O’Mahony fires Faughs to victory and into quarters (SHC ‘A’ Group 3)

Carl O’Mahony was the scoring hero for Faughs as they booked their berth in the Dublin SHC ‘A’ quarter-finals following their 0-19 to 1-14 victory over St Brigid’s in Group 3 in O’Toole Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Tymon North club will face Na Fianna in the knockout stages as they secured second spot in the group, edging out St Jude’s on scoring difference by four points over the three games, after defeating the Russell Park men who had top spot already locked down.

Carl O’Mahony massed 0-10 in total, including eight frees, as Faughs came back from a point in arrears at the break (1-9 to 0-11) to win with scenes of great joy on the realisation that they done it despite Jude’s 3-17 to 3-16 victory at the same time in Parnell Park.

The sides were level in O’Toole Park, 1-11 to 0-14, following Cian O’Sullivan’s eight point for Brigid’s (five frees) in the 12^th minute of the second half.

But points from Carl O’Mahony (free) before the water break were followed by scores from Conor O’Shea and another O’Mahony free to see Faughs 0-17 to 1-11 in front.

An excellent Eoghan Dunne point, after being picked out by a long delivery from keeper Alan Nolan, and Cian O’Sullivan (free) closed the gap to the minimum.

However, Carl O’Mahony converted frees either side of a Daire Plunkett score from play to see his side to victory and into the quarter-finals.

In the opening half points from David Croke (pictured), Chris Bennett (two) and Colm Leahy had Faughs leading 0-4 to 0-1 inside six minutes.

Abrace of Cian O’Sullivan scores (one free) was followed by a Donnacha Ryan goal in the 11^th minute as Brigid’s moved 1-3 to 0-4 clear.

O’Mahony put over a free as the play switched one way and back the other before Kevin Callaghan and O’Sullivan (free) established a clear-goal lead for Johnny McGuirk’s men, 1-5 to 0-5, in advance of the first-half water break.

Crucially Faughs resumed with intent as Chris Bennett, Emmet McKenna, a long-range free, and O’Mahony from play brought the sides level.

Inside the last ten minutes of the opening half Cian O’Sullivan (two, one free) and Eoghan Dunne once again pushed their side three points in front before O’Mahony with two scores (one free) cut the gap.

Before the interval marksmen O’Sullivan and O’Mahony exchanged frees for Brigid’s to hold a 1-9 to 0-11 interval lead.

St Jude's edged out Whitehall Colmcille (3-17 to 3-16) in a pulsating battle in their Dublin SHC 'A' Group 3 clash at Parnell Park.

However, with Faughs surprise winners of St Brigid's simultaneously at O'Toole Park, victory was not enough for Jude's to progress to the quarter-finals.

A John Carty goal for Jude's in the 57th minute saw them to victory despite late Whitehall scores from Lee Gannon (free) and Niall O'Connor.

There was nothing in this high-scoring duel throughout with Jude's making the better opening with points from Diarmuid McLoughlin, Fionn O Riain Broin and Shane O'Brien inside the opening four minutes.

A Cathal Ryan goal followed by a Lee Gannon point got the Whitehall show on the road in an evenly balanced opening half.

A long-range Danny Sutcliffe free found the net for Jude's in the 18th minute and they had moved into a 1-7 to 1-5 lead before Lee Gannon kicked home a goal for the northsiders.

Gannon added three frees to push Whitehall 2-8 to 1-7 up before the Tymon North side concluded the first-half scoring with points from Ciarán Hogan and Tom Devlin.

Two Diarmuid McLoughlin points to a point in reply by Lee Gannon was quickly followed by a converted penalty by Danny Sutcliffe to give his men a 2-15 to 2-11 cushion.

But typical of this contest Colmcille's response was immediate with Eoghan O'Donnell blasting a goal for his side.

Points from Lee Gannon (free) and Daire Gray had the sides level with five minutes of normal time remaining (2-16 to 3-13) before John Carthy's late goal and fine point from Diarmuid McLoughlin gave Jude's victory.