Round up :PTSB Leagues AHL 3 & AHL 4

The promotion berths from Division 3 of the PTSB Dublin Adult Hurling League were confirmed over the weekend with Whitehall Colmcille and Lucan Sarsfields making the step up to AHL2. 

While Whitehall claimed league honours when receiving a walkover from Kilmacud Crokes (1), Lucan knew only a win would suffice against Cuala, given their nearest challengers Bray Emmets were also handed the points by Naomh Fionnbarra. 

That they managed to do so was down to an excellent 4-17 to 0-18 victory in ShanganaghPark on Saturday afternoon with Johnny McCaffrey leading the way with an influential defensive performance. 

Backed by a strong wind, the hosts started on the front foot but a crucial goal by Michael O’Brien helped settle the visitors, as did a tireless display around the middle third by Mark Gormley. 

Lucan controlled issues from that point through scores by Colm Keenan and Páidí Murphy as they achieved Division 2 status for their second team for the first time in their history. 

At the opposite end of the table, Kilmacud Crokes (2) will join Setanta in AHL4 next year following their 2-20 to 1-17 home reverse to Crumlin. 

The visitors trailed by 1-13 to 0-9 at the break despite the scoring returns of Lee Coleman, Sam Caswell, Kevin Elliott and Bobby Doyle with a goal from Adam Doyle early in the second-half adding momentum to the Crumlin challenge. 

They continued to impress through the defensive efforts of Darragh Fitzgerald and Philip Kavanagh and with Coleman and Ryan Smith shining at midfield, they confirmed their win through a second Adam Doyle goal and points via Coleman and Caswell.  

PTSB AHL3: Bray Emmets w/o Naomh Fionnbarra scr; Scoil Uí Chonaill 2-20 Round Towers Clondalkin 2-14; Setanta 2-23 St Vincent’s 1-22; Whitehall Colmcille w/o KilmacudCrokes (1) scr; Cuala 0-18 Lucan Sarsfields 4-17; Kilmacud Crokes (2) 2-17 Crumlin 2-20. 

The winners of the PTSB Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 4 title remains in the balance as O’Toole’s delivered an exceptional team performance when beating previously unbeaten Na Fianna by 0-18 to 1-13 at Mobhi Road. 

The foundation for their victory lay at the back through their dogged full-back line of Adam Craig, Daithí Concarr and Shane Finlay with Aaron Cooling offering them solid protection throughout from centre-back. 

The energy provided at around the middle third by Danny O’Loughlin and Ryan Rooney was another positive factor in the Larriers favour while both Andrew Morris and Aaron Keating made vital contributions from the bench. 

Conn Rock top scored with 0-8, and with Joey Hoey chipping in with three points, the visitors did just enough to prevail courtesy of further scores by Morris, Rooney, Scott Walker, Keating and Jayden Buckley. 

That victory confirms their return to Division 3 and they will secure the league crown should they win their final game of the season against St Jude’s. 

Elsewhere, Castleknock and Clanna Gael Fontenoy enjoyed encouraging campaigns and they finished their respective campaigns on a high with wins over St Jude’s and Kevins. 

PTSB AHL4: Lucan Sarsfields 2-11 Raheny 0-18; Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 2-15 St Peregrine’s 2-15; Clanna Gael Fontenoy 2-17 Kevins 3-10; Skerries Harps w/o Ballyboden St Enda’s scr; Na Fianna 1-13 O’Toole’s 0-18; St Jude’s 0-9 Castleknock 4-16.