Action-packed weekend as SHC gets underway

Thu, 16th July 2020

The deferred Dublin SHC gets underway this weekend with the first round of the group phase taking place this Saturday and Sunday.

The big clash of the opening flurry of fixtures is the Group 2 meeting of Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Enda's in Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon (3.0, live on TG4).

It's a repeat of the SHC 'A' final in 2018 when Boden prevailed 2-15 to 1-15 in a replay with their goals coming from Conor McCormack and Paul Ryan (free).

Dublin senior Ryan was his side's top scorer that day with 1-5 (1-3f, 0-1 sideline) while Crokes Oisín O'Rorke was the game's top scorer with 1-7 (0-5f).

That victory saw Ballyboden St Enda’s crowned Dublin senior hurling champions for the seventh time after a strong second-half showing, having trailed 1-9 to 1-7 at the interval, saw them edge out southside rivals Kilmacud Crokes.

Crokes have won Dublin's premier title on six occasions, the last coming in 2014 but they have been runners-up in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Their first success was as the Crokes club in 1966 before the imalgamation.

Reigning champions, Cuala, face Thomas Davis on Saturday in Bray Emmets (6.30) in their Group 4 tussle.

Cuala, who also won the AHL1 title last season, secured their seventh Dublin SHC 'A' title last year when defeating St Brigid's 1-18 to 1-14 in the decider at Parnell Park.

The Dalkey club advance to represent Dublin in the Leinster campaign but were knocked out by Carlow champions St Mullin's first time out at Netwatch Cullen Park when the Barrowsiders goaled three minutes from time to earn victory (2-13 to 0-18).

In last year's county final Willie Maher's men finished the game on top, scoring the last three points of the contest to seal victory with the influential Seán Moran and David Treacy (two frees) on target.

Brigid's, despite the dismissal of Kevin Callaghan in the 53rd minute, trailed by just a point when Johnny McGuirk fired over in the 57th minute but Cuala showed their experience to close out the game.

David Treacy's freetaking steered the way for Cuala, slotting 12 deadballs to punish any indiscretions by Brigid's who were only appearing in their second ever senior hurling final and chasing their first success having lost on their previous final day appearance - to Craobh Chiaráin in 2003.

To advance to last year's county final Cuala had beaten St Vincent's 3-21 to 1-16 at the Donnycarney venue.

However, it was Vincent’s who made the dream start when Brian Bolger fired past Seán Brennan inside the opening minute following good approach play by Johnny Walsh.

But the Dalkey men quickly recovered and led 2-13 to 1-6 at the interval after taking control of the contest.

The interplay of Cuala was top class at times and both first half goals concluded with simple finishes as a result of the clever build-up play.

Mark Schutte top scored for Cuala with 1-3 from play but also played a key role at the fulcrum of their attack.

He was well assisted by Con O’Callaghan up front with the Dublin senior footballer tallying 0-5 from play but could have goaled towards the close of the opening half but drew his shot narrowly wide from close range.

Cuala’s first half goals came through Seán Treacy and Mark Schutte to give Willie Maher’s side a ten-point interval cushion.

But Vincent’s, for whom Conor Burke scored five points from play overall, came storming back early in the second half with four points in quick succession. Rian McBride and John Hetherton (three, two frees) to reduce the gap to 2-13 to 1-10.

But a Con O’Callaghan point broke Vincent’s chain of scores with Mark Schutte and Nicky Kenny tagging on further Cuala scores. Before the finish Colm Cronin grabbed Cuala's third goal and they could begin their final preparations.

The other semi-finalist last year was Craobh Chiaráin who were toppled by final runners-up St Brigid's (2-17 to 1-13).

With wind advantage Brigid’s put themselves in a winning position by half-time when leading 2-8 to 0-6 both goals coming in quick succession in the opening half.

Cian O’Sullivan hit the first goal in the 13th minute when he came onto a long diagonal delivery into the right corner-forward position, he still had plenty to do but showed great power and pace to get past Eugene Farrell and Seán Finnegan before angling an unstoppable shot to the roof of Stephen Chester’s net.

Five minute later O’Sullivan muscled onto a breaking ball after Damien O’Reilly had lost his footing, Johnny McGuirk tidied up possession before unselfishly handpassing across the small square to Paul Winters who applied the finish and give his side a 2-2 to 0-2 lead.

Points from Winters, a free following a foul on McGuirk, and O’Sullivan, following good work between Cathal Doyle and the pacey Eoghan Dunne, extended Brigid’s lead. When Kevin Callaghan pointed from long range the Dublin 15 men were 2-5 to 0-2 clear.

Craobh though battled back with points from Gary Kelly, showing good footwork to create the opportunity, and two Cian Derwin frees.

Derwin added two further frees before the interval but Brigid’s, through Daire Plunkett with a superb score, and two Winters frees were 2-8 to 0-6 clear.

Craobh had to press on in the second period and that allowed the Brigid’s forwards a bit more space in the second half and the likes of Johnny McGuirk and O’Sullivan prospered.

Brigid’s keeper Alan Nolan had to be at his best to deny James Finn from close range with five minutes remaining. The energetic Eoghan Dunne also had a goal opportunity at the other end as the game moved into added-time but was denied by the crossbar.

There was a late consolation goal from Craobh in the second minute of injury-time when Derwin’s free from inside his own half on the standside made it all the way to the net after keeper Alan Nolan misjudged the flight.

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2020 DUBLIN SHC 'A'

Group 1: St Vincent's, St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh, Lucan Sarsfields, Ballinteer St John's

Group 2: Craobh Chiaráin, Scoil Uí Chonaill, Kilmacud Crokes, Ballyboden St Enda's

Group 3: St Brigid's, Whitehall Colmcille, Faughs, St Jude's

Group 4: Cuala, Thomas Davis, Na Fianna, Setanta

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2020 DUBLIN SHC 'B'

Group 1: Castleknock, Nh Barróg, Round Tower Clondalkin, O'Toole's, Cuala, Crumlin

Group 2: Na Fianna, Nh Fionnbarra, Ballyboden St Enda's, Kilmacud Crokes, Clontarf, Raheny

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ROLL OF HONOUR: Dublin SHC (New Ireland Assurance Cup)

Faughs 31 1892, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1910, 1911, 1914, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1930, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1952, 1970, 1973, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1999

St Vincent’s 13 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1993

Commercials 9 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1916

UCD 8 1934, 1947, 1948, 1961, 1968, 2000, 2004, 2005

O'Toole’s 8 1969, 1977, 1984, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002

Ballyboden St Enda's 7 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018

Cuala 7 1989, 1991, 1994, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019

Kilmacud Crokes 6 1966 (as Crokes club), 1974, 1976, 1985, 2012, 2014

Garda 6 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931

Young Irelands 6 1932, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1965

Craobh Chiaráin 5 1971, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006

Kickhams 4 1889, 1890, 1908, 1924

Rapparees 3 1891, 1894, 1912