Round Up: PTSB Premier IHC & IHC R6

Naomh Olaf started on the front foot when getting the better of Setanta by 1-26 to 1-17 in their PTSB Dublin Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 6 encounter at Páirc Uí Bhriain on Saturday evening.

The win was particularly important given Olafs joined the Ballymun outfit in joint second spot in the table with just one round remaining. 

The hosts could not have wished for a better start as Matthew Sharpe netted for the first score of the match and he added three points to his personal tally as the contest evolved. 

Naomh Olaf continued to impress through the scoring returns of Conor Regan (0-3), Sean Bourke (0-2), Jack O’Grady (0-2) and Harrison Byrne (0-2) with Ryan Clarke’s goal arriving too late to spare Setanta their fate. 

At the summit of the table, Fingallians dropped their first points of the campaign but are destined for top spot following their thrilling 4-18 apiece draw against Naomh Fionnbarra in Lawless Park. 

The Cabra outfit controlled large parts of the first-half with Oscar O’Brien to the fore at midfield and while Mick Rock netted for Fins, Fionnbarra struck back through an Eamonn Dillon brace and a Ger Dodrill goal to lead by 4-8 to 1-11 by the interval. 

Two further goals by Rock and added scores by Cillian Johnston, Aron Gargan and Conall Shaw helped the hosts finish strongly as they moved three points clear of the chasing pack. 

Elsewhere, Na Fianna joined Finbarrs in sixth place as they accounted for bottom side Scoil Uí Chonaill by 1-23 to 1-15 while Lucan Sarsfields edged Cuala by 2-18 to 1-19 in a thriller at Shanganagh Park. 

PTSB Premier IHC: Scoil Uí Chonaill 1-15 Na Fianna 1-23; Naomh Olaf 1-26 Setanta 1-17; Naomh Fionnbarra 4-18 Fingallians 4-18; Cuala 1-19 Lucan Sarsfields 2-18.

Round Towers Clondalkin took another progressive step towards securing promotion from the PTSB Intermediate Hurling Championship as they edged Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels by 3-18 to 4-13 at Monastery Road on Saturday afternoon. 

The hosts raced out of the blocks through an early Alex O’Neill goal and they maintained their control through strong showings by Ben English, Eric Finn, Harry Kelly, Liam Redmond and Liam O’Connor.  

However, their grip loosened as the visitors dominated the third quarter to build a healthy lead but with substitutes Shane Byrne and Cillian Downey having a positive impact off the bench, Towers dug deep through a Sam Mulvaney goal and late points from O’Neill and Finn. 

At the opposite end of the table, O’Toole’s moved towards mid-table safety as they got the better of pointless Ballyboden St Enda’s by 2-25 to 1-15 in Ballycullen. 

After two frustrating losses, the Larriers were full value for their win with the impressive Cian Wilson accounting for both of their goals. 

Conn Rock top scored with eleven points as the visitors eased home through further scoring returns from Fionn Rock, Christy Mulligan, Scott Walker, Aaron Cooling and Ryan Rooney while Joe Hoey and Danny O’Loughlin chipped in with three points apiece. 

Elsewhere, both Kilmacud Crokes and St Vincent’s remained within two points of the leaders as they registered away wins at Kevins and Crumlin respectively. 

PTSB IHC: Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-15 O’Toole’s 2-25; Kevins 1-15 Kilmacud Crokes 2-17; Round Towers Clondalkin 3-18 Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 4-13; Crumlin 0-23 St Vincent’s2-19.