ROUND-UP: Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 2 & Senior 3 Hurling Championship- Round 3

Image courtesy Niall O'Connell

Kilmacud Crokes picked up their first win in the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship when powering past Ballyboden St Enda’s by 3-23 to 0-14 at Páirc de Búrca on Saturday evening.

The hosts assumed control early on with five unanswered points and a well-worked team goal scored by Aaron O’Toole helped build a healthy 1-14 to 0-8 buffer by half-time.

Further goals arrived after the break through James Dillon and Conor Hughes while the home tally was boosted by six points from top scorer Sean Kinsella.

Both Dillon and O’Toole scored 1-2 apiece while the contributions of Ciaran Donovan (0-4), Alex Hatt (0-3), Sean Purcell (0-2) and Eoin Keys (0-2) left Crokes comfortable winners by the final whistle.

The other match in Group 1 was far tighter as Raheny improved their quarter-final prospects as they edged Ballinteer St John’s by 1-21 to 1-18 in St Anne’s Park.

In Group 2, goals proved pivotal as St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh got the better of near neighbours Castleknock by 3-18 to 0-16 at Somerton Park.

The hosts led by 0-10 to 1-5 at the interval, backed by a strong breeze, with Dennis McSweeney’s goal offering hope to Plunkett’s ahead of the second-half.

Referee PJ Murray allowed the contest to flow throughout as the visitors seized control when Irinel Popa netted towards the end of the third quarter and Cillian Hayes made sure of their win as he added a third goal late on.

Scores proved harder to source in Tymon Park as Faughs did just enough to prevail against Naomh Barróg, winning by 0-14 to 0-13.

James O’Brien proved the scoring hero for the hosts, finishing the game with 0-10 to his name while Liam Mostyn, David Croke and Conor O’Shea all added vital points in their narrow win.

In SHC3, Na Fianna picked up their second win on the bounce as they made a short but worthwhile trip to Páirc Naomh Uinsionn, beating St Vincent’s by 4-24 to 2-16.

Eoin Flaherty was in sparkling form for the visitors, scoring 4-8 in total, while Cillian Heeney, Conor Kelly, Eoin O’Sullivan, Martin Quilty and Aaron Jesson also impressed over the hour.

The other game in Group 1 saw leaders Naomh Fionnbarra lose their perfect record as they fell narrowly to Fingallians by 0-18 to 0-14 at Lawless Park.

In Group 2, Setanta enjoyed their first win of the campaign as goals from Ryan Clarke, John Casey and Dave Curren helped them overcome Cuala by 3-16 to 1-16 in Poppintree.

Clarke accumulated an impressive personal tally of 1-10 and with Seán Ó Riain adding three points, the hosts prevailed thanks to strong defensive showings by Eric Fallon and Devin Hart and an influential display at midfield by Fionntán MacGib.

Erin’s Isle also improved their knockout chances as they accounted for O’Toole’s by 3-18 to 2-13 at Blunden Drive.

The foundation for their victory lay at the back through goalkeeper Adam Langan, Ian Fitzpatrick and Darragh Gorman while at the opposite end of the field, Nathan Fitzgerald plundered 2-3.

Ollie Gaffney added six points for Isles, who built up a winning tally thanks to further scores by Conor Donohoe, Conor Berigan, Graham King, Fran Carroll and Tadhg Gorman.

GO-AHEAD IRELAND SHC2 Group 1: Kilmacud Crokes 3-23 Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-14; Raheny 1-21 Ballinteer St John’s 1-18.

GO-AHEAD IRELAND SHC2 Group 2: Castleknock 0-16 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 3-18; Faughs 0-14 Naomh Barróg 0-13.

GO-AHEAD IRELAND SHC3 Group 1: Fingallians 0-18 Naomh Fionnbarra 0-14; St Vincent’s 2-16 Na Fianna 4-24.

GO-AHEAD IRELAND SHC3 Group 2: O’Toole’s 2-13 Erin’s Isle 3-18; Setanta 3-16 Cuala 1-16.