Round Up: Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 2 & Senior 3 Hurling Championships Round 5

Picture Courtesy Des Pearson

Faughs confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship when overcoming Naomh Mearnóg by 3-22 to 0-13 in their Group 2 encounter at Tymon Park on Saturday evening.

The win completed their fourth successive victory in Group 2 and the result was rarely in doubt given the positive influence that the likes of full-back Seán O’Brien and attackers Conor O’Shea, Liam Mostyn and James O’Brien exerted on proceedings.

O’Brien’s tireless display was rewarded with a personal tally of 1-6 (2f), while O’Shea and Mostyn finished the contest with 1-1 to their names.

Carl O’Mahony (0-4) and Niall Fitzgibbon (0-3) ensured that the hosts remained on the front foot with the Faughs scoring completed by Ciaran Brennan, Ciaran Nagle, Jack McVeigh, Jake Moore and Conor Doyle.

That result means that St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh and Naomh Barróg must content themselves with quarter-final spots after Plunkett’s accounted for the Kilbarrack outfit by 3-21 to 0-15 at Martin Savage Park.

The hosts were particularly impressive at the back, forcing their opponents into ill-judged attempts as Barróg failed to take advantage of the strong wind at their backs in the first-half.

That proved pivotal, especially as the hosts managed to plunder two excellent goals before the break through Cillian Hayes and Ben McSweeney to lead by 2-11 to 0-10 at the interval.

The free-taking of Neil Clerkin ensured that Plunkett’s remained in control of matters and a second Hayes goal and a brace of points by newcomer Fionn Brennan ended the evening on a positive note for the hosts.

In Group 1, Kilmacud Crokes claimed top spot and a semi-final place by the narrowest of margins as they defeated Thomas Davis by 1-19 to 1-18 at Páirc de Búrca.

That win saw them overtake the previously unbeaten Tallaght side, whose dismissal of two players in the second-half ultimately led to their defeat.

The remaining contest saw Ballyboden St Enda’s pick up their first win of the campaign as they edged Ballinteer St John’s by 1-22 to 2-17 in Marley Park.

Daniel Glynn scored 1-4 while the free-taking of Shane Kennedy saw the visitors enter the break with a three-point advantage.

Glenn Whelan’s second-half goal brought the hosts to within two points but Boden ensured the victory through late points by Jonathan O’Driscoll and Kevin Byrne.

The quarter-final pairings pits Thomas Davis against Naomh Barróg while St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER will face Raheny.

In SHC3, Na Fianna matched the feat of Faughs by finishing their group campaign undefeated as they edged Naomh Fionnbarra by 0-18 to 0-16 in The Bogies.

The contest never really caught fire with the free-taking of Eoin Flaherty, who scored 0-11, proving the decisive contribution on the night.

Jack Burke was outstanding from corner-forward for the visitors, winning a plethora of frees in the process, with Paddy Skelly, Lian Stacey and Dave Murtagh also impressing for Na Fianna.

In Group 2, Clontarf advanced to the last four by virtue of their impressive 5-20 to 2-14 win over O’Toole’s at Blunden Drive.

They are joined in the knock-out stages by an Erin’s Isle team that finished in second spot following their 7-20 to 1-19 win against Cuala in Shanganagh Park.

The likes of Fran Carroll, Robyn Fitzpatrick, Darragh Gorman and Ian Fitzpatrick set the tone for the visitors while Dublin’s Conor Donohoe helped himself to a hat-trick of goals.

Conor Berigan (2-4) and Nathan Fitzgerald (2-3) piled further pain on the hosts while Mikie Donohoe and Graham King chipped in with five points apiece for Isles.

Go-Ahead Ireland SHC2 Group 1: Ballinteer St John’s 2-17 Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-22; Kilmacud Crokes 1-19 Thomas Davis 1-18.

Go-Ahead Ireland SHC2 Group 2: St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 3-21 Naomh Barróg 0-15; Faughs 3-22 Naomh Mearnóg 0-13.

Go-Ahead Ireland SHC3 Group 1: St Vincent’s scr. St Sylvester’s w/o; Naomh Fionnbarra 0-16 Na Fianna 0-18.

Go-Ahead Ireland SHC3 Group 2: O’Toole’s 2-14 Clontarf 5-20; Cuala 1-19 Erin’s Isle 7-20.