Round-Up: Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 3 & IHC Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Pic Courtesy Paddy King 

Fingallians and Clontarf progressed to the final of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 3 Hurling Championship after overcoming Na Fianna and Erin’s Isle respectively on Saturday afternoon.

Both games went right down to the wire with Fingallians finishing strongly to edge Na Fianna by 0-17 to 0-14 at St Mobhi Road.

The visitors dominated the early exchanges with points from Oisín Johnson, Sean Hickey, Eoin O’Connor, Michael Rock, Cianan Markey and Conal Shaw helping build a seven-point lead by the 20^th minute.

Na Fianna responded impressively by scoring seven of the next eight scores as they entered the break facing a more manageable 0-10 to 0-8 deficit.

The hosts maintained that momentum as they gradually overtook their opponents, scoring the first five points of the second-half to lead by 0-13 to 0-10 with ten minutes remaining.

However, with substitute Árón Gargan, Ian Kennedy, Shane Howard and goalkeeper Shane Nolan all impressing, Fins regained control of matters through points from Killian Johnson and Oisín Johnson with the latter’s free-taking seeing them over the line.

The win secured their place in SHC2 next year for the first time in the club’s history and also progressed them to their fifth county title in six years.

Matters were even tighter in St Anne’s Park as Clontarf required penalties before seeing off Erin’s Isle after the sides had finished deadlocked at 3-13 to 1-19.

There was rarely much to separate the teams with the hosts staying in contention through goals by Kevin Lillis, Conor Newton and Tommy O’Brien and the free-taking abilities of Mikey Devine.

Goalkeeper Robin McGill and Kevin Byrne impressed throughout for Clontarf with substitutes Jack Higgins and Paddy McKeon also making strong contributions off the bench.

Ollie Gaffney (1-7), Darragh Gorman, Eoin Carney and Robyn Fitzpatrick were the pick of the Isles contingent but their efforts and five Conor Donohoe points ultimately proved in vain by the end of the shootout.

Erin’s Isle and Na Fianna will be joined in SHC3 next year by Naomh Olaf and Commercials, who enjoyed comfortable home semi-final victories in the Intermediate Hurling Championship.

At Páirc Uí Bhriain, three goals in the first eight minutes provided the platform as Naomh Olaf defeated Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels by 4-11 to 1-10.

Eoin Foley plundered two of those goals and an Oscar Maguire goal and points from Ciaran Foley, Eoghan O’Riordan, Jack Maher and Eoin Foley helped build a 3-6 to 1-4 lead by half-time.

The visitors clawed their way back into contention in the third quarter but a Donal Leavy goal in the 53^rd minute effectively settled their fate with Eoin Foley adding two further points by the final whistle.

In Rathcoole, Commercials proved too strong for Scoil Ui Chonaill, winning by 1-24 to 0-16.

Adam Drewett delivered an inspirational performance for the hosts at midfield, scoring a massive 1-8 from play with Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing keeping the Commercials scoreboard ticking over with ten points.

Luca O’Sullivan also impressed with two points from wing-back while Kyle Butler also caught the eye with three points over the hour from wing-forward.

Go-Ahead Ireland SHC3 semi-finals: Clontarf 3-13 Erin’s Isle 1-19 AET. Clontarf won 3-1 on penalties; Na Fianna 0-14 Fingallians 0-17.

Go-Ahead IrelandIHC semi-finals: Naomh Olaf 4-11 Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels 1-10; Commercials 1-24 Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-16.