Jude’s finish stronger to edge out Vincent’s in SHC ‘A’

St Jude's, inspired by Danny Sutcliffe, came with a scoring surge at the finish to defeat St Vincent's 0-22 to 3-11 in their Go-Ahead Dublin SHC 'A' Group 2 clash at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

A John Hetherton point edged Vincent's ahead with two minutes of normal time to play but the Tymon North men rallied to get the last three scores of this duel to secure victory.

Ger McManus, who was influential in the Jude's defence as was Eoin McLoughlin, got their first of this crucial trio of scores with Danny Sutcliffe (free) and sub Manus Malone, following good work by Sutcliffe, saw Jude's seal the deal.

The sides were level six times in the second half including at the three-quarter marker but in the 55th minute a Darach McBride goal, when he whipped on the sliotar to the net, put Vincent's 3-10 to 0-17 ahead.

But Jude's replied with points from Danny Sutcliffe, who scored 0-11 (0-9f) in total, and Diarmuid McLoughlin to bring the sides level just before John Hetherton's point temporarily nosed Vinnies in front.

St Vincent's led 2-6 to 0-10 at half-time despite a slow opening ten minutes.

Their first goal came in the 11th minute when James Mulcahy applied the finish at the end of some great interplay involving the McBride brothers, Darach and Rian, before Thomas Connolly joined the attack and released the sliotar to Mulcahy.

St Jude's though had been the more economical up to that point and scored the opening four points of the contest to lead 0-4 to 0-0 inside seven minutes.

John Carty got their scoring going in the second minute before Danny Sutcliffe, David O'Callaghan and Fionn O Riain Broin added to their tally.

Thomas Connolly then opened Vincent's scoring with a fine strike from long-range.

Points from Kevin Lahiff and a Danny Sutcliffe free made it 0-6 to 0-1 before Mulcahy's goal rewarded Vincent's.

By the water break Jude's were 0-7 to 1-3 ahead as both sides were guilty of not turning good possession into scores.

Vincent's improved on the restart beginning with a great Eoghan O'Neill point from 65 metres, Danny Sutcliffe replied with a free but Darach McBride and James Mulcahy (free) edged the Marino side ahead for the first time in the 26th minute.

Eoin McLoughlin drove over from halfway for Jude's but then came Vincent's second goal when Mark Sweeney cleverly turned his man to run onto a pass from James Mulcahy and raced through on goal before firing low to the net.

In O'Toole Park Faughs defeated Scoil Uí Chonaill 1-22 to 0-8 in their Go-Ahead Dublin SHC 'A' Group 4 contest with Ciarán Brennan getting their goal late on following great vision by Peter Shaw. Faughs had led 0-12 to 0-5 and were never in any trouble in the second period.

The opening exchanges were very evenly balanced with Scoil leading 0-5 to 0-3 by the 14th minute with Barry Cushen (two frees), Robert Kennedy and Pádraig Kinsella (two points from play) finding their range.

However, as the half progressed Faughs got a stronger foothold in the encounter with Conor O'Shea, Neil Bennett, Carl O'Mahony, James O'Brien (who tallied five points from play overall), Jack McVeigh and David Croke all on target.

Faughs continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the second half with O'Brien, Mostyn, O'Mahony, Fergal Heavey and Shaw getting points before Brennan's well-taken goal put the final gloss on the final scoreline. 

In the other game there Craobh Chiaráin overcame Ballinteer St John's 3-20 to 2-14 in their Go-Ahead Dublin SHC 'A' Group 1 clash.