Round-Up: Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division 3/4- 26th Feb

Tue, 28th February 2023

Commercials were pushed all the way before eventually overcoming a battling Crumlin by 2-18 to 2-12 in their Go Ahead Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 3 opener at Pearse Park on Sunday morning.

The visitors led by 1-10 to 1-7 at the break and managed to keep a tight rein on the Crumlin attack after the break thanks to strong displays in the central positions from full-back Cormac Cullinane and centre-back Callum Morris.

Adam Drewett top scored with 1-10 while Conor Cleary’s goal helped ensure a six-point success for the Rathcoole outfit.

That was also the winning margin in Bray as full-forward Michael Boland scored nine points in helping Bray Emmets defeat Naomh Olaf by 1-15 to 1-9.

Boland’s tally included seven points from placed balls and with Rory Lambe chipping in with 1-2, the hosts pushed for home through further scores by Sean McDonagh, Ronan McMahon and Marc Lennon.

That proved the highest margin of victory on a weekend that saw two draws take place between Kilmacud Crokes and Naomh Mearnóg (1-17 to 0-20) and Ballyboden St Enda’s and Cuala (2-14 to 3-11).

A share of the spoils seemed likely in Rush on Saturday morning but St Maur’s finished strongly to pip Round Towers Clondalkin by 2-15 to 2-13.

The visitors struck early through an Alex O’Neill goal in the 7^th minute and despite a Joe Gleeson goal at the opposite end, Towers enjoyed a 1-8 to 1-4 interval lead thanks to points from Eric Finn and O’Neill.

Adam Doyle and Ben English added to the away tally after the break but with Harry Doyle, Alex Benson and Collie Halpin all to the fore, St Maur’s began to claw their way back into contention through the free-taking of John Sheridan.

A Jack Higgins goal edged them in front by the 53^rd minute and despite O’Neill adding his second goal through a penalty five minutes later, the hosts prevailed with Eoghan Conroy (0-3) and Danny Butterly (0-2) landing critical scores over the hour.

In the Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division 4, St Mark’s started the season in a promising fashion as they comfortably accounted for St Brigid’s by 0-21 to 0-10 at McGee Park.

Full-back Jonathan Bryan enjoyed a solid showing at full-back for the winners, while at the opposite end, Jack Kielty top scored with seven points for a St Mark’s team that added to their tally through Jamie Phillips, David Glynn, Conor Burke, Martin Kavanagh and influential midfielder Eoin Doyle.

Elsewhere, a strong St Vincent’s side edged Lucan Sarsfields by 1-16 to 2-11 while Clanna Gael Fontenoy, Kilmacud Crokes and Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels enjoyed home wins over Kevins, Skerries Harps and St Peregrine’s respectively.

Go Ahead AHL 3: Bray Emmets 1-15 Naomh Olaf 1-9; Crumlin 2-12 Commercials 2-18; Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-14 Cuala 3-11; Kilmacud Crokes 1-17 Naomh Mearnóg 0-20; Fingallians 3-14 Clontarf 2-13; St Maur’s 2-15 Round Towers Clondalkin 2-13.

Go Ahead AHL 4: Lucan Sarsfields 2-11 St Vincent’s 1-16; St Mark’s 0-21 St Brigid’s 0-10; Cuala v Na Fianna OFF; Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 1-12 St Peregrine’s 0-10; Clanna Gael Fontenoy 2-14 Kevins 1-6; Kilmacud Crokes 2-17 Skerries Harps 3-9.