AHL DIV. 1 ROUNDUP – 30TH MAY
ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: MAY 30
By Daire Walsh
Na Fianna moved to the summit of the Adult Hurling League Division One table with an outstanding 3-13 to 2-11 victory over Ballyboden St Enda’s last night.
Heading into this clash at Collinstown, four consecutive wins meant both teams were unbeaten in this year’s top-flight. ‘Boden are seeking to defend the title they secured at the expense of St Brigid’s in 2017, and they began round five in top spot courtesy of their slightly superior scoring average.
While Na Fianna had impressively overcome the challenge of Brigid’s two weeks earlier (1-19 to 1-11), ‘Boden issued a serious statement in their own triumph at the expense of All-Ireland champions Cuala – 3-21 to 0-16.
Yet, despite having to deal with a host of absentees for this top-of-the-table meeting, it was Na Fianna who dominated the opening period. With Fergal Breathnach and Conor Kelly in fine form, they quickly gained a foothold on the proceedings.
AJ Murphy rattled the back of the ‘Boden net in the opening moments, before Tomas Waters added a second goal at the tail end of the half to provide Na Fianna with a 2-8 to 0-4 interval cushion. As expected, ‘Boden produced a significant surge on the resumption.
A powerful scoring burst kept them in the reckoning during the closing-quarter, but their Glasnevin rivals were not to be denied.
Donal Burke split the posts after being introduced from the bench, and a third goal by Sean Ryan – who finished with a personal haul of 1-3 – also helped them to keep the visitors at bay.
They now move two points of clear of both Ballyboden and St Jude’s – who came out on the right side of a titanic battle with O’Toole’s at Blunden Drive (1-20 to 2-16). A narrow opening round reversal to Brigid’s was the sole false step for Jude’s prior to this showdown – though they did encounter a stubborn resistance from an O’Toole’s outfit that are searching for first win in this year’s league.
The Templeogue men recorded an emphatic nine-point triumph (0-20 to 0-11) when the two sides faced each other in the Senior Championship last month, but they found themselves six points in arrears – 0-2 to 1-5 – at the end of yesterday’s first-quarter.
Even though strong contributions from Joe McManus, Mark Maguire and Fionn O Riain Broin allowed them to settle as the half developed, O’Toole’s nevertheless entered the break with a 1-10 to 0-11 lead at their disposal.
Jude’s continued to press for scores on the restart, and received their reward in a form of O Riain Broin’s 33rd-minute goal. Following another purple patch by O’Toole’s, unanswered points courtesy of McManus (two) and O Riain Broin ensured the sides were deadlocked on the stroke of 50 minutes.
A draw appeared to be on the cards, until O Riain Broin brought his personal tally to 1-6 with a stoppage-time point. After O’Toole’s responded at the opposite end, it was left for McManus to decide the outcome with his seventh effort of the contest.
Meawnwhile, Cian O’Sullivan came to the rescue of St Brigid’s at Russell Park – his last-gasp goal earning the Navan Road side a 2-22 to 3-18 success over Faughs. Their southside counterparts looked set for their second win of the campaign when they led by four points approaching the end of normal time.
However, after a quick-fire 0-2 salvo reduced the gap, O’Sullivan unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top of corner of the Faughs net to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for Brigid’s.
They now moved into fourth-place – with a game in hand on those above them in the table.
Elsewhere, Cuala got their league account up and running at Shanganagh Park with a 2-22 to 2-12 success against Crumlin. St Vincent’s dug deep to secure a 0-15 to 0-14 win over Kilmacud Crokes, while Craobh Chiarain had three points to spare (1-19 to 1-16) against hosts Lucan Sarsfields at 12th Lock.