AHL DIV. 1 ROUNDUP – 22ND JULY

ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: JULY 22

By Daire Walsh

Ballyboden St Enda’s and Na Fianna continue to lead the way in Division One of the Adult Hurling League, following their respective victories over Craobh Chiarain and St Jude’s on Sunday morning.

With 14 points each from their eight games to date, it is only the superior score difference of ‘Boden that currently separates the two teams at the summit of the table.

Though the southsiders were defeated by Na Fianna at the end of May, they have since regained focus with a series of impressive results. Home wins against St Brigid’s and Crumlin preceded their weekend triumph against Chiarain’s at Clonshaugh – which was achieved with all of 16 points to spare (4-18 to 0-14).

Na Fianna’s unbeaten top-flight run came to an end at the expense of Crumlin on June 16, when they suffered an agonising 1-20 to 3-15 reversal at Pearse Park. A subsequent home success over Chiarain’s (2-18 to 1-12) restored confidence ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tymon North – where they faced a Jude’s outfit that are also challenging strongly for top honours in AHL1.

However, thanks to a second-minute goal from Seamie O’Sullivan, it was the Glasnevin men who hit the ground running. Jude’s responded to this early set-back, with Fionn O Riain Broin once again proving to be a reliable source of scores for the Templeogue outfit.

He finished the opening half with seven points of his name, but it wasn’t enough to halt the flow of the Na Fianna attack at the opposite end. With Dublin senior star Donal Burke in scintillating form, they created considerable daylight between themselves and Jude’s.

Sean Burke, Dara Meleady and Peter Feeney delivered powerful defensive displays for the visitors, which in turn ensured they were 10 point to the good (1-15 to 0-8) at the midway stage in the contest.

While 2013 All-Star Danny Sutcliffe added to the hosts’ tally on the resumption, the Na Fianna forward line continued to caused havoc. Burke finished with an outstanding haul of 13 points and this was complimented by three points apiece from goalkeeper Jonathan Treacy and AJ Murphy.

An O Riain Broin penalty in the 45th-minute penalty offered Jude’s a potential lifeline and this gradually narrowed the gap as the half progressed. It wasn’t enough to rein in the challenge of Na Fianna, though, as they ultimately secured a 1-23 to 1-17 success.

At the same venue, Faughs produced an accomplished performance against Lucan Sarsfields to register their second league win of the season (3-17 to 0-15). Six straight defeats had left them in a precarious position – and they encountered a Lucan side that had the measure of Kilmacud Crokes in their most recent competitive fixture.

Yet, thanks to the goal-scoring exploits of Conor O’Shea, Stephen Fallon and Emmet McKenna, Faughs regained their form in clinical style. Despite lining out at full-back – where he played his part in a disciplined defensive effort – McKenna stepped forward to the drill a penalty to the Lucan net.

Alongside O’Shea and Fallon, Fergal Heavey also made a handsome contribution to the Faughs scoresheet. His four-point tally helped Faughs to keep Lucan at bay, and consequently provide the Wellington Lane crew with some breathing space at the tail end of the division.

Elsewhere, St Vincent’s moved up to third place with a 3-19 to 0-14 triumph over O’Toole’s at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn – their fourth in succession.