ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION TWO ROUND-UP: JULY 21 

By Daire Walsh 

The race for top spot in the Adult Hurling League Division Two table was ramped up in the past few days, with Faughs, Naomh Barrog and St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh all keeping themselves in the hunt for promotion.

Heading into the next round of fixtures on Wednesday, the trio are tied on 12 points apiece at the summit. Faughs currently hold a slight advantage over their title rivals on score difference, but the forthcoming meeting of Plunkett’s and Barrog at Martin Savage Park could significantly alter the course of their respective campaigns.

Given they only dropped down from Division One at the end of 2018, Faughs were always expected to challenge for an automatic return to the top-flight. Five straight victories placed them in pole position during the early stages of the season, before back-to-back defeats at the hands of Erin’s Isle and Barrog halted their progress.

However, a 1-17 to 0-16 triumph over Raheny – at St Anne’s Park on Sunday – ensures they remain on the right track. Following a mixed start to 2019, Barrog have hit form in recent weeks.

Their emphatic home success at the expense of Faughs on June 29 was preceded by similar results against O’Toole’s and the aforementioned Raheny. Naomh Fionnbarra pushed them all the way at Pairc Barrog, but Keith Horgan’s side eventually emerged with six points to spare (5-15 to 2-18).

Thanks to the influence of former Fingal hurler Niall Ring at centre-back, Barrog created a distance between themselves and their Cabra counterparts in the opening period. Eoghan Costello and Sean Cleary formed an effective partnership at midfield, while Cillian Costello, Paul Garbutt and Nathan Kidd impressed in attack.

When the half-time whistle was sounded in Kilbarrack, the hosts had established a 3-8 to 1-8 success. Fionnbarra are in their own fight for survival and displayed admirable resistance when the action resumed.

Yet, it was Naomh Barrog who ultimately prevailed for their sixth win of the term. They are in fine form ahead of their midweek trip to Oliver Plunkett’s, who are unbeaten since their opening day reversal to Faughs.

A run of five wins on the bounce bolstered their quest for second-tier supremacy, though they have since dropped two points with consecutive stalemates. Derek Brennan’s charges couldn’t be separated from Raheny when they met last month (1-17 to 0-20) and it was a similar case in their weekend clash with O’Toole’s in Ashtown.

Their Blunden Drive opponents were seeking to keep their own promotion hopes alive and courtesy of excellent performances by Ciaran Gethings, Christy Mulligan, Ryan Bergin and Sean O’Keeffe, they kept Plunkett’s on the back-foot for large spells.

Andy Morris and former Sky Blues hurler Peadar Carton contributed the bulk of their scores over the hour, but Plunkett’s had their own moments at the opposite end. Given both teams refused to let-up in their bid for maximum points, it’s perhaps unsurprising that they eventually had to settle for a share of the spoils; Plunkett’s 1-17, O’Toole’s 2-14.

Faughs, Barrog and Plunkett’s are by no means the only challengers for elevation to Division One, however. As a consequence of their 0-26 to 3-10 victory over Naomh Olaf at Kiltipper Road on Friday night, Thomas Davis are just one point adrift of the top-three.

On the same evening, Scoil Ui Chonaill edged out Setanta in Ballymun (0-18 to 0-13) to move up to eighth-place in the table.

Meanwhile, Erin’s Isle made it three wins on the trot at Finglas, where they enjoyed a 2-19 to 3-12 success against St Sylvester’s.