Round-up: Cuala get defence of title off to winning start (SHC 'A' Rd 1)

Round-up: Cuala get defence of title off to winning start (SHC ‘A’ Rd 1)

Sun, 19th July 2020

Cuala got their defence of the Dublin SHC ‘A’ title off to a winning start when defeating Thomas Davis by ten points, 1-22 to 0-15, in their Group 4 clash at Bray Emmets on Saturday night.

Dublin footballer Con O’Callaghan, making his competitive return to action following an injury suffered during Sigerson Cup duties with UCD in the spring, hit 1-2 in the opening period to help his side to a 1-8 interval advantage with Kevin Ward converting five frees for Davis.

As the game wore on Cuala began to show their supremacy with seven frees from Liam Murphy guiding them to victory.

Na Fianna defeated Setanta 5-32 to 1-16 in their SHC ‘A’ Group 4 encounter at St Mobhi Road.

In Group 1 St Vincent’s were too strong for St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh with first half goals from Johnny Walsh and Cian McBride helping their side to a 2-9 to 0-9 interval lead on the way to prevailing 2-21 to 1-16.

Cian’s younger brother Rian hit five points from play overall with John Hetherton scoring 0-10, five frees and one ‘65’.

Cian Boland was Plunkett’s top marksman with 0-10, including eight frees with Stuart Mullen hitting their second half goal and Cillian Hayes grabbing three points from play.

At 12^th Lock Lucan Sarsfields held off Ballinteer St John’s 2-18 to 1-14 with Matthew Dunne, in the opening half, and Dublin star Chris Crummey, an excellent effort, getting their goals.

St Brigid’s, runners-up to Cuala last year, had it mostly their own way when seeing off Whitehall Colmcille with plenty to spare, 1-17 to 0-6, in Russell Park in their SHC ‘A’ Group 3 encounter.

The home side sprinted from the blocks and were 0-7 to 0-0 clear inside the opening quarter and by the interval they held a 0-11 to 0-4 lead.

Five minutes into the second half Eoghan Dunne grabbed the only goal of the game.

Elsewhere, neighbours Faughs & St Jude's played out a draw on Saturday afternoon at O'Toole Park, while Kilmacud Crokes were victors over Ballyboden St Enda's at Parnell Park on Sunday.