Go-Ahead Dublin SHC ‘A’ group stage builds to exciting conclusion

It could be calculators at the ready this weekend as the Go-Ahead Dublin SHC 'A' round-robin group stage builds to its conclusion over Saturday and Sunday.

There are three of the eight quarter-final berths already secured with Na Fianna, Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Enda's into the last eight.

In the event of two teams finishing level on league points in their groupings their direct head-to-head will decide their final positions, if this criterion does not separate the sides then scoring difference will be used.

If a situation occurs in a group where three clubs finish level on points (after the three rounds) then scoring difference between the teams from the games only involved those three teams (i.e. excluding scores against the side finishing fourth) will decide positions.

The quarter-finals will have the following format: winners of Group 1 v runners-up in Group 2; runners-up Group 1 v winners Group 2; winners Group 3 v runners-up Group 4; runners-up Group 3 v winners Group 4.

The following games will be screened live on DubsTV - Saturday: Faughs v St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh, 3.0; Cuala v St Brigid's, 5.0. Sunday: Craobh Chiaráin v Whitehall Colmcille, 2.0; Lucan Sarsfields v St Vincent's, 4.0.

Here we take a look at the current state of play in each of the four groups.

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2021 GO-AHEAD DUBLIN SHC 'A' GROUP 1

Na Fianna have booked their spot in the quarter-finals following impressive victories over Whitehall Colmcille and Craobh Chiaráin - tallying 6-51 over both days.

The Glasnevin outfit face Ballinteer St John's on Sunday in O'Toole Park (2.0) when a win or draw for Niall Ó Ceallacháin's side who guarantee them top spot.

Donal Burke has been in fine scoring form for the St Mobhi Road side and followed up his opening round 1-15 (0-9f, 0-1 '65') against Whitehall Colmcille with 1-12 (0-9f, 0-1 '65') against Craobh Chiaráin in Round 2.

Na Fianna moved quickly into their stride against Craobh when opening up a 1-8 to 0-0 lead inside 11 minutes. By the first water stoppage it was 1-9 to 0-2 and it would have been by a greater margin but for the reflexes of Chiaráin's goalkeeper Stephen Chester who denied both Donal Burke and Micheál Murphy in the opening quarter.

After struggling to establish a foothold Craobh did raise a green flag in the 26th minute when Cian Derwin showed good footwork to turn smartly and pick out Billy Ryan with a superb pass - Ryan finished clinically to Eoin Skelly's top corner to make it 1-13 to 1-3.

Twelve minutes into the second half Colin Currie grabbed Na Fianna's second goal after being picked out on the far side by AJ Murphy - that put his side 15-points clear (2-19 to 1-7).

Craobh battled to the finish with Robbie Mahon hitting two scores from play with Billy Ryan and Derwin converting from deadball situations.

But Na Fianna held the upperhand in most sectors of the field to make it two wins from two starts and book their safe passage into the last eight.

The clash, also on Saturday (Parnell Park, 2.0), of Craobh and Whitehall Colmcille will decide who are the other team to progress.

Both have similar results to date having lost to Na Fianna and beaten Ballinteer St John's.

Whitehall Colmcille entering this weekend's clash on the back of defeating Ballinteer St John's 0-21 to 1-15 in O'Toole Park last time out.

Whitehall hit the final three points of this battle through Enda O'Donnell, who scored 0-4 in total, Ciarán Murphy and Daire Gray.

Cormac Costello was Whitehall's top scorer, amassing 0-8 (0-4f) in total and he helped his side to a 0-12 to 1-7 interval lead, Ballinteer's goal coming from Tom Aherne.

However, St John's restarted the second half on the front foot with points from Tom Aherne, Barry Mannion and Rob Aherne (who scored 0-8, 0-5f overall) to edge into the lead.

RESULTS TO DATE

Round 1

Craobh Chiaráin 3-20 Ballinteer St John's 2-14

Na Fianna 4-27 Whitehall Colmcille 1-13

Round 2

Whitehall Colmcille 0-21 Ballinteer St John's 1-15

Na Fianna 2-24 Craobh Chiaráin 1-15

FIXTURES TO COME

Sunday

Parnell Park: Craobh Chiaráin v Whitehall Colmcille, 2.0

O'Toole Park: Na Fianna v Ballinteer St John's, 2.0

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2021 GO-AHEAD DUBLIN SHC 'A' GROUP 2

Lucan Sarsfields have recorded victories over both Setanta and St Jude's and currently occupy top spot in Group 2 but have not secured a quarter-final spot yet.

They face St Vincent's this Sunday (Parnell Park, 4.0) requiring a draw (or win) to seal the deal.

If the Marino men were to prevail and St Jude's defeated Setanta then Lucan, Vincent's and Jude's would all be on four league points and scoring difference (excluding games against Setanta) would then come into play to decide which two clubs would progress to the last eight.

Lucan followed up their opening round victory over Setanta (1-22 to 0-8) with a 5-16 to 2-15 win over St Jude's in Parnell Park.

