Round Up: Go-Ahead Senior 3 Hurling Semi Finals

Raheny confirmed their place in next year’s Go Ahead Dublin Senior 2 Hurling Championship as they overcame Erin’s Isle by 3-16 to 0-21 in their SHC3 semi-final at Farnham Drive on Saturday afternoon.

The ability of the visitors to find the net proved the difference between the well-matched sides with Liam Dunne playing a starring role for Raheny as he finished the contest with a personal and match-winning contribution of 3-12.

The hosts didn’t help themselves throughout in terms of their shooting as a Dunne brace saw Raheny enter the break with a crucial 2-7 to 0-8 interval advantage.

Isles kept in the hunt with Eoin Carney delivering an exceptional performance while Ollie Gaffney and Graham King kept their scoreboard ticking over with six points apiece.

The likes of Darren Hanlon, Gaffney and Darren Kelly (0-2) ensured that Erin’s Isle kept Raheny on their toes with Conor Donohoe (0-3) and Tadhg Gorman (0-2) also adding to the home tally.

However, a third Dunne goal along with points from dual players Sean Grenham, Ben McHugh and Adam McAweeney alongside Mark Murphy saw Raheny hold on with goalkeeper Ryan Coyne and defender Charlie McHugh making vital interventions for the winners.

The other semi-final went right down to the wire as Naomh Mearnóg finished on the front foot in edging Na Fianna by 1-16 to 1-14 at Páirc Mearnóg.

The visitors looked well set for victory as they enjoyed a 1-14 to 1-11 lead well into the final quarter but the hosts dominated the final moments as they struck five scores on the bounce to secure a final berth, and more importantly, a spot in SHC2 for 2024.

The hosts raced out of the blocks with an early Diarmuid Keevey goal helping to open up a five-point lead before Na Fianna fought back thanks to the free-taking of Eoin Flaherty.

A Stacey goal brought the teams level on 1-5 apiece by the 19^th minute and a late point from Joe Kavanagh ensured the deadlock remained at 1-7 apiece by half-time.

The visitors looked the better team in the third quarter as scores by Flaherty, Kavanagh, John Lyons and Ben Gaughran eased them three points clear with nine minutes remaining.

However, the home full-back line of Jack Keogh, Rory O’Loughlin and Tom Cosgrove began to dominate matters while Stan Kinnane became increasingly influential around the middle third.

An inspirational score from Shane Nangle proved the catalyst for the Mearnóg comeback with Shane Kavanagh, who converted six frees in total and Liam Mullins, who chipped in with 0-4, recording key scores for the hosts late on.

Next year’s SHC3 will feature both Fingallians and St Vincent’s, who registered home wins over Commercials and Kilmacud Crokes in the Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals.