Round Up: Go-Ahead Ireland AHL 3 & 4

Sunday morning saw the beginning of the Go-Ahead Ireland Adult Hurling Leagues with Setanta getting off to an impressive start as they defeated Cuala by 1-14 to 0-7 in their Go-Ahead AHL3 encounter in Poppin tree.

In what was a hugely competitive and tight opening half, a goal from Luke Kelly proved pivotal as the hosts entered the break with a narrow 1-6 to 0-6 lead.

Gradually, Setanta began to exert a dominance around the middle third, as they restricted their opponents to a solitary score, with Eric Fallon at full-back, Devon Hart in the corner and Peter Treanor all excelling in a defensive capacity.

Kelly top scored for the winners with 1-4 and with Ryan Clarke chipping in with 0-4, they pulled away by the end through further scores by Seán Ó Riain (0-3), Fionntán Mac Gib (0-2) and a Cian Fallon point.

Elsewhere, there were some tight conclusions across the county as Naomh Fionnbarra and Naomh Olaf shared the spoils while Na Fianna and Round Towers Clondalkin picked up narrow home wins against O’Toole’s and St Vincent’s respectively.

The only away win of the weekend arrived on the Clontarf Road as Commercials defeated Scoil Uí Chonaill by 1-15 to 0-8.

Go-Ahead AHL 3: Lucan Sarsfields v Bray Emmets OFF; Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-8 Commercials1-15; Setanta 1-14 Cuala 0-7; Na Fianna 0-12 O’Toole’s 0-10; Round Towers Clondalkin 2-7 St Vincent’s1-6; Naomh Fionnbarra 1-17 Naomh Olaf2-14.

In Go-Ahead AHL 4, Skerries Harps made the lengthy but rewarding trip out to Páirc Uí Mhurchú as they edged Ballyboden St Enda’s by 2-11 to 0-12.

The visitors played against the elements in the first-half and found themselves five points in arrears at one stage but a goal from David Graham approaching the break generated plenty of momentum for the second-half.

That momentum was increased as Matthew Dooley raced through on goal right from the restart and while his effort was parried, Graham was on hand to tap home from close range.

Harps began to control affairs with goalkeeper Cian Coleman, Ian Furlong, Dara Cullen and James Kenny all impressing as they opened up a decisive lead by the final whistle thanks to points by substitute Rob Kenny, Dooley and Sean Graham.

On Blakestown Road, St Peregrine’s delivered a dogged defensive display on their way to a comfortable 0-13 to 0-5 win against Faughs.

Backed by the wind in the first-half, the hosts led by six points by the break with Caelum Moriarty leading the way in terms of scores.

Moriarty contributed 0-7 over the hour, 0-4 from open play, while at the opposite end of the field, both Evan Kearney and Eoin Gleeson excelled in restricting the Faughs attack.

Craig Melvin and James Callaghan ensured that St Peregrine’s enjoyed a dominance at midfield and they eased home through a brace of frees from goalkeeper Adam O’Connor and two points by the lively Isaac Quinlan.

Go-Ahead AHL4: St Peregrine’s 0-13 Faughs 0-5; Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels v Kilmacud Crokes OFF; Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-12 Skerries Harps2-11; Clanna Gael Fontenoy v Crumlin OFF; Castleknock 2-9 Kevins 3-7; St Jude’s v St Maur’s OFF.