Four first-half goals put Seán McCaffrey's side, father of Matthew and former Dublin captain Johnny, on the road to their 10-point success.

Their first goal came as early as the second minute when Eoghan O Conghaile produced an excellent finish from an angle.

However, by the seventh minute Jude's were in front, 0-4 to 1-0, after Danny Sutcliffe (two, one free), Fionn O Rian Broin (who scored 0-5 over the course of the hour-plus) and Joe McManus had found their range.

Ciarán Dowling, who alongside Paul Crummey caused problems for the Jude's full-back line throughout, hit Lucan's second goal in the 11th minute when he showed great alertness to dash through on goal and clinically fired to the net.

Between the duo they tallied 4-8 - Dowling 2-6 (0-4f) with Paul Crummey hitting 2-2 from play.

In the 20th minute Paul Crummey and Dowling combined for Dowling to crash home his second goal but Jude's responded seven minutes later when Alan Connolly fed his midfield partner John Carty who found the net to make it 3-4 to 1-8.

As the opening half ticked into added time Lucan moved five points ahead following a Paul Crummey goal, when he made his presence felt under a long delivery from his brother Chris, before Dowling concluded the first-half scoring with a point from play and then he converted a free to lead 4-6 to 1-10.

Lucan scored the opening four points of the second half to move nine points clear, 4-10 to 1-10, by the 38th minute.

In added time Joe McManus applied the finishing touches for a Jude's goal after a Danny Sutcliffe free into the danger zone but Lucan had the final say when Paul Crummey struck his second goal and Ronan Smith fired over his second point.

St Vincent's responded to their opening round defeat to St Jude's by emphatically overcoming Setanta, 4-30 to 1-12, in O'Toole Park.

In Round 1 St Jude's, inspired by Danny Sutcliffe, came with a scoring surge at the finish to defeat St Vincent's 0-22 to 3-11 at Parnell Park.

A John Hetherton point edged Vincent's ahead with two minutes of normal time to play but the Tymon North men rallied to get the last three scores of this duel to secure victory.

Ger McManus, who was influential in the Jude's defence as was Eoin McLoughlin, got their first of this crucial trio of scores with Danny Sutcliffe (free) and sub Manus Malone, following good work by Sutcliffe, saw Jude's seal the deal.

The sides were level six times in the second half including at the three-quarter marker but in the 55th minute a Darach McBride goal, when he whipped on the sliotar to the net, put Vincent's 3-10 to 0-17 ahead.

But Jude's replied with points from Danny Sutcliffe, who scored 0-11 (0-9f) in total, and Diarmuid McLoughlin to bring the sides level just before John Hetherton's point temporarily nosed Vinnies in front.

St Vincent's had led 2-6 to 0-10 at half-time.

RESULTS TO DATE

Round 1

St Jude's 0-22 St Vincent's 3-11

Lucan Sarsfields 1-22 Setanta 0-8

Round 2

St Vincent's 4-30 Setanta 1-12

Lucan Sarsfields 5-16 St Jude's 2-15

FIXTURES TO COME

Sunday

Parnell Park: Lucan Sarsfields v St Vincent's, 4.0

O'Toole Park: St Jude's v Setanta, 4.0

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2021 GO-AHEAD DUBLIN SHC 'A' GROUP 3

Kilmacud Crokes have set the pace in Group 3 and have booked their spot in their quarter-finals with high-scoring victories over holders Cuala and St Brigid's - tallying 4-52 so far.

Crokes face Thomas Davis this Saturday (O'Toole Park, 5.0) knowing a draw (or win) will see them concluding the group stages in first place.

The other game in this group in a repeat of the 2019 Dublin SHC 'A' final when Cuala and St Brigid's meet on Saturday (Parnell Park, 5.0) and will decide who progresses alongside Crokes.

On that occasion the Dalkey side prevailed 1-18 to 1-14 with David Treacy converting 12 frees for his side - their goal came in the third minute when Con O'Callaghan found the net.

In the last round Kilmacud Crokes turned their clash with St Brigid's around on their way to an impressive 1-28 to 2-9 victory at Parnell Park.

Inside the opening ten minutes the Stillorgan side were eight points in arrears but recovered from the slow start to eventually run out 16-point victors.

By the half-time break Crokes had got back on level terms and they dominated the second half to make it two wins from two starts following their opening round victory over Cuala.

Seven minutes into the second half Alex Considine's goal really got Kilmacud motoring when he powered through on goal before batting to the net past keeper Alan Nolan.

Points followed from Considine, Ronan Hayes (free), the industrious Lorcan McMullan (two), Fergal Whitely and Caolan Conway to surge 1-19 to 2-7 clear by the three-quarter mark.

Crokes did not let up in the concluding quarter with goalkeeper Eddie Gibbons contributing two long-range frees.

Ronan Hayes, who scored 3-10 (0-6f) in their opening round against Cuala, continued to keep the scoreboard ticking - he finished with a tally of 0-11 (0-7f, 0-2 '65') - while Lorcan McMullan, the impressive Oisín O'Rorke and Fergal Whