny by 3-20 to 3-17 in Rathcoole. 

The hosts welcomed back Dublin attacker Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing to their starting line-up and he impressed from the outset, scoring 1-7 from play over the hour. 

Despite the six goals scored, both goalkeepers excelled with Shane Clohessy resolute between the sticks for Commercials while Ryan Coyne made five point-blank saves for the visitors. 

Callum Morris starred at centre-back for the hosts and with Daire Conlon and Conor Cleary hugely effective, Commercials did enough to prevail through the free-taking of Daniel O’Kelly and a brace of David Dungan goals.

Thomas Davis also secured a valuable win as they got the better of bottom side BallybodenSt Enda’s by 1-20 to 2-10 at Kiltipper Road. 

The hosts trailed by four points entering the final quarter but the influence of both Davy Keogh (0-4) and Sean Reilly (1-3) saw them pull away by the final whistle. 

The likes of Kevin Ward (0-5), Conor Cronin (0-2), impressive wing-back Bryan Keogh (0-2), Luke Dempsey (0-2) and Thomas Moore (0-2) chipped in with key scores for a home side indebted to their midfield pairing of Daire Kerr and Éanna O’Toole.  

The race for promotion remains tight as joint leaders Erin’s Isle and St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh earned crucial away wins at Naomh Mearnóg and Ballinteer St John’s respectively while Clontarf moved into third spot following their narrow 1-20 to 0-20 victory over St Sylvester’s.  

PTSB AHL2: Thomas Davis 1-20 Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-10; Fingallians 3-22 Naomh Olaf3-16; Ballinteer St John’s 1-12 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 1-23; Naomh Mearnóg 2-15 Erin’s Isle 1-22; Commercials 3-20 Raheny 3-17; Clontarf 1-20 St Sylvester’s 0-20.