By Daire Walsh

Whitehall Colmcille recorded an emphatic 1-20 to 1-8 victory over Erin’s Isle on Wednesday to boost their promotion prospects in Division Two of the Adult Hurling League.

With pace-setters Ballinteer St John’s losing out to a determined Naomh Barrog, the Collins Avenue outfit were presented with an ideal opportunity to showcase their own title credentials. While there is little to separate the top-six teams in the second-tier, Whitehall have displayed impressive form throughout the current campaign.

Following consecutive wins against St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh, Naomh Fionnbarra, Kilmacud Crokes ‘B’ and Scoil Ui Chonaill, they appeared hell-bent on claiming top-flight status for 2019.

They subsequently hit a speed bump at home to Setanta on June 16 – losing out to their northside rivals on a scoreline of 1-17 to 3-18. However, with Cathal Ryan producing a powerful performance, they largely controlled proceedings against Isles in Finglas.

Ryan registered an opening half goal for the dominant visitors – who entered the interval with all of eight points to spare (1-10 to 0-5). After back-to-back successes over Parnell’s and Raheny had halted a three-game losing streak, Isles were also defeated by Ballinteer in their most recent league encounters.

They were left with a mountain to climb after the restart, though they did pick off some nice scores as the action progressed. Yet, thanks to a five-point haul courtesy of former Dublin minor star Lee Gannon (a scoring feat that was matched by Paddy Spellacy) and Ryan’s 1-4 salvo, Whitehall remained in command.

Additionally, Conor Sheedy, Niall O’Donnell and Niall O’Connor all finished the game with two points each, as Whitehall deservedly preserved their 100% away record. They are currently joined on 10 points by Barrog – after they brought Ballinteer’s unbeaten run to an abrupt end in Kilbarrack (2-19 to 0-16).

With Dublin U21 panellist Cillian Costello (a former student of St Fintan’s High School in Sutton) featuring prominently in attack, Barrog held a convincing interval cushion of 1-13 to 0-10. They carried momentum through to the second period and eventually secured the spoils in comprehensive fashion.

They find themselves just behind Plunkett’s and Fionnbarra on score difference, following their respective triumphs over Crokes (3-20 to 3-13) and Scoil Ui Chonaill (4-15 to 1-9) on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Raheny laid down a marker at Chanel – defeating Parnell’s 2-27 to 0-13 to claim their fourth win of the season. Thanks in no small part to the scoring prowess of midfielder Ger Coady (1-6) and wing-forward Eoin Keogh (1-5), the All Saints Drive outfit built on a recent home victory at the expense of the aforementioned Barrog.

Greg Bennett and Richie Judge also finished the contest with a combined tally of 10 points, while Fergal Smyth and Ben McHugh were in flying form for Dave McGrath’s outstanding charges.

Although Naomh Olaf are still searching for their first win in Division Two, a battling display away to Setanta helped them to share the spoils at the end of an engrossing affair (2-17 apiece).