Jude’s remain unbeaten as they squeeze past Fingallians
DUBLIN JHC ‘A’ ROUND-UP
Daire Walsh
ST BRIGID’S and St Jude’s maintained their unbeaten runs through the Dublin Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship group stages with respective victories over Faughs and Fingallians last Tuesday.
With four wins under their belt in Group One, Brigid’s were expected to preserve their 100 per cent record when they faced Faughs at Tymon North. Despite both teams being assured of a knockout spot, there was an opportunity for the latter to leapfrog Realt Dearg into second place.
They remained in contention for much of the opening period, but it was Brigid’s who ultimately brought a 1-7 to 1-4 cushion into the break. Sean Brady, Brian Moran and Theo Cullinane stood out in defence as Karl Rogers and Jamie Winters amassed a combined tally of 0-15. Sean Keegan also chipped in with a point, while a brace from substitute Tiernan Gilvarry helped the Russell Park men to ease towards a commanding 1-19 to 1-8 triumph.
At Drimnagh Castle, Clanna Gael Fontenoy recorded a 2-19 to 2-15 success over the already qualified Realt Dearg. Elsewhere, Ballinteer St John’s came from behind to edge out Lucan Sarsfields on a scoreline of 3-14 to 2-14.
In Group Two, Jude’s hosted Fingallians to determine who would finish at the summit of the table. There was little to separate the sides on paper and it was nip and tuck throughout the course of the hour.
Colm O’Callaghan was in fine scoring form for the Templeogue outfit, for whom Stephen Dowling bagged a first-half goal. They found themselves trailing by a single point (2-8 to 1-10) at the midway stage, before eventually turning the tables on their Swords counterparts.
Jude’s had 11 different scorers on the night, including two points apiece for David O’Callaghan, Kevin Lahiff, Conor Nolan and goalkeeper Stephen Larkin. Yet, it was a Sean Wynne goal that was decisive in helping Jude’s to squeeze past the challenge of a spirited Fingallians (2-19 to 2-18).
In spite of their 2-13 to 0-14 reversal at the hands of St Finian’s, Swords in Ridgewood Park, Cuala will also advance into the next stage.