Crokes begin Go-Ahead AHL 1 with victory against BSJ

GO-AHEAD ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

KILMACUD CROKES 0-12

BALLINTEER ST JOHN'S 0-8

Goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons delivered the goods at both ends of the pitch at Silver Park on Sunday morning as Kilmacud Crokes kick-started their Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division One campaign with a hard-fought four point win over Ballinteer St John's.

In addition to registering a brace of points - including a thunderous effort from play - the Stillorgan netminder also turned away a Rob Aherne penalty in the closing minutes. Marc Howard and Fionn Ó Ceallaigh were also amongst the scorers and while Ballinteer produced a spirited display throughout, the Dublin SHC holders came away with the spoils.

Nevertheless, St John's can take considerable encouragement from the performances of Fionan Clabby and Jack Gilligan. Restricting Kilmacud to 12 points on their home patch is no mean feat and augurs well for what will be the longest season for Dublin clubs since 2019.

Despite the absence of Fergal Whitely and Ronan Hayes - on inter-county duty for Dublin the night before against Tipperary in an Allianz National Hurling League clash at Semple Stadium in Thurles - the Crokes management were still able to call upon nine players who featured in last November's county final success over Na Fianna. James Dillon and Howard were included amongst this contingent and they got the wind-assisted hosts up and running with a brace of early points.

Ballinteer deployed James Gilligan in a deep role as the visitors battled against the elements - there were others who funnelled back at various intervals in the game - but Crokes extended their lead through additional scores by Ó Ceallaigh and wing-back Cian Ó Cathasaigh. Nevertheless, St John's persisted with their challenge and eventually got up and running with an 11th-minute point from Brian Smith.

Aherne also knocked over a subsequent free and with Crokes recording a succession of wides, Ballinteer weren't out of the reckoning just yet. Kieran Dowling's side eventually settled into a more familiar rhythm, however, with Gibbons converting a monstrous free to supplement an earlier effort by midfielder Sean Kinsella.

After Caolan Conway and Ó Ceallaigh added to their tally, Gibbons stepped forward as part of general play and dissected the posts from inside his own '65'. While this eased Crokes towards a 0-9 to 0-2 interval buffer, they recognised scores would be harder to come by on the resumption.

From a Ballinteer perspective, it only took them eight minutes to surpass their opening period total - Aherne (two) and Jack Gilligan finding the range in style to bolster their prospects. Crokes did respond with a Cormac Murphy point from out towards the right-flank on the stroke of 40 minutes, but this was to be their final score in normal time.

Although Ballinteer passed up some good opportunities, unanswered frees from Cian Deignan and Clabby left them just three points adrift with six minutes remaining. They had a golden chance to wipe out the Crokes cushion moments later, only for Gibbons to superbly turn behind Aherne's firmly-struck penalty on 58 minutes.

Clabby slotted over the resulting '65' to keep Ballinteer in the hunt, but Kilmacud held their nerve. Having gone through a lengthy scoring drought, they finally added to their tally four minutes into time added on with a Howard point.

There was enough time for substitute Aaron O'Toole to chip in with an insurance score off a sweeping counter attack as Crokes ultimately triumphed in this tense top-flight affair.

They will now seek to build on this winning start to the league when they encounter Ballyboden St Enda's at Pairc Ui Murchu on March 13. On the same morning, Ballinteer St John's will take on Lucan Sarsfields at Marley Park before welcoming 'Boden to the same venue a fortnight later.

Scorers - Kilmacud Crokes: Eddie Gibbons (1f), Marc Howard, Fionn O Ceallaigh 0-2 each, Cian O Cathasaigh, Sean Kinsella, Cormac Murphy, Caolan Conway, James Dillon, Aaron O'Toole 0-1 each. Ballinteer St John's: Rob Aherne 0-3 (2f), Fionan Clabby 0-2 (1f, 1 '65'), Cian Deignan (f), Jack Gilligan, Brian Smith 0-1 each.

KILMACUD CROKES: Eddie Gibbons; Rory Smith, Bill O'Carroll, Darragh Butler; Cian O Cathasaigh, Mark Grogan, Rob O'Loughlin; Sean Kinsella, Cormac Murphy; Shane Veale, Caolan Conway, Marc Howard; Fionn O Ceallaigh, Alex Considine, James Dillon. Subs: Sean Purcell for Considine (half-time), Cian Ryan for R O'Loughlin (39), Aaron O'Toole for O Cathasaigh (45), Luke O'Loughlin for Veale (53), Conor Hughes for Butler (60).

BALLINTEER ST JOHN'S: Joe Maher; Eoin Davis, Donal Gormley, Jack Kelly; Brian Smith, Fionan Clabby, Jack Gilligan; Eoghan Coffey, Iain O hEithir; Rob Aherne, Shane Fenton, Tom Aherne; James Gilligan, Sean Casserly, Barry Mannion. Subs: Cian Deignan for Casserly (15), Jake Graham for O hEithir (30+1), Ruadhan Fanning for T Aherne (37).

Referee: Paul Faughnan (St Patrick's, Palmerstown).