Leinster Intermediate & Junior Hurling Championship Roundup

It proved a disappointing afternoon for Dublin’s representatives in the provincial hurling championships on Saturday as both Commercials and Crumlin bowed out at the last eight stage.

In McCauley Park Enniscorthy, Commercials battled gamely but lost out to a talented Rathnure St Anne’s side by 3-18 to 1-17 in their AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final.

A Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing free handed Commercials an early lead before the Wexford champions hit back through points from AJ Redmond and Mick Redmond.

Ó Dúlaing kept the Commercials scoreboard ticking over but they trailed by four points by the 20^th minute as AJ Redmond, Rory Higgins and Mick Redmond all added to the Rathnure tally.

The sides were level five minutes later as Ó Dúlaing burst through down the right and delivered a superb finish off his left to beat Kyle Martin from ten yards.

However, a goal at the opposite end from Shane Lawler five minutes later helped regain the lead for St Anne’s and while Adam Drewett and Ó Dúlaing replied with points for Commercials, they entered the break facing a 1-11 to 1-9 deficit.

The hosts resumed on the front foot thanks to points by Eamonn Wickham and Mick Redmond with the Rathcoole outfit replying in kind thanks to Ó Dúlaing and Drewett.

Fortune favoured Rathnure in the 41^st minute as a mishit free by Jack Redmond rebounded off the upright, allowing Sean O’Connor to pounce and push his side five points clear.

While Drewett clipped over his third point soon after, Commercials’ fate was sealed in the 48^th minute as Jack Redmond hammered home Rathnure’s third goal with the sending off of AJ Redmond arriving too late to influence the final outcome.

Meanwhile in Parnell Park, Crumlin faced a difficult assignment against Kilkenny champions St Lachtain’s in their Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final, losing by 5-20 to 1-7.

The writing was on the wall by half-time as the visitors raced into a 2-13 to 1-1 lead with Sam Caswell’s goal towards the end of the first quarter an isolated moment of encouragement for the Dublin champions.

Crumlin offered a greater threat up front after the break through frees from Kevin Elliott and points from play by Adam McGreal and substitute Ryan Smith but their contributions and the battling efforts of David Kellett, Adam Doyle and Darragh Fitzgerald proved in vain by the final whistle.