Round Up: Go-Ahead Senior 1 Hurling Championship round 3

Both tables in the Go Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship are beginning to take shape after Round 3 took place across Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

On Friday evening, Na Fianna registered their first win in Group 2 as they comfortably got the better of a wasteful St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh by 4-13 to 0-9 at a rain-sodden Parnell Park.

Plunkett’s enjoyed a generous amount of possession in the opening quarter but failed to avail of the chances that came their way and they were punished for their profligacy as AJ Murphy fired home an excellent goal for Na Fianna in the 8^th minute.

With John Tierney impressive for the Glasnevin outfit, Na Fianna continued to threaten with further goals by Shane Barrett and Kevin Burke moving them 3-7 to 0-5 ahead by the interval.

Ger Ryan struck five points for Plunkett’s with Irinel Popa adding two from play but their fate was sealed in the 50^th minute as Tom Brennan added a fourth goal for Na Fianna to complete a welcome victory.

On Saturday afternoon, Kilmacud Crokes recovered from a two-point interval deficit to eventually pull away from Whitehall Colmcille by 2-25 to 2-16 in their Group 1 encounter at Parnell Park.

A brace of goals from Eoghan O’Donnell at either end of the half helped Whitehall to a 2-8 to 0-12 interval lead but two goals in quick succession by Dara Purcell and Alex Considine in the opening four minutes of the second-half turned the tide in Kilmacud’s favour.

Oisin O’Rorke top scored for the holders with eleven points over the hour, ten of which coming from placed balls, while Brendan Scanlan also showed well with two points from play in either half.

The second fixture in the double-header saw Lucan Sarsfields ensure top spot in the group and a semi-final berth as they edged Cuala by 1-23 to 1-21.

A Jamie Conroy goal in the 18^th minute saw Cuala edge 1-5 to 0-6 ahead but Lucan finished the half on the front foot as a trio of Charlie Keher points helped them build an 0-14 to 1-7 interval lead.

Paul Crummey’s superb goal within thirty seconds of the resumption and three Ben Coffey points from play kept Sarsfields on the front foot with Cuala remaining in the hunt thanks to points from play by Conroy, Diarmuid Ó Floinn and Jake Malone.

Liam Murphy was highly effective from placed balls for Cuala, bringing his personal tally to 0-11 by the final whistle but a late Sean Harkness free ensured Lucan held on for their third successive victory.

Image courtesy Clíona Mellett

Across the city in O’Toole Park, Ballyboden St Enda’s also completed their third straight success as they proved too strong for near neighbours Faughs, prevailing by 5-20 to 1-11.

Boden opened up brightly through a Niall McMorrow goal in the early stages but Faughs fought back well thanks to two points apiece from Liam Mostyn and James O’Brien.

St Enda’s regained control with points by Aidan Mellett, Niall Ryan and Jack Lambert and a Conor Dooley goal three minutes before the break pushed them 2-10 to 0-8 clear.

Pearce Christie added a brace of goals in the opening ten minutes of the second-half and while Colm Foley raised a green flag at the opposite end, Kevin Desmond added salt to the Faughs’ wounds when firing home a minute from time.

SCH1 Group 1: Kilmacud Crokes 2-25 Whitehall Colmcille 2-16; Lucan Sarsfields 1-23 Cuala 1-21.

SHC1 Group 2: Na Fianna 4-13 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 0-9; Ballyboden St Enda’s 5-20 Faughs 1-11.