Go Ahead Dublin Adult Hurling League Division One Round-Up: March 12-13

DUBLIN ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: MARCH 12-13 

By Daire Walsh 

At the end of a weekend where on-field action was somewhat threadbare, Ballyboden St Enda’s and Lucan Sarsfields found themselves at the summit of the Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division One table. 

At Pairc Ui Murchu on Sunday morning, Ballyboden recorded a 0-22 to 2-15 triumph over Kilmacud Crokes, while Lucan had two points to spare (0-21 to 1-16) over Ballinteer St John’s at Marley Park on the same day.

St Brigid’s and Craobh Chiarain were also in action at Russell Park on Saturday evening, but these were the only three games to take place in the 12-team top-flight over the course of the weekend.

Faughs and Na Fianna were left idle, owing to the fact that they faced each other at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown last week (March 7th).

Having lost out narrowly to Cuala in their opening game of the campaign, Faughs got up and running with a convincing 3-14 to 1-9 win over their Glasnevin counterparts in that contest.

Despite what the final scoreline might suggest, it wasn’t entirely plain sailing for the Templeogue club as they were just one point to the good (0-9 to 1-5) at the midway stage. 

Na Fianna rallied on the resumption and were in the lead themselves deep into the second period.

However, Faughs produced a late blitz - they registered three goals in the space of five minutes - to ultimately claim the two points on offer.

Adverse weather has wreaked havoc with the club fixture calendar in recent weeks and two more AHL1 games were postponed on Saturday. 

Cuala’s home clash with Naomh Barrog at Shanganagh Park will be rescheduled for a later date as will the derby showdown between St Vincent’s and Whitehall Colmcille that was due to be held at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn on Sunday.

This means there are currently four teams in AHL1 with a game in hand, but Ballyboden and Lucan are the two sides they will be hoping to rein in when they resume competitive action.

‘Boden were coming up against reigning Dublin SHC champions Kilmacud on their home patch, the latter having dug deep to defeat Ballinteer in a low-scoring opening round game at Silver Park a fortnight earlier. 

The respective umpires were far busier at the Firhouse Road venue, but Kieran Dowling’s side came up marginally short to their well-drilled southside rivals.

The visitors did their utmost to deny ‘Boden, however, with Fionn Ó Ceallaigh and Ger Veale both raising green flags in clinical style. 

The likes of Cian Ryan and Davey Crowe were also in fine form, but ‘Boden had just enough in reserve on the day.

Former Dublin hurler Paul Ryan - who played a key role for the Sky Blues in their National League and Leinster Championship successes of 2011 and 2013 - was a typically reliable source of scores for the home team. 

The same was true of Niall McMorrow and Niall Ryan, while another county stalwart in the form of Shane Durkin played his captain’s role to good effect.

Like Durkin, Simon Lambert has featured heavily for the club’s footballers in the past, but remains a dependable presence for their small ball outfit. 

He produced an excellent display in defence and helped to ensure that Crokes didn’t swing the pendulum in their favour.

Ballinteer can count themselves somewhat unfortunate not to have any points on the board as they frustrated Kilmacud in their first outing of 2022 before eventually losing out by four points (0-12 to 0-8). 

They delivered another committed performance at home to Lucan at the weekend, but fell just shy in their quest for a first league win of the calendar year.

Continuing the theme of the weekend, Craobh Chiaráin were put to the pin of their collar in advance of claiming the spoils at the expense of St Brigid’s. 

Although Russell Park isn’t an easy place for any team to go, Gary Kelly, Cian Derwin and Billy Ryan helped to ensure the Clonshaugh men emerged as 0-12 to 1-8 winners.