BARROG ARE KNOCKING ON DOOR AGAIN
DUBLIN SHC ‘B’
Daire Walsh
NAOMH BARROG recorded a crucial win over Castleknock at Somerton Park last Wednesday to bolster their Dublin Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship prospects.
Having begun the latest round of fixtures with just one victory to their name, the Kilbarrack men could ill-afford another slip-up in Group Two. Despite opening their campaign with a comprehensive defeat of Cuala, they subsequently suffered back-to-back reversals at the hands of Kilmacud Crokes and Naomh Olaf.
They found themselves level on points with the latter, with an almost identical score difference to boot. On the other hand, Castleknock entered the contest with three victories out of four and were virtually guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds already.
BATTLE
This didn’t temper their appetite for a battle as Luke Whelan, Liam Quinn, Cian Boyle and Niall O’Callaghan all found the target early on. Nonetheless, Cillian Costello’s free-taking got Barrog back into contention while Paul Garbutt also stood out.
Limerick native Seamus O’Carroll, O’Callaghan (two) and Jack Banks fired back for Castleknock, only for Barrog to push into overdrive. Following a storming end to the opening period, the visitors brought a 0-10 to 0-8 cushion into the break.
Castleknock regained control through Sean Ryan and O’Callaghan (another brace) on the restart, but Barrog proceeded to dominate the remainder of the action. In addition to Costello’s 10-point haul, Garbutt, Nathan Kidd and Niall Connolly also enjoyed strong contributions to a deserved 1-20 to 0-16 success.
Whilst Castleknock’s campaign has now come to an end, Barrog will next face Thomas Davis on August 14. Due to a succession of postponements, Davis’ still have three games left to play.
Kilmacud Crokes’ draw with the Kiltipper outfit (1-15 to 3-9) keeps them in top spot, with Castleknock, Cuala (1-19 to 2-9 victors against Olaf’s) and Barrog making up the rest of the top-four. In Group One, Ballyboden St Enda’s moved to pole position after receiving a walkover from St Patrick’s, Palmerstown.
However, they are currently level on points (eight) with Na Fianna – who will face St Pat’s at Glenauline Park on August 28. The Glasnevin side made it four consecutive wins at St Mobhi Road, edging past the challenge of Scoil Ui Chonaill on a scoreline of 1-15 to 0-16.
Aaron Jesson was scorer-in-chief for Na Fianna with eight points, but David Murtagh’s 1-2 salvo also proved decisive. Paul O’Dea and Michael Farrell also made their way onto the scoresheet as the hosts held off the spirited display by the Clontarf Road crew.
Elsewhere, Crumlin registered a 3-15 to 0-17 triumph at the expense of Raheny in St Anne’s Park to comfortably secure a top-four placing.