Round-Up: PTSB Leagues AHL 3 & 4

The race for promotion from Division 3 of the PTSB Dublin Adult Hurling League will go right down to the wire as the three main contenders picked up crucial wins on Tuesday evening. 

Bray Emmets have all the momentum behind them and they picked up their fifth successive victory when beating Crumlin by 1-24 to 2-15 in Pearse Park. 

That win leaves them in joint second place alongside a Lucan Sarsfields team that proved too strong for Kilmacud Crokes (2), winning by 4-20 to 0-16 at the 12th Lock. 

Both teams lie a point behind leaders Whitehall Colmcille, who secured their fourth win on the bounce as they got the better of Round Towers Clondalkin by 4-18 to 2-13 at Monastery Road. 

Away from the title race, Kilmacud Crokes (1) scored goals at crucial times as they overcame Cuala by 6-15 to 1-22 in Silver Park. 

Central to their success was their midfield pairing of Chris McCann and the evergreen Dillon Mulligan with recent Lory Meagher Cup winner Eamonn Allen impressing at full-back. 

Goalkeeper Johnny Meagher and half-backs John Mullin and Alan Moynihan were others to shine in a defensive capacity for a Crokes team that were buoyed by two Rory Flannery goals and an influential display up front from Niall Corcoran.  

PTSB AHL3: Lucan Sarsfields 4-20 Kilmacud Crokes (2) 0-16; Scoil Uí Chonaill 3-10 St Vincent’s 2-16; Round Towers Clondalkin 2-13 Whitehall Colmcille 4-18; Crumlin 2-15Bray Emmets 1-24; Naomh Fionnbarra w/o Setanta scr; Kilmacud Crokes (1) 6-15 Cuala 1-22.  

With Na Fianna confirming their return to AHL3 by beating Raheny, O’Toole’s look most likely to join them from Division 4 of the PTSB Dublin Adult Hurling League following their comprehensive 5-27 to 1-13 victory over Skerries Harps at Blunden Drive. 

The work rate of Ryan Rooney set the tone for a dominant Larriers and with Ciaran Brabazon and Cillian Shannon to the fore defensively, they maintained their control through some lively displays in attack from Jayden Buckley, Cian Wilson and Conn Rock. 

Rock proved their scorer-in-chief once again, amassing 2-10 on this occasion while the youthful Buckley (1-4) and Wilson (1-2) provided numerous headaches for the Harps defence. 

Christy Mulligan also found the net for the hosts, who pulled away by the final whistle thanks to three points apiece by Rooney and Scott Walker and further scores from Fionn Rock, Andrew Morris and Danny O’Loughlin. 

Castleknock remain two points behind in third spot as they dominated after the break to edge Clanna Gael Fontenoy by 2-16 to 0-19. 

The free-taking of Karl Morgan helped build a healthy 0-13 to 0-6 lead for the visitors but a goal from substitute Sean Boyle with his first touch of the contest helped turned the tide in Castleknock’s favour. 

The hosts pushed on courtesy of points by Mark Connellan (0-2), Keith Murray (0-2), Michael Ryan (0-6) and Daniel Webb (0-3) with Joshua Young (1-3) completing their comeback with a goal in the dying minutes. 

PTSB AHL4: Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-18 St Jude’s 5-22; O’Toole’s 5-27 Skerries Harps 1-13; Kevins 3-22 Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 0-8; Castleknock 2-16 Clanna Gael Fontenoy 0-19; Raheny 2-15 Na Fianna 1-27; St Peregrine’s 3-19 Lucan Sarsfields 1-16.