DUBLIN will play beaten Munster SHC finalists Clare in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland SHC if they can hold off the challenge of Carlow on Saturday.
The Barrowsiders edged past Offaly in a dramatic Joe McDonagh Cup final in late May, and could prove a potential banana skin for Michael Donoghue’s Boys in Blue, but should they get over this hurdle they will face the Banner County – who lost out narrowly to Limerick last weekend – with a spot in the last four on the line.
Elsewhere, Dublin’s ladies footballers will kick off their All-Ireland campaign at the same time in Parnell Park when they face Kerry.
The Dubs beat Meath in last month’s Leinster final and will have their eyes firmly set on going all the way in what may be boss Mick Bohan’s final year.
On the club scene, St Jude’s enhanced their survival prospects when overcoming their nearest of neighbours Faughs by 0-21 to 1-14 in their Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division 1 encounter at Tymon Park.
With a large crowd in attendance, St Jude’s opened up brightly through an early John Carty point and they raced four points clear with Joe McManus and Carty doing the damage.
Their opponents gradually played their way into contention through the impressive James O’Brien and Conor O’Shea with the former’s penalty edging Faughs 1-9 to 0-10 ahead by half-time.
The hosts regained the momentum in the second half with Carty (0-4) and Conor Nolan (0-4) impressing in their half-forward line while McManus finished the game with nine points to his name.
Ciaran McLoughlin and Ger McManus kept matters tight at the back for the winners with Faughs falling short despite 1-10 from O’Brien.
Craobh Chiaráin also enjoyed an important win near the bottom of the table as they defeated Cuala by 1-19 to 0-14 in Shanganagh Park.
Goalkeeper Kieran McGowan was immense between the sticks for Craobh, landing two long range frees in addition to setting up countless attacks with his precise puck-outs.
The likes of Billy Ryan (1-3), Robert Burnett and Sean McHugh thrived on this service while James Finn had a massive influence on the game from midfield.
At the opposite end of the table, St Vincent’s moved into second spot by virtue of their impressive 3-21 to 0-18 win over Lucan Sarsfields at the 12th Lock.
John Hetherton (below) top scored with 2-3 and with Daniel Peel adding 0-7 (5f), the visitors confirmed their win through 1-1 from Tom Connolly, three points by Diarmuid Connolly and further scoring returns by Mark Sweeney, Brian Bolger, Andrew Gilroy, Eoghan O’Neill and Cian McBride.
With Na Fianna securing their place in the league decider following their 1-22 to 1-9 home win over St Brigid’s, it will fall between Vinnies, Ballyboden St Enda’s, Cuala and Kilmacud Crokes to compete for the remaining final berth.
St Vincent’s will be joined in the top flight next year by a Raheny side that secured the Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division 2 title when defeating St Sylvester’s by 2-16 to 0-12 in Broomfield on Friday night.
A weakened Raheny side led by 0-10 to 0-9 at the break but an exceptional goal from Liam Dunne helped settle the side as they eased home with 10 points to spare.
Brian Dunne and Jack Fagan were solid in the central defensive positions while goalkeeper Ryan Coyne also impressed as the visitors secured their win through a Brian Doolin goal and two points by Ruairi Kelly.
On Saturday night, Thomas Davis moved into fourth spot in the table as they pulled away in the second-half to defeat Naomh Fionnbarra by 4-17 to 0-10 at Kiltipper Road.
The hosts led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time but second-half goals from Bryan Keogh (2), Kevin Ward and Luke Dempsey left an understrength Fionnbarra team chasing shadows by the final whistle.
Ward scored 1-8 in total with Davy Byrne (0-3) and defenders Sean Byrne and Eoin Lambert all impressing over the hour for the Tallaght outfit.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, Setanta moved away from the relegation spots as they eased past Scoil Uí Chonaill by 4-18 to 0-9 in Poppintree.
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winning their first league game of the season in the process.
The foundation for their win lay at the back through the solidity of Lee Richardson and Fiachra Kelly while Peadar Treanor worked tirelessly around the middle third for Setanta.
Fionntán McGibb was in sparkling form up front, scoring 2-4 from play, and with Ryan Clarke scoring 1-6 from placed balls and Seán Ó Riain adding 1-3, they eased home thanks to further scores by Dean Cullen, John Casey, Richardson and Dara de Búrca.
Erin’s Isle also eased the pressure towards the bottom end of the table as registered an impressive 3-22 to 0-18 victory over Ballinteer St John’s at Farnham Drive.
Nathan Fitzgerald starred on his debut for Isles, scoring 2-2, with the home tally boosted by the scoring returns from the ever-reliable Graham King, Ollie Gaffney, Darragh Casey, Tadhg Gorman and Karl O’Reilly.
Gaffney also impressed with his efforts and those of Eoin Carney, Jamie Perry and Conor Carney proving too much for St John’s by the final whistle.
GO AHEAD ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1: Kilmacud Crokes v Naomh Barróg OFF; St Jude’s 0-21 Faughs 1-14; Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-21 St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 1-21; Cuala 0-14 Craobh Chiaráin 1-19; Na Fianna 1-22 St Brigid’s 1-9; Lucan Sarsfields 0-18 St Vincent’s 3-21.
GO AHEAD ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2: Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-9 Setanta 4-18; Ballinteer St John’s 0-18 Erin’s Isle 3-22; O’Toole’s 2-14 Whitehall Colmcille 2-15; Castleknock 0-18 Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-16; St Sylvester’s 0-12 Raheny 2-16; Thomas Davis 4-17 Naomh Fionnbarra 0-10.
Action from Thomas Davis’s win over Naomh Fionnbarra. Picture: Darragh McNicholas
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