Dublin GAA Round Up >>>

Castleknock recorded a 2-24 to 1-13 triumph over Scoil Ui Chonaill at Somerton Park last Thursday to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Dublin Senior Two Hurling Championship.

Following narrow reversals at the expense of Naomh Fionnbarra and Whitehall Colmcille, Castleknock appeared to be an outside bet for a spot in the knockout rounds of the second-tier competition. They subsequently got themselves back on track with a 1-17 to 1-15 victory against Ballinteer St John’s at Marley Park on August 27, but still required a repeat result heading into the final phase of Group One.

Whitehall were already assured of progressing beyond the preliminary stage of the championship as group winners, but ‘Knock were ranked fourth behind Ballinteer and Naomh Fionnbarra in the standings before taking on Scoil in a midweek encounter.

Yet with head-to-head coming into play if two teams finished level on points, Castleknock knew that a win would be enough to move them above John’s and keep their championship journey alive. While there was little to separate the sides in the initial stages, Conal Purcell’s goal did give the hosts some daylight on the scoreboard.

Scoil Ui Chonaill did edge a point in front on the 20-minute mark, before six points on the bounce guided ‘Knock towards a 1-10 to 0-8 interval lead. They were expected to push on after the restart, but their Clontarf counterparts weren’t out of the reckoning just yet.

Searching for their second win of the group, Scoil raised a green flag in the early moments of the second half and briefly threatened to spoil the party. However, Cian Boyle’s 41st-minute goal established a sizeable gap between the teams and Castleknock ultimately emerged as emphatic victors.