Cuala and Crokes set for face-off
Cuala’s 2-19 to 2-12 win over Crumlin was dominated by the personal display of wing-forward Barry Connolly, who hit 15 points.
Connolly, son of Galway legend Joe Connolly, struck Cuala’s opening seven scores before Dublin senior David Treacy jinked through the Crumlin defence to fire a cracking goal to push his side 1-8 to 0-4 ahead by the 18th minute.
Crumlin remained in contention through the dead-ball prowess of Wesley O’Brien and received a much-needed boost when Adam McGreal netted within nine minutes of the restart.
However, their joy was short lived as Cuala responded immediately through an excellent Cian Waldron goal and although McGreal netted eight minutes from time, it proved too late to with the Dalkey men prevailing by seven points.
The following encounter in the Donnycarney double-header was a far more fractious affair with two second-half goals from Jude Sweeney helping Crokes pull clear from an ill-disciplined Lucan to claim a 2-11 to 0-7 victory.
In a low-scoring first-half, Sarsfields led by 0-5 to 0-4 thanks to points from Tommy Somers, Chris Crummey and Mick May but they struggled in attack against a Kilmacud defence in which Niall Corcoran, Rory O’Carroll and Ronan Walsh excelled.
Sweeney’s first goal arrived in the 42nd minute after Barry O’Rorke had struck the upright and his second goal three minutes later followed further hesitant defending.
Despite two Kevin O’Reilly frees, Lucan never looked likely to turn their fortunes around and their fate was sealed through the late dismissals of Crummey and Aidan Roche.
