Ballyboden senior hurlers on double in championship
By Daire Walsh
BALLYBODEN St Enda’s enjoyed a double success last Saturday as the Dublin Senior One and Senior Two Hurling Championships continued to gather pace.
Courtesy of strong contributions from Luke McDwyer, Niall McMorrow, Paul Ryan, Conor Dooley, Aidan Mellett and Conal Keaney, the ‘Boden ‘A’ side were propelled into a commanding 0-11 to 0-1 lead at the midway stage of their duel with Na Fianna at Parnell Park in Group One of the Senior One competition.
Their Glasnevin counterparts were much-improved on the resumption with Dublin senior hurler Donal Burke at the heart of their mini revival.
However, with McDwyer and McMorrow hitting four points apiece to compliment a 0-6 haul from former inter-county stalwart Ryan, ‘Boden prevailed 0-20 to 0-13.
The Firhouse Road outfit are currently joined at the summit of the Group One table by Cuala, who enjoyed a comprehensive victory of their own against St Jude’s at the same venue on Saturday.
Jude’s had come roaring into this contest with a 16th-minute Sean Wynne goal, but even though Joe McManus and Kevin Lahiff were also amongst the scorers, their re-energised opponents from Dalkey ultimately led 1-13 to 1-7 at the break.
McManus did grab a second half goal to bring his final tally to 1-7, but Jude’s ultimately succumbed to a 2-23 to 2-13 reversal.
At virtually the same time that their first-string were taking on Na Fianna across the city, the Ballyboden ‘B’ side took on the same club in Group Two of the Senior Two Championship at Pairc Ui Murchu and came away with a convincing 3-25 to 1-13 victory.
This win puts them in the mix for the knockout rounds, but it is the Templeogue side Faughs who continue to lead the way in this group.
Thanks to goals from Niall Fitzgibbon, David Croke, Jamie Maloney and Fergal Heavey, they made it three wins from three with a commanding 4-21 to 3-12 triumph over Thomas Davis at Tymon Park on Saturday.
Back in the Senior One Championship, Lucan Sarsfields produced a gallant display before losing out to holders Kilmacud Crokes by nine points (1-24 to 0-18) in a Group Two clash at O’Toole Park on Saturday.
Chris O’Leary, Chris Crummey and his brother Paul flew the flag throughout for the 12th Lock men, but it was not enough to deny the impressive Stillorgan side.
In Group One of the Senior Two Championship on the same day, Ballinteer St John’s forged a powerful attempt at a comeback in Marley Park before falling short to Castleknock by a margin of two points (1-17 to 1-15).