Clontarf and St Jude’s Set for Dublin Minor Hurling A Championship Final After Thrilling Semi-Final

St Jude’s and Clontarf advanced to the decider of the Dublin Minor ‘A’ Hurling Championship following their semi-final victories over St Vincent’s and Kilmacud Crokes respectively on Sunday morning.

In St Anne’s Park, goals proved pivotal as Clontarf defeated Crokes by 3-20 to 0-23 with Tom Higgins top scoring for the hosts with 2-8, 1-7 of which came from placed balls.

The sides were level at 1-7 to 0-10 at half-time but ‘Tarf began to take control of matters through the strong individual performances of Senan Ryan, Conal Murphy, Justing Kelly and Sam Keeley.

Conor Newton popped up with a crucial 1-2 and with Joe Sheppard, Ryan, Odhran McGuckin and Luke O’Boyle all adding two points apiece, the hosts made certain of their victory through further scores by Oscar Finnegan and Luke Hayes.

It proved far tighter in Páirc Naomh Uinsionn as St Jude’s mirrored their footballing counterparts by progressing to the final as they pipped St Vincent’s by 2-13 to 1-15.

The visitors had eight different scorers over the hour with both Callum Graham and Ewan Fahy contributing 1-2 while Charlie Danaher added a vital three points.

In such a tight contest, the defensive solidity of St Jude’s was crucial with goalkeeper John Mooney excelling between the sticks in their one-point win.

In the ‘B’ Championship, holders Fingallians secured another final berth as they overcame St Peregrine’s/Garda Westmanstown Gaels by 4-18 to 1-16 at Lawless Park.

There was very little to separate the teams in the first-half as Aron Gargan kept the home scoreboard ticking over from play and placed balls and he received valuable support from Aidan Swan, Danny Levins and Lachlann Hayward.

A goal from Gargan just before the break edged Fins into a 1-9 to 0-9 interval lead and while the visitors resumed on the front foot to reduce their deficit to the bare minimum, points by Gargan and Harry Brogan preceded Gargan’s second goal.

St Peregrine’s/Garda Westmanstown Gaels replied with a goal of their own to leave just three points between the sides but the hosts finished on the front foot through goals by Swan and Cameron Clarke to ease home by the final whistle.

Gargan finished the game with 2-12 to his name while at the opposite end of the field, the likes of Conor Reilly, Gavin Hickey and Eoin McCarthy were equally influential for Fingallians with Clarke and Hayward impressing around the middle third.

Their reward is a final date against Kevins, who edged Naomh Barróg by 2-13 to 3-8 in Dolphin Park.

The ‘C’ final will be contested by St Jude’s and Scoil Uí Chonaill, who registered away wins against St Vincent’s and Skerries Harps respectively.

MHC ‘A’ semi-finals: St Vincent’s 1-15 St Jude’s 2-13; Clontarf 3-20 Kilmacud Crokes 0-23.

MHC ‘B’ semi-finals: Kevins 2-13 Naomh Barróg 3-8; Fingallians 4-18 St Peregrine’s/Garda Westmanstown Gaels 1-16.

MHC ‘C’ semi-finals: St Vincent’s 2-12 St Jude’s 3-13; Skerries Harps 1-10 Scoil Uí Chonaill 2-19.