AHL 1 ROUNDUP: 7TH – 10TH JULY
ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: JULY 7-10
Following their comprehensive victory over Kilmacud Crokes on Saturday evening, Na Fianna have moved to the top of the Adult Hurling League Division One table.
With previous league leaders St Jude’s losing to Crumlin earlier on the same day, there was plenty of incentive for the Glasnevin men ahead of their away trip to Silver Park. They had claimed a narrow triumph (1-19 to 2-15) against Craobh Chiarain just two days earlier, but with recent wins at the expense of Crumlin and Parnell’s under their belt, Crokes were potentially dangerous opponents for Declan Feeney’s side.
However, with Gavin King, Eoghan McHugh and AJ Murphy all offering a considerable attacking threat, Na Fianna brought a 0-15 to 0-6 lead into the interval. Although they couldn’t call upon their inter-county stars Shane Barrett and Donal Burke (Joey Boland, Martin Quilty and Matthew Oliver were also absent), Na Fianna remained in the driving seat against a Crokes outfit that were also without a number of first-choice players.
The lively McHugh secured the opening goal of the game for the visitors, and he would go on to finish with a personal tally of 1-3. David Murtagh also raised a green flag in the closing stages, and in addition to a 0-9 haul by King, strong scoring contributions from AJ Murphy (0-5), Sean Murphy (0-2) and Seamie O’Sullivan (0-2) guided Na Fianna towards a 2-25 to 0-10 success.
This win places Na Fianna ahead of Ballyboden St Enda’s – who defeated Parnell’s on a scoreline of 1-22 to 1-14 at Sancta Maria College – and St Jude’s on score difference, but St Brigid’s are also amongst the chasing pack.
They made the journey to “The Bogies” on Saturday for an early afternoon fixture with Naomh Fionnbarra, and despite coming under significant pressure from the home team during the opening period, a 25th-minute goal from Ciaran Kellett gave them a slender 1-8 to 2-4 lead at the midway point.
Former Dublin underage star Johnny McGuirk Jr was playing a key role for the Russell Park outfit, and he was brought down inside the Fionnbarra square 19 minutes into the second-half. The subsequent penalty was brilliantly dispatched to the net by Paul Winters, and although Fionnbarra persisted with their challenge, Brigid’s ended with six points to spare (2-16 to 3-7).
Elsewhere, O’Toole’s recorded an impressive 2-19 to 1-11 victory against All-Ireland champions Cuala (a game that was brought forward to Friday evening), while St Vincent’s and Craobh Chiarain completed an extended round of top-tier action with a draw (1-12 apiece) at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn on Monday night.
By Daire Walsh