Picture Courtesy Michelle La Grue
Newly announced Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin saw his Na Fianna team suffer their first reverse of the campaign as they suffered a dramatic 1-28 to 3-21 defeat to Lucan Sarsfields in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship clash at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.
The holders looked to have done just enough to top the group and claim a direct route to the semi-finals but in the fourth minute of added time Lucan’s John Bellew embarked on a slaloming run that culminated in a composed finish beyond Jonno Tracey.
Lucan were the more impressive outfit in the first-half as they struck seven unanswered points to take control of matters but a Joe Kavanagh goal in injury time saw Na Fianna reduce their arrears to 0-14 to 1-10 by half-time.
Goals by Colin Currie and Kavanagh within five minutes of the restart looked to have handed Na Fianna a platform to dominate but with Ciarán Dowling excelling after the break with four points from play, Sarsfields refused to buckle.
Despite his influence, Lucan’s hopes looked forlorn as points by Currie, AJ Murphy, Dónal Burke and Gavin King helped regain control for the champions.
However, with the excellent Ben Coffey taking his personal tally to fourteen points with two late frees, Bellew arrived on the scene to deliver a suitably dramatic conclusion to a contest of high quality.
Kilmacud Crokes took full advantage of Na Fianna’s loss to claim top spot by virtue of their emphatic 5-23 to 1-10 victory over St Brigid’s in O’Toole Park.
The writing was on the wall by half-time as Crokes built up a wind-assisted 2-17 to 0-4 lead with Brendan Scanlan and Oisín O’Rorke scoring the goals.
With David Lucey and Cian Mac Gabhann excelling in defence, there were scant hopes of a St Brigid’s comeback with Fergal Whitely scoring 1-6 and Fionn Ó Ceallaigh adding the remaining two goals.
O’Rorke finished the contest with 1-8 to his name while Conal Ó Riain chipped in with three points, leaving Kilmacud with a four-week break until their semi-final.
Na Fianna will now face Ballyboden St Enda’s in the quarter-finals after the latter confirmed second spot in Group 2 with a 1-26 to 2-16 win over Craobh Chiaráin at O’Toole Park.
The likes of James Madden, Simon Lambert, Eoin Behan, Matty Nolan and Niall McMorrow ensured Boden remained in control for the large part with McMorrow top scoring with six points.
Niall Ryan also caught the eye with five points from play and with Timmy Hammersley finding the net, St Enda’s built up a winning tally through three points from Luke McDwyer and two points apiece by David Gleeson, Behan and Stephen O’Connor.
Darren Kelly and Robbie Mahon found the net for a Craobh side that now face a relegation play-off against St Brigid’s while St Jude’s will hope to remain in the top-flight as they face a tricky assignment against Cuala.
That scenario was confirmed as Whitehall Colmcille dominated from the outset when overcoming St Jude’s by 0-25 to 0-14 in Parnell Park.
Adam McDermott and Enda O’Donnell controlled the exchanges at midfield in addition to scoring two points apiece while the dead-ball prowess of Paddy Spellacy kept the Colmcille scoreboard ticking along.
That wing-back Eoin McLoughlin top scored with three points reflected the issues up front for St Jude’s as Whitehall eased to a quarter-final meeting with Lucan Sarsfields thanks to ten Spellacy scores and four points by Eoghan O’Donnell.
Go-Ahead Ireland SHC1 Group 1: Kilmacud Crokes 5-23 St Brigid’s 1-10; Na Fianna 3-21 Lucan Sarsfields 1-28.
Go-Ahead Ireland SHC1 Group 2: Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-26 Craobh Chiaráin 2-16; Whitehall Colmcille 0-25 St Jude’s 0-14.
