All systems go for start of 2019 Dublin SHC ‘A’ and ‘B’

Tue, 2nd April 2019

The 2019 Dublin SHC 'A' and 'B' commence this weekend in what should prove to be two intensely competitive competitions.

Reigning SHC 'A' holders Ballyboden St Enda's open their Group 4 campaign with a duel against Lucan Sarsfields in Parnell Park this Saturday (5.45).

Boden were crowned championship for the seventh time in their history (including the incredible five in-a-row between 2007 and 2011) when defeating fellow southsiders Kilmacud Crokes in a replay late last October.

Crokes, who had lost to Cuala in both the 2016 and '17 deciders, led at half-time 1-9 to 1-7 with Oisín O'Rorke and Conor McCormack getting the goals for their respective sides before Paul Ryan's goal from a free seven minutes into the second half helped his side to a 2-15 to 1-15 victory.

Conal Keaney hit 0-4 from play while Aidan Mellett (0-2) and Ryan (1-5; 1-3f, 0-1 sline) also contributed well to the scoresheet with Dublin footballer Colm Basquel being sprung from the bench late on to grab the insurance point.

The Firhouse Road outfit were beaten the Leinster final by eventual All-Ireland champions, Kilkenny's Ballyhale Shamrocks, 2-21 to 0-11.

Keaney is just one of a number of players this weekend that Dublin fans will be monitoring to see if he can return to action soon.

Conal missed Dublin's entire NHL campaign following a shoulder injury while other intercounty players who did not feature by the end of Dublin's run of games are Liam Rushe (St Pat's of Palmerstown in SHC 'B') and Mark Schutte (Cuala).

Cuala, who have won the Dublin SHC title on six occasions including a three in-a-row in the capital in 2015-17, begin their Group 2 games against St Brigid's in O'Toole Park on Saturday (5.15).

The Dalkey men will obviously again be among the favourites having won Leinster and All-Ireland titles on the last two occasions they emerged as Dublin representatives, under the management of current Dublin boss Mattie Kenny.

DUBLIN SHC 'A'

WEDNESDAY

Group 3

Parnell Park: St Vincent's v St Oliver Plunkett's/ER, 7.15

THURSDAY

Group 3

Parnell Park: Craobh Chiaráin v Nh Fionnbarra, 7.15

SATURDAY

Group 1

Parnell Park: Kilmacud Crokes v Na Fianna, 4.0

Monastery Road, Clondalkin: Faughs v O'Toole's, 4.0

Group 2

O'Toole Park: St Jude's v Ballinteer St John's, 3.30

O'Toole Park: Cuala v St Brigid's, 5.15

Group 4

Broomfield: Setanta v Whitehall Colmcille, 4.0

Parnell Park: Ballyboden St Enda's v Lucan Sarsfields, 5.45

DUBLIN SHC 'B'

SATURDAY

Group 1

Clontarf Road: Scoil Ui Chonaill v Raheny, 6.0

Mobhi Road: Na Fianna v Ballyboden St Enda's, 6.0

Pearse Park: Crumlin v St Pat's Palmerstown, 6.0

Group 2

Pairc Ui Bhrian: Nh Olaf v Kilmacud Crokes (2), 6.0

Pairc Barrog: Nh Barrog v Cuala (2), 6.0

Somerton Park: Castleknock v Thomas Davis, 6.0

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 6 1989, 1991, 1994, 2015, 2016, 2017

Kilmacud Crokes 6 1966, 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