Round up: Go-Ahead Senior 2 and 3 Hurling Championship Round 1

St Jude’s got their Go Ahead Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship Group 2 campaign off on a winning note as they edged Thomas Davis by 1-17 to 0-17 at Tymon Park on Sunday morning.

The free-taking of Luke Dempsey had the visitors 0-10 to 0-8 to the good at half-time but St Jude’s saw themselves back on track with Joe McManus accruing a match-winning 1-6, including the all-important goal in the 46th minute.

Ciaran Hogan added four points for the hosts, and with Jack Crennan and Conor Nolan chipping in with two points apiece, the Templeogue side held on with David O’Callaghan, John Carty and Fearghal Kilbane adding a point apiece.

In Go Ahead Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship Group 1, Craobh Chiaráin also overcame an interval deficit in accounting for Castleknock by 2-17 to 1-15 in Clonshaugh.

The hosts trailed by eight points at one stage during the first-half but finished on the front foot and overtook their opponents after the break thanks to a goal from Francis Usanga and three points by Billy Ryan.

A Paul Kelly goal five minutes from time completed the victory for Craobh with the other contest in Group 1 finishing all square as Ballinteer St John’s drew with Clontarf by 2-18 to 3-15 at Marley Park.

In the Go Ahead Dublin Senior 3 Hurling Championship Group 1, Naomh Olaf picked up an impressive victory when defeating St Sylvester’s by 3-10 to 1-8 at Páirc Uí Bhriain on Saturday afternoon.

Ciaran Foley top scored for the hosts with 1-5 while Donal Leavy was another player to feature prominently on the scoreboard as he chipped in with 2-1.

Olaf’s kept a tight rein on the away attack with centre-back Niall Burke and corner-back Sean O’Rourke catching the eye while James O’Connor and redeployed corner-back Rory Gallagher exerted a strong influence at centrefield.

In Poppintree, Ryan Clarke struck 1-14 in helping Setanta to defeat Cuala by 2-21 to 2-17 on Sunday morning.

Clarke’s total included 1-6 from play and with Seán Ó Riain adding 1-3 and Fionntán Magibb chipping in with 0-2 from play, the hosts held on for victory with Fiachra Kelly, Sean Mulholland and Gareth Foxton impressing at the back.

Elsewhere, Naomh Mearnóg delivered an exceptional team performance in defeating Raheny by 1-15 to 0-10 in their Go Ahead Dublin Senior 3 Hurling Championship Group 2 encounter at St Anne’s Park.

The tightness of their full-back line of Tom Cosgrove, Jack Keogh and Rory O’Loughlin was a key aspect of their success with youthful wing-back Evan Doyle also to the fore with a promising and mature display.

Stan Kinnane set the tone with his fierce work rate at midfield and with Shane Kavanagh and Bernard Deay scoring freely with 0-7 and 1-3 respectively, the Portmarnock side pushed ahead through further points by Chris Farrelly, Joey Kinnane, Seán Hawkshaw, Diarmuid Keevey and Stan Kinnane.

It proved tighter on the Clontarf Road in the remaining Group 2 fixture as Scoil Uí Chonaill dominated the second-half when pipping O’Toole’s by 1-16 to 0-17.

The hosts trailed by 0-12 to 0-6 at half-time but tightened up immeasurably upon the restart with Conor Coady and Paudie Conlon excelling at the back.

Alan Cronin and Brendan O’Connell (0-2) were others to ensure Scoil stayed on track while twelve points from Barry Cushen and a well-taken goal from James Conway ensured there was no way back for the Larriers.

Go Ahead SHC2 Group 1: Craobh Chiaráin 2-17 Castleknock 1-15; Ballinteer St John’s 2-18 Clontarf 3-15.

Go Ahead SHC2 Group 2: Kilmacud Crokes 2-21 Naomh Fionnbarra 1-15; St Jude’s 1-17 Thomas Davis 0-17.

Go Ahead SHC3 Group 1: Setanta 2-21 Cuala 2-17; Naomh Olaf 3-10 St Sylvester’s 1-8.

Go Ahead SHC3 Group 2: Scoil Uí Chonaill 1-16 O’Toole’s 0-17; Raheny 0-10 Naomh Mearnóg 1-15.