Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division One Round-up (March 27th)

GO AHEAD ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP (MARCH 27TH) 

By Daire Walsh 

Ballyboden St Enda’s and Lucan Sarsfields continue to lead the way at the summit of the Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division One table following their respective top-tier victories last weekend.

Having already defeated Naomh Barrog and Dublin SHC winners Kilmacud Crokes in the previous rounds, ‘Boden had the measure of Ballinteer St John’s at Marley Park on Sunday morning. 3-20 to 0-8 was the final score as the Firhouse Road side made it three wins from three in this year’s competition.

Result in Marlay Park
AHL1 @Bodengaa 3:20 @gaabsj 0:08 @DubGAAOfficial pic.twitter.com/kpn5Ery58S

— Ballyboden St Endas (@Bodengaa) March 27, 2022

Next up for them is a home encounter on April 9 against Lucan,who preserved their own 100% record with a 0-17 to 0-14 win at the expense of Craobh Chiaráin in 12th Lock. They had already overcome St Brigid’s and Ballinteer prior to this encounter, and look to be in fine form ahead of that trip to Pairc Ui Murchu.

St Vincent’s are also unbeaten thus far in this year’s Division One, albeit they have a game less played than Ballyboden and Lucan. The Marino men also drew their opening fixture of the calendar year, but got the better of Faughs at Tymon Park on Sunday (2-23 to 0-21) thanks in no small part to inspired attacking displays from Tom Connolly and Cian McBride.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned Kilmacud bounced back from their recent reversal to Ballyboden by securing a 0-23 to 1-18 win over Cuala at Silver Park.

Well done to the AHL1 team who beat Cuala, 0.23 to 1.18, in their third league game of the season. A report from the game can be found here: https://t.co/W2btd7vmZS

Well done to the U12’s who played a short match at half time to add to the entertainment. pic.twitter.com/LmJR5ib8bp

— Kilmacud Crokes GAA (@KCrokesGAAClub) March 28, 2022

A key figure for club and county in recent years, Oisin O’Rorke finished this contest with eight points to his name. Five of these scores came from open play, but he was ably-supported throughout by a host of reliable performers.

Brendan Scanlan’s dead-ball prowess helped Crokes to keep Cuala at arm’s length, while Davy Crowe also produced some fine efforts over the course of the hour. Goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons was also amongst the scores and even though their Dalkey counterparts remained in contention until the bitter end, it was the hosts who came away with the spoils.

At Collins Avenue, St Brigid’s earn their first win of the campaign by the slenderest of margins (0-24 to 3-14) against Whitehall Colmcille. Following narrow losses to Lucan Sarsfields and Craobh Chiarain, Brigid’s finally got some points on the board in gutsy fashion.

Whitehall pushed them all the way in this game, however, and led 2-8 to 0-11 at the midway stage in the proceedings. Johnny McGuirk had knocked over a succession of frees during the opening period for Brigid’s, while Keith Mullally (two), Luke Purtill, Diarmuid Breslin and Andrew Kavanagh were also on target.

Despite the set-back of conceding two goals, Brigid’s came storming out of the blocks on the resumption and outscored their opponents 0-6 to 0-1 in the third-quarter. Barry O’Connell and wing-back Conall Burke contributed two points apiece in the second period and with Purtill and Mullally continuing to excel, the Russell Park outfit were four in front moving into stoppage-time.

A third Whitehall goal was a potential spanner in the works, but Brigid’s held out for their maiden triumph of 2022.

At Pairc Barrog in Kilbarrack, defending league champions Na Fianna picked up their second victory of the season on a final margin of 1-19 to 1-9 against Naomh Barrog. This result leaves them in joint-third position along with Kilmacud and just two points adrift of Ballyboden and Lucan.