Round Up: Go Ahead Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 1-4 - 5th July

Naomh Barróg kept up their hopes of avoiding relegation as they defeated fellow strugglers St Jude’s by 1-23 to 0-14 in their Go Ahead Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 1 encounter at Páirc Barróg on Wednesday evening.

The Kilbarrack side led by 0-11 to 0-7 at the break and pulled away in the second-half to complete what was only their second win of the campaign.

The visitors started relatively brightly through a brace of Danny Sutcliffe points but Paddy Doyle gradually curbed Sutcliffe’s influence as the contest evolved.

Cillian Costello was another player to impress for the hosts, scoring four points from midfield, with the attacking returns of Evan O’Brien (1-3), Seadhna Ryan (0-3) and Nathan Kidd (0-3) helping ensure a comfortable win.

It proved a noteworthy evening for Ballyboden St Enda’s, who in addition to winning the Go Ahead AHL1 title, saw their second team promoted to the top flight following their 2-17 to 1-15 victory over Ballinteer St John’s at Páirc Uí Mhurchú in Go Ahead Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 2.

Despite playing against the wind in the first-half, the hosts stayed in touch through three excellent scores from Leon Kennedy.

Keith McCarron kept the Boden scoreboard ticking over from placed balls upon the restart, and it was another of his frees that caused havoc for the all decisive second goal as St Enda’s prevailed thanks to strong efforts off the bench by Sean O’Donnell, Darragh Kenny and Fionn Maguire.

Despite the absence of key personnel in Iain Ó hEithir and Seamus Fenton, St John’s produced an encouraging performance with corner-back Cormac O’Dwyer, wing-back Ben Hyland and midfielder Rob Aherne all impressing.

Hyland struck 1-3, 1-2 from placed balls, and despite four points by Dylan Bannon and three points apiece by Rob Aherne and Tom Aherne, Ballinteer fell just short by the end.

The fight for survival at the opposite end of the table was even more thrilling as Scoil Uí Chonaill retained their Go Ahead Dublin Adult Hurling League Division 2 status when pipping Naomh Fionnbarra by 1-16 to 1-15 in their relegation play-off at The Bogies.

A Stephen Costello goal saw the hosts enter the break with a narrow two-point advantage and they continued to show well through the defensive efforts of both Conor Carberry and Aaron Costello.

However, their shooting let them down, despite five points from substitute Eamonn Dillon, allowing Scoil to stay in contention thanks to strong individual displays from Oisin Benham, Ruairí Coady, Aaron Linnane, Rian Farrell and substitute Róan O’Halloran.

Barry Cushen top scored with 0-9, including the all-important winner in added time, while Alan Cronin’s goal and points by Paudie Conlon, Paudge Kinsella, Coady, Mick McCluskey, Joe Ryan and Colm Griffin proved worth their weight in gold by the final whistle.

Scoil will be joined in Division 2 next year by a Kilmacud Crokes team that claimed the Go Ahead Adult Hurling League 3 title when edging Clontarf by 0-19 to 3-8 at St Anne’s Park.

There was little to separate the teams throughout, with the battle between Niall Corcoran and Paddy Smyth reflecting the tightness of the exchanges as the hosts remained in touch thanks to goals at crucial times.

However, Kilmacud would not be denied with Colin Crehan, Dan Doyle, Chris McCann and Breandán Ó Conaill making vital scoring contributions to ensure a deserved two-point success.

In Go Ahead Adult Hurling League 4, St Vincent’s edged Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels by 3-11 to 1-14 to ensure their return to Division 3 while Skerries Harps retained their status when defeating Cuala by 2-18 to 2-12 in Skerries.

The visitors started on the front foot with Shane Stapleton impressing, as they built up a 1-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to an early Brian Barry goal. However a David Graham goal and points by Simon Connolly, Rob Kenny and Graham saw the hosts move 1-10 to 1-8 clear by half-time.

Harps dominated the third quarter, with points by Kenny, Niall Connolly and Jason Rogan preceding Graham’s second goal of the game and they held on without too much alarm from that juncture, with Eoghan McGinley and Shane Rice registering insurance scores, before another late Barry goal for Cuala. 

Go Ahead AHL1: Naomh Barróg 1-23 St Jude’s 0-14.

Go Ahead AHL2: Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-17 Ballinteer St John’s 1-15; Naomh Fionnbarra 1-15 Scoil Uí Chonaill 1-16.

Go Ahead AHL3: St Maur’s v Fingallians OFF; Clontarf 3-8 Kilmacud Crokes 0-19.

Go Ahead AHL4: St Vincent’s 3-11 Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 1-14; Skerries Harps 2-18 Cuala 2-12.