ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: MARCH 24

By Daire Walsh

Ballyboden St Enda’s and Cuala moved clear at the summit of the Adult Hurling League Division One table courtesy of their respective victories over Lucan Sarsfields and Na Fianna on Sunday.

With seven county titles between them in this decade alone, the southside duo are expected to challenge on all fronts in 2019. ‘Boden had already recorded impressive wins at the expense of St Vincent’s and Ballinteer St John’s in advance of welcoming Lucan Sarsfields to Pairc Ui Murchu.

Like most clubs over the course of the weekend, a number of first-choice players were marked absent on both sides. Lucan had lost out to Cuala and Na Fianna in the opening two rounds, but there were signs of encouragement in those narrow reversals.

Though they dug deep against a strong breeze in the opening period, James Roche’s unerring dead-ball accuracy ensured ‘Boden were in the ascendancy at the interval. The defending champions were placed under pressure by Lucan in the early stages of the second half – before they eventually developed a familiar rhythm in attack.

A successful penalty on the third-quarter mark opened the floodgates and with Finn McGarry and David O’Connor in fine form around the middle-third, they created a safe distance between themselves and their 12th Lock counterparts.

Additionally, Sean McDonnell and Eoin Small produced impressive defensive displays as Ballyboden ultimately secured a 2-15 to 0-10 triumph. Their superior scoring average currently gives them an edge over Cuala – who recorded a hard-earned victory against Na Fianna at St Mobhi Road.

Emmett Murphy was magnificent throughout for the Dalkey men and got the ball rolling with an early goal at the Glasnevin venue. While Na Fianna responded with a major of their own, Niall Carty bagged a brace of green flag efforts to get the 2017-18 All-Ireland winners back on track.

Nevertheless, a determined Na Fianna always remained within touching distance of the visitors. The second period dismissal of Cormac Spain offered them a timely numerical advantage and the northsiders subsequently established a three-point advantage.

The gauntlet had been thrown down to Cuala, but they fired back in consummate fashion. Murphy – top-scorer on the day with a personal haul of 2-6 – expertly-converted a penalty to propel his side back into the driving seat.

His excellent scoring exploits was supplemented by Carty’s 2-2 contribution, while Colum Sheanon, Cillian Sheanon, Andrew Power and Naoise Waldron also found the range in a 4-12 to 3-13 success for Willie Maher’s outfit.

Andrew Power, Oisin Gough and Colm Cronin also delivered polished performances, ahead of Cuala’s championship opener against St Brigid’s on April 6 at O’Toole Park. Joining Na Fianna on three points in the top-flight standings are Craobh Chiarain and St Brigid’s, who had contrasting fortunes on the weekend.

Chiarain’s were narrowly defeated by St Vincent’s at Clonshaugh on Sunday morning (4-14 to 3-15), whereas St Brigid’s enjoyed a morale-boosting 1-18 to 2-11 win at the expense of Kilmacud Crokes in Silver Park a day earlier.

Both teams had earned bragging rights over St Jude’s in the early weeks of the campaign, although they also came into their re-arranged meeting with one loss under their belts. Powered by Mark Kavanagh’s powerful showing at centre-back, Brigid’s frustrated Anthony Daly’s men.

An outstanding eight-point salvo from Johnny McGuirk provided them with significant momentum and within reach of a second league triumph out of three. Despite parity being in place on the hour mark (0-17 to 2-11), Eoin Dunne struck a magnificent goal to move Brigid’s into a winning position.

Former Sky Blues midfielder Daire Plunkett dissected the posts on the sideline to seal their victory – keeping their early hunt for league honours very much alive. Following shaky starts to the season, St Jude’s and Ballinteer St John’s opened their accounts in clinical style.

St Jude’s had six points to spare against Whitehall Colmcille at the National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown – 0-17 to 1-8.

Ballinteer registered an 11-point win (2-18 to 3-4) away to Crumlin in Pearse Park, although it wasn’t until the final-quarter that they truly pulled clear. Playing into a strong breeze, Crumlin bagged a brace of quick-fire goals to leave John’s chasing the tie in the early stages.

Glenn Whelan and Aodhan Clabby led by example throughout the course of the contest, and they ensured Ballinteer brought a slender cushion (0-11 to 2-4) into the break. After leaking a third goal to Crumlin on the restart, the away side amassed 2-7 without reply to place the outcome beyond doubt.

In addition to Whelan (5) and Clabby (6) claiming a combined total of 11 points, Tom Aherne and Barry Mannion rattled the Crumlin net to give Ballinteer an unassailable advantage. Clabby’s brother Fionan also stood out in defence, giving John’s an ideal lift ahead of their Championship meeting with Jude’s.