Double success for ‘Boden hurlers, while Lucan and St Jude’s also prosper
There was double joy for Ballyboden St Enda’s at the weekend as both of their senior hurling sides registered victories to advance into the knockout stages of their respective championships.
At O’Toole Park on Saturday, ‘Boden’s first team defeated Scoil Ui Chonaill on a scoreline of 2-27 to 1-10 to preserve their 100% record in Group Four of the Dublin Senior ‘A’ Hurling Championship.
At nearby Pearse Park on the same day, their second string outfit had five points to spare (1-16 to 1-11) over Crumlin in Group One of the Senior ‘B’ Championship.
This hard-fought triumph was enough to secure runners-up spot for the latter and thus a place in the knockout rounds of the competition.
Having finished on top in their group, their ‘A’ squad will now pit themselves against Cuala in a forthcoming quarter-final – a rematch of last year’s top-tier championship decider.
They will be joined in the last-eight by Lucan Sarsfields and St Jude’s, who both progressed from Group Two of the Senior ‘A’ Championship following their impressive wins on Sunday.
Crumlin’s Shane Ryan is watched closely by Jamie Desmond of Ballyboden. Photo Paddy Barrett
Lucan were pushed all the way by St Vincent’s at Parnell Park, but with Ciarán Dowling (who finished the contest with an excellent tally of 1-9) rattling the net five minutes from time, Sean McCaffrey’s men were 1-19 to 0-18 victors in the end.
It was also a good day at the office for Jude’s at O’Toole Park, where Dublin senior hurler Danny Sutcliffe produced a fine display in a 1-24 to 1-14 win at the expense of Setanta.
The Templeogue side will now face Na Fianna in the knockout phase, while Lucan have been drawn against Craobh Chiarain.
Leading 1-16 to 0-16 with 50 minutes on the clock in their Group Four tussle with St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh – substitute Liam Mostyn raising a green flag – Faughs were on course to join near neighbours Jude’s in the quarter-finals.
That was until their Navan Road counterparts staged a late rally and claimed the spoils on a final score of 1-22 to 1-17.
Following their respective reversals at the hands of Na Fianna (1-18 to 0-12) and Kilmacud Crokes (1-26 to 0-14), Ballinteer St John’s and Thomas Davis exited the ‘A’ Championship without a win to their name.
It was a similar case for Crumlin in the ‘B’ Championship as a consequence of their loss to Ballyboden, whilst Round Tower Clondalkin finished fourth in Group Two courtesy of a 2-16 to 1-15 reversal to Na Fianna ‘B’ at St Mobhi Road on Saturday.
