Go-Ahead AHL3 & 4 Round-Up

Go-Ahead AHL3&4 Round-Up

Ballyboden St Enda’s finally put paid to the unbeaten run of Bray Emmets as they prevailed by 3-15 to 2-15 in their thrilling Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin AHL3 clash in Bray on Saturday evening.

The visitors led by 2-6 to 1-6 at the break but a string of five unanswered points from Bray looked to have turned the tide in their favour.

However, Boden dug deep and confirmed their win through an excellent save from Andy Hand deep into added time.

Conor Kennedy raised two green flags for the visitors, who built up a winning total through further scoring contributions from Garret Crowley (0-8), Owen Wigglesworth (1-0), the excellent Oisin Byrne (0-2) and Jason Devery (0-3).

For Bray Emmets, both Michael Boland and Cathal Ó Dúlacháin found the net but those scores and five points from Padraig Doyle proved insufficient by the final whistle.

That loss means that Naomh Mearnóg now top the table following their impressive 1-14 to 0-8 home win over Clontarf.

Liam Mullins kept the home scoreboard ticking over from frees and open play while Tommy Kinnane was equally influential from centre-back as the hosts pulled away thanks to four points from play by Bernard Deay.

Hot on their heels are a Fingallians side that pounced for goals at crucial times when defeating Commercials by 2-15 to 0-16 in Rathcoole.

Gordon Rodgers top scored for the Swords outfit with 1-4 with Sean Walzer (0-3) and Sean Hickey (0-2) landing vital scores as Fins moved up to second spot in the division.

Elsewhere, Round Towers Clondalkin picked up their first league win of the year when overcoming Crumlin by 0-21 to 1-13 while Kilmacud Crokes pipped Naomh Olaf at Páirc Uí Bhriain.

In AHL4, St Vincent’s registered their third successive victory as they overcame Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels by 2-14 to 1-9 at Páirc Naomh Uinsionn.

The foundation for their win was provided by their influential half-back line of Davy Garland, Cillian O’Neill and Ian McLoughlin while Gavin Dunne and Johnny Walsh kept them on the front foot around the middle third.

Rory O’Neill top scored with 1-7, six of those points coming from placed balls, while Alan Moore (1-2) and Seán Ó Cuanacháin (0-3) ensured Vins a share of the lead at the summit of the table.

They are joined there by both Lucan Sarsfields and Na Fianna, who enjoyed contrasting home wins over Cuala and Kilmacud Crokes respectively.

At the opposite end of the table, Skerries Harps picked up their first win of the league as they edged St Mark’s by 2-17 to 2-14 in Skerries.

Despite Matthew Dooley finding the net, Harps trailed by 2=8 to 1-7 at the break but they turned things around after the break through the free-taking of David Graham, a second Dooley goal and late points by Ronan Geoghegan and Simon Connolly.

AHL3: Naomh Olaf 0-14 Kilmacud Crokes 1-13; Bray Emmets 2-15 Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-15; Naomh Mearnóg 1-14 Clontarf 0-8; Cuala 2-17 St Maur’s 2-17; Commercials 0-16 Fingallians 2-15; Round Towers Clondalkin 0-21 Crumlin 1-13.

AHL4: St Vincent’s 2-14 Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 1-9; Lucan Sarsfields 8-25 Cuala 1-13; St Peregrine’s 3-15 Kevins 2-22; Na Fianna 1-13 Kilmacud Crokes 0-14; St Brigid’s 0-11 Clanna Gael Fontenoy 3-17; Skerries Harps 2-17 St Mark’s 2-14.