Strong Finish Helps Erins Isle Past Naomh Barróg

ERIN’S ISLE 5-15

NAOMH BARRÓG 1-18

Image courtesy Cian Bradley

Erin’s Isle secured their second victory in Group 1 of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship as they finished strongly to defeat Naomh Barrog by nine points at Parnell Park on Friday night.

Goals in the first-quarter from Conor Berigan and Jack Clerkin allowed Erin’s Isle to seize the early initiative but ten points from Joe Flanagan pushed Barróg into a 0-14 to 2-5 interval advantage.

That ability to raise green flags was evident upon the resumption and while Daniel Moore netted for Barróg, an Ollie Gaffney brace and Michael Donohoe’s goal proved the difference by the final whistle.

Despite falling behind to an early Mícheál Tierney point, it was Isles that landed the first body blow as Berigan fired clinically to the net after Podge Ryan had worked wonders in repelling his initial shot.

Barróg bounced back well from this concession thanks to two superb long-range frees by Flanagan and he added a point from play to edge his team in front by the 6th minute.

Gaffney levelled matters with a fine score from the right flank before his side plundered a second goal in the 9th minute as late replacement Clerkin improvised a delicate finish over the head of the stranded Ryan.

Flanagan’s excellence ensured that the Kilbarrack outfit stayed in touch as he added two further frees to another cracking point from play but he proved an isolated threat up front initially against a resolute Erin’s Isle defence.

This allowed Isles the platform to add to their tally through points from Tadhg Gorman, Gaffney and Graham King before their opponents rallied to hit the next six points of the night.

Sean Doyle began to exert a strong influence on proceedings as he struck two points in quick succession and with Flanagan adding two further frees, Barróg moved three points ahead by the 25th minute as Tierney clipped over his second point from midfield. 

Michael Donohoe ended a scoreless period of twelve minutes to get Erin’s Isle back on track but Flanagan’s eighth free of the half handed Barróg a three-point buffer by half-time.  

Flanagan and Donohoe traded placed balls in the early stages of the second-half before King made light of the tight angle to reduce the Erin’s Isle deficit to two points.

The Finglas side were picking the ball out of their own net soon after however as Daniel Moore escaped down the left wing and he left Adam Langan helpless with a cracking finish into the top corner.

From this period of relative control, Barróg suddenly found themselves in arrears as Gaffney fired home after Isles had worked a quick free and Donohoe left Ryan helpless once again with an arrowed finish from Gorman’s pass in the 41st minute.

Flanagan converted two placed balls to leave the bare minimum between the sides at the start of the final quarter but Donohoe replied in kind to regain a semblance of control for Isles.

That control was strengthened in the 54th minute as Donohoe released Gaffney through on goal and the Dublin attacker made no mistake as his side eased home through insurance points from Donohoe, Cian O’Hare and Gorman.

Scorers – Erin’s Isle: M Donohoe 1-7 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65); O Gaffney 2-2; C Berigan 1-1; J Clerkin 1-0; G King, T Gorman 0-2 each; C O’Hare 0-1. Naomh Barróg: J Flanagan 0-14 (9f, 2 ’65); D Moore 1-0; M Tierney, S Doyle 0-2 apiece.

Erin’s Isle: A Langan; D Gorman, L Finnegan, D Hanlon; F Carroll, C Donohoe, J Perry; R Fitzpatrick, L Lowndes; C Berigan, G King, T Gorman; O Gaffney, M Donohoe, J Clerkin. Subs: D Lynch for Perry (52), C O’Hare for King (57).

Naomh Barróg: P Ryan; M Flanagan, S Duggan, L Glynn; A O’Donohue, P Doyle, E Hart; S Ryan, M Tierney; S Boyle, C Gallagher, J Flanagan; D Duggan, N Kidd, D Moore. Subs: E Ó Conghaile for Tierney (49), D Heffernan for S Duggan (52), D Flood for D Duggan (57).  

Referee: Mark Ryan (St Patrick’s Palmerstown).