ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP
ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE ROUND-UP: MARCH 8
By Daire Walsh
Cuala and Na Fianna maintained their unbeaten starts to the new Adult Hurling League Division One season with respective victories over Naomh Barrog and Faughs on Sunday morning.
Reigning champions Cuala opened the defence of their crown with a 3-11 to 1-13 triumph at the expense of Faughs at Islandbridge on February 22. Bray Emmet’s was the venue for their second round clash against Naomh Barrog – newly-promoted from Division Two of the AHL.
The Kilbarrack men enjoyed a dream start to life in the top-flight as they finished with four points to spare over Ballyboden St Enda’s (2-13 to 0-15) in their competitive bow of 2020. They were on course for another successful outing when they developed a 1-4 to 0-1 cushion during the early exchanges of their meeting with Cuala.
Yet with Oisin Gough leading the way, they gradually came to terms with the Barrog attack. Liam Murphy and Darragh O’Connell were also prominent and when the half-time whistle was sounded, Cuala found themselves 1-13 to 1-9 in front.
The Dalkey outfit had a considerable wind advantage at their disposal after the restart and thanks in no small part to the scoring prowess of Dublin senior star Mark Schutte, they created additional daylight between the teams. Though a game Barrog persevered with their challenge, Cuala ultimately emerged on the right side of a 2-30 to 1-12 final scoreline.
Na Fianna were seeking to build on an opening day triumph against local rivals Whitehall Colmcille when they welcomed Faughs to St Mobhi Road. The Glasnevin hosts dominated the action from very early on and proceeded to register a convincing 4-29 to 0-10 victory.
Though it is still early days – and a number of teams have a game in hand – Na Fianna are currently at the summit of the table, marginally in front of Cuala on score difference.
Elsewhere, Ballyboden St Enda’s bounced back from their defeat at the hands of Barrog with a 1-14 to 0-14 win over Kilmacud Crokes at Pairc Ui Murchu. With Eoghan O’Neill bagging a goal, ‘Boden established a 1-10 to 0-4 interval buffer.
Inter-county stars of past and present dovetailed effectively for the home team with Conor Dooley, James Roche, Conal Keaney and Shane Durkin all stepping up to the mark. Crokes did their best to stem the tide and cut considerably into the ‘Boden lead on the resumption.
However, they ultimately suffered a 1-14 to 0-14 reversal to their southside counterparts. Nonetheless, after getting the better of Ballinteer St John’s at Silver Park a fortnight earlier, Crokes remain within touching distance of top spot.
They are joined on two points by Lucan Sarsfields, who began their campaign in fine style against Ballinteer. Originally set to face St Brigid’s at 12th Lock on February 23, Lucan travelled to Ballinteer Community School for their 2020 debut on Sunday morning.
Supplementing Ben Coffey’s six-point haul, Sean McClelland, former county star Peter Kelly and Ciaran Dowling rattled the John’s net to propel the visitors towards a 3-22 to 1-12 victory. St Vincent’s triumphed on the exact same scoreline at Pairc Naomh Uinsionn against Whitehall Colmcille.
Like Lucan, Vincent’s remained idle on the opening weekend of the term and will now hope to bring momentum into their away encounter with Faughs on Sunday week (March 22).
Despite possessing the goalscoring touch at Russell Park, St Brigid’s lost out to Craobh Chiarain on a margin of 0-19 to 3-8. Cian Derwin and Paul Kelly amassed a combined tally of 0-11 for Chiarain’s, but the likes of Billy Ryan, James Finn and Keith Cooling also made valuable contributions for the Clonshaugh brigade.