Dalcassians and Faughs open town hurling league

THE Ennis Town Hurling League kicked off last Saturday and despite the poor weather conditions, the players, managers and spectators weren’t discouraged. The opening game of this year’s tournament was contested between Dalcassians and the Faughs.
Both teams were slow to break into top form and it was Dalcassians who led by a point at the break, 0-3 to 0-2. The Faughs played their way back into the game in the second half and, boosted by goals from John Moore and Ann-Marie McGann, held on for the narrowest of victories. Gary Flynn also impressed for the winners, while Tadgh McNamara, Paul McInerney and Patrick Mescall fought hard throughout for Dalcassians.
In the game between St John’s and Rovers, St John’s led at the break by the minimum with the assistance of a superb save from Stephen Dunne. The Rovers returned a different outfit for the second half and Paul Crehan, Ross Darmody and John Maher rattled the net, while Aida Griffey and Colin Nelson worked tirelessly throughout to help Rovers to a deserved victory.
In Group 2, the meeting of Cuchulains and Brian Boru’s saw Cuchulains off to an impressive start and they took advantage of a weakened Boru’s team, with Adrian Flaherty bagging the first goal. They led at the interval on a score of 4-8 to 1-1. Boru’s started well in the second half, but Cuchulains were too strong. Pa Noone took the sting out of the game with a goal and a monstrous point from 80 yards. Noone, Niall O’Connor and top scorer Adrian Flaherty (1-8) shone for the winners, while Gearóid O’Doherty, Ger Lynch and Jason Crew stood out for Boru’s, who won on a scoreline of 5-12 to 2-3.
In what was viewed as the most competitive game of the opening round, Shamrocks and O’Sullivan’s played out a hard-fought draw on a scoreline of 2-4 each. Goals from David Ryan and John Lawlor gave O’Sullivan’s the advantage but the Shamrocks were not to be denied as Louise Kirwin and Eanna Torpey hit the net. David Ryan, Cathal Whelan and John Lawlor impressed for O’Sullivan’s, while Niall O’Connor, Shane Walsh and Eanna Torpey stood out for the Shamrocks.