Round 4 of the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship got underway in Parnell Park on Friday night with St Vincent’s securing their place in the last four with an unconvincing 1-16 apiece draw against Whitehall Colmcille.
The Marino side started off in a promising fashion through early points from Conor Burke and Oisin Mulcahy and the free-taking of John Hetherton, augmented by two points from play by Tom Connolly helped build a six-point lead by the 22nd minute.
However, Whitehall looked threatening up front and were rewarded for their efforts through points by Enda O’Donnell, the lively Jamie Raftery and Paddy Spellacy to limit their arrears to two points (0-10 to 0-8) by half-time.
Scores from Burke and Brian Bolger helped keep Vinnies ahead early in the second-half but with Daire Gray curbing Hetherton’s influence, Colmcille began to dominate matters.
A Spellacy goal early in the final quarter enhanced their momentum and while Daniel Peel levelled matters for St Vincent’s in the 52nd minute, a trio of Spellacy points looked to have settled the issue.
There was one final twist in the tale deep into added time as substitute Cian McBride used all his experience and skill to create a goal chance that he hammered past the helpless Ronan Murray, clinching top spot in Group 2 for his side in the process.
On Saturday afternoon, Cuala finished their group campaign on a positive note as they cruised past St Brigid’s by 1-28 to 0-13 at Parnell Park.
After a tight opening, the Dalkey outfit assumed control of events in the second quarter, building up a healthy 0-14 to 0-6 interval lead thanks to three points from play by Jake Malone and a brace from substitute Con O’Callaghan.
A 42nd minute goal by Liam Murphy effectively settled the issue and with St Brigid’s having both Jonathan McGuirk and Ronan McLoughlin dismissed in the final quarter, Cuala piled on the pain with Murphy finishing with 1-9 while O’Callaghan chipped in with 0-5.
However, that win was not sufficient to claim a knock-out berth as Kilmacud Crokes and Lucan Sarsfields played out an 0-19 to 1-16 draw.
Oisin O’Rorke’s six points helped Crokes to a deserved 0-10 to 0-7 interval lead and two excellent scores by the influential Conal Ó Riain helped Kilmacud remain in control on the scoreboard after the break.
Ben Coffey added six second-half frees for Lucan to keep them in the contention and they received further encouragement as Brian Sheehy was dismissed for Crokes with ten minutes remaining.
Points from Brian Hayes and Alex Considine opened up a five-point lead for Kilmacud entering added time but a fortuitous Ciaran Dowling goal and a last-gasp levelling point by Charlie Keher ensured an equitable result by the final whistle.
In O’Toole Park, Ballyboden St Enda’s cemented second spot in the table as they defeated near neighbours St Jude’s by 2-24 to 1-15.
Niall McMorrow was in sparkling form for Boden, with his ten point tally including six points from play as his side seized the early initiative through a Luke McDwyer goal.
John Carty and Joe McManus did their best to keep their side in the hunt but St Jude’s still faced a substantial 1-12 to 0-7 deficit by half-time.
A goal from Carty brought that deficit down to a mare manageable four points but their opponents netted immediately through Darragh Kenny to regain their control.
David Gleeson and Niall Ryan looked sharp up front for the winners, each contributing four points from play while Jack Lambert landed his customary two points from wing-back.
Go-Ahead Ireland SHC1 Group 1: Cuala 1-28 St Brigid’s 0-13; Kilmacud Crokes 0-19 Lucan Sarsfields 1-16.
Go-Ahead Ireland SHC1 Group 2: St Vincent’s 1-16 Whitehall Colmcille 1-16; Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-24 St Jude’s 1-15.
