ROUND UP: GO-AHEAD SENIOR 2 & 3 HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1

Image courtesy John Kirwan 

Raheny made a winning start to their Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship campaign as they overcame Ballyboden St Enda’s by 1-19 to 0-10 in Sancta Maria on Saturday evening.

The sides were deadlocked at 0-7 apiece at half-time but a more clinical Raheny team seized control after the break with substitutes Thomas Hurley and Ryan McGuirk delivering influential performances from the bench.

Jack Fagan was another to impress for the visitors, finishing the game with 1-6 to his name, and that tally was matched by free-taker Jack Lyons, who contributed nine points through placed balls and open play.

The hosts enjoyed a fair degree of possession throughout but proved wasteful in front of goal, and with Brian Dunne and Luke Mitchell impressing at the back, Raheny pulled clear helped by two points apiece by Hurley and Conor Henry.

The other game in Group 1 saw Thomas Davis edge Ballinteer St John’s by 0-25 to 1-21 at Kiltipper Road.

In Group 2, a strong start set the tone as St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh cruised past Naomh Mearnóg by 3-26 to 0-15 in Páirc Mearnóg.

With Ben Moore excelling at the back, the visitors raced into a healthy 1-7 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter with their goal coming through Ian Sherry.

Tom Cullen was also extremely prominent for Plunkett’s with his six points from play pushing his side into a 1-15 to 0-6 interval lead.

The hosts reduced their arrears to nine points after the break but points from Cullen, Neil Clerkin, Rónán Ó Broin and Sean Clerkin preceded insurance goals by Ben McSweeney and Sean Clerkin.

A positive night for the visitors was enhanced with substitute Eoghan Byrne making his Senior Championship debut and marking the occasion with a brace of classy scores.

Image Courtesy Niall O'Connell

Matters were far tighter in the remaining Group 2 fixture as Naomh Barróg edged Castleknock by 0-21 to 1-15 in Páirc Barróg.

In the Go-Ahead SHC3, Naomh Fionnbarra did just enough to start off on a positive note, pipping St Sylvester’s by 3-17 to 2-18 in Broomfield.

Despite falling behind by three points early on, the visitors were buoyed by goals from Glen Dodrill and Ger Dodrill with the former contributing 1-6 for the Cabra outfit.

The likes of Jack Gunnery, Jay Roe and Adam Milne worked tirelessly to ensure they remained in contention with five points from play by Chris O’Brien and 1-3 by Eamonn Dillon proving pivotal by the final whistle.

It proved similarly close in the other Group 1 game as Na Fianna impressed in edging Fingallians by 1-23 to 1-19 at St Mobhi Road.

The hosts were well served at the back by sweeper Conor Kelly and centre-back Eoin O’Sullivan while Martin Quilty showcased his talents from centrefield with five points from play.

Aaron Jesson kept the home scoreboard ticking over with eleven points over the hour and with Eoin Flaherty flicking home their solitary goal, Na Fianna prevailed with corner-forward Jack Burke impressing throughout.

In Group 2, Clontarf eased past Cuala by 4-21 to 3-7 while Erin’s Isle and Setanta could not be separated, drawing 4-18 to 2-24 at Farnham Drive.

Go-Ahead SHC2 Group 1: Thomas Davis 0-25 Ballinteer St John’s 1-21; Ballyboden St Enda’s 0-10 Raheny 1-19.

Go-Ahead SHC2 Group 2: Naomh Barróg 0-21 Castleknock 1-15; Naomh Mearnóg 0-15 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 3-26.

Go-Ahead SHC3 Group 1: St Sylvester’s 2-18 Naomh Fionnbarra 3-17; Na Fianna 1-23 Fingallians 1-19.

Go-Ahead SHC3 Group 2: Erin’s Isle 4-18 Setanta 2-24; Clontarf 4-21 Cuala 3-7.