Commercials Dig Deep To Claim Go-Ahead Ireland Intermediate Hurling Title

Picture Courtesy Paul Barrett 

COMMERCIALS 1-19 

NAOMH ÓLAF 2-13 

Commercials claimed the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Intermediate Hurling Championship title when overcoming Naomh Ólaf by three points at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Rathcoole side dominated from the outset as they built up a sizeable lead but they were forced to dig deep in the closing stages as Ólaf’s finished the contest on the front foot.

However, the levelling score proved elusive for the Balally outfit as Commercials held on for a deserved success, having led by double scores (0-12 to 0-6) at half-time.

Commercials settled into the decider far quicker than their opponents, opening the scoring through the influential David Dungan in the 2^nd minute before a Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing free helped double their lead three minutes later.

Dungan clipped over his second score in the 7^th minute before Naomh Ólaf finally opened their own account through a smart Eoin Foley score within a minute.

With Callum Morris mopping up superbly from centre-back, Commercials continued to enjoy the upper hand with a brace of Ó Dúlaing frees edging them three points clear by the end of the first quarter.

The momentum changed briefly as Ólaf’s played their most compelling hurling of the half in the ensuing four minutes with scores from Foley, Eoghan O’Riordan and Cian McDaid leaving the sides deadlocked by the 19^th minute.

However, a point from the raiding Kyle Butler helped Commercials to regain control of matters as they pulled away once again through points by Ó Dúlaing, Dungan, Daniel O’Kelly and Rhys Butler.

A brave intervention from goalkeeper Shane Clohessy stopped Dónal Leavy from netting close to the break with Ó Dúlaing’s fifth free of the half in added time leaving his side six points clear by the interval.

Crucially, Commercials maintained their momentum upon the restart with an Ó Dúlaing free and a cracking score from deep by O’Kelly leaving Ólaf’s on the ropes by the 32^nd minute.

Matters deteriorated even further for Naomh Ólaf as another delivery from distance by O’Kelly caused panic in their rearguard and Seán McCarthy was on hand to sweep to the net from close range.

Further points by Ó Dúlaing and Dungan handed Commercials what appeared an unassailable advantage of thirteen points by the 36^th minute with a struggling Ólaf’s gaining some return at the opposite end through impressive substitute James O’Connor.

Adan Drewett and Ó Dúlaing kept the umpires busy at the church end but with Ólaf’s adopting a more direct approach, it yielded a return in an instant as McDaid fired home in the 41^st minute.

When Conor Hoban did likewise two minutes later, the Commercials lead was whittled down to a more manageable eight points by the end of the third quarter although Ó Dúlaing did manage to convert a ‘65’ soon after to stem the flow briefly.

However, it proved their final score of the contest as they retreated deeper and deeper towards their own goal with Ciarán Foley driving the Naomh Ólaf charge from centre-back.

Points followed through Eoin Foley, Ciarán Foley and O’Connor and further scores by Ciaran Foley and Jack O’Grady left just a goal between the teams entering added time.

Despite some concerted late pressure, they were unable to pierce the Commercials defence for a third time with Clohessy making a late save to secure his team’s success in the dying seconds.

Scorers – Commercials: D Ó Dúlaing 0-10 (8f, 1 ’65); D Dungan 0-4; S McCarthy 1-0; D O’Kelly 0-2; K Butler, R Butler, A Drewett 0-1 apiece. Naomh Ólaf: E Foley 0-4 (2f); C McDaid 1-1; C Foley 0-3 (2f, 1 ‘65’); C Hoban 1-0; J O’Connor 0-2; E O’Riordan, J O’Grady, S Bourke 0-1 apiece.

Commercials: S Clohessy; L O’Sullivan, C McCarthy, J Morris; É Ó Nualláin, C Morris, K Butler; C Cleary, R Butler; M O’Keeffe, A Drewett, D Dungan; D O’Kelly, D Ó Dúlaing, S McCarthy. Subs: T Morris for J Morris (47), G Keogh for McCarthy (51), C Crookes for R Butler (63).

Naomh Ólaf: J Walsh; E Donnelly, P Keane, F Murphy; J Maher, C Foley, F Mac Loughlin; D Hickey, E O’Riordan; D Leavy, O Maguire, C Hoban; S Bourke, C McDaid, E Foley. Subs: M O’Connor for Walsh (30+1), J O’Grady for Maguire (half-time), J O’Connor for Hickey (35), D Nimmo for Maher (52), E Doyle for McDaid (56).

Referee: Rory Hanley (St Brigid’s).