?ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: JULY 24

ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: JULY 24 

By Daire Walsh

Naomh Barrog moved to the summit of the Adult Hurling League Division Two table with a 0-20 to 1-14 victory over St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh at Martin Savage Park last night.

Heading into round nine of the second-tier competition, Barrog joined Faughs and Plunkett’s at the top on 12 points. However, a 1-20 to 1-16 reversal against St Sylvester’s saw Faughs losing ground in their bid for an automatic return to the top-flight.

While both sets of players were largely unaware of what was happening in Broomfield, there was an opportunity for either Barrog or Plunkett’s to establish a foothold in the title race. As expected, there was little to separate either team throughout the contest.

Nevertheless, it was the visitors who ultimately triumphed on the night. The Kilbarrack men have been unbeaten since March 24 - a home defeat to Erin’s Isle - and are gathering serious momentum with the end of the campaign coming into sharp focus.

Donnacha Butler and Niall Ring have led by example in the key defensive positions, while Josh Rooney has offered an assured presence between the sticks. Further up the field, Eoghan Costello, Sean Cleary, Cillian Costello and Nathan Kidd are in fine form - but they can anticipate a stern examination against Sylvester’s on August 10.

Following a run of three straight losses, the Malahide men finally returned to winning ways at the expense of Faughs. The latter have now suffered defeats in three of their last four league games and will next face O’Toole’s at Tymon North in the penultimate round of fixtures.

Like their southside counterparts, O’Toole’s previously plied their trade in the top division. For a second game in succession, the Blunden Drive outfit settled for a share of the spoils - this time away to Scoil Ui Chonaill on the Clontarf Road (1-17 to 2-14).

They have a game in hand on their main title rivals and as a result, may yet find themselves back in the hunt for promotion.

Meanwhile, Erin’s Isle boosted their own prospects by recording a 1-21 to 2-13 success over Thomas Davis at Finglas. They currently lie in fifth-place, just three points adrift of the high-flying Naomh Barrog.

At ‘The Bogies’, Naomh Fionnbarra eased their relegation fears with a commanding 6-28 to 1-13 win against fellow strugglers Naomh Olaf. The return of Dublin attacker Eamonn Dillon has provided Finbarr’s with a much-needed boost and his bagged a superb hat-trick of goals for the rampant hosts.

Glenn Dodrill, Chris O’Brien and Ryan Curley also found the net over the course of the hour as the Cabra side bounced back from their defeat at the hands of Barrog just three days earlier.

Despite being two points in arrears during the interval at Ballymun, Raheny dug deep to register a 0-19 to 1-13 triumph over Setanta - who remain at the foot of the table with just two games left to play in the current season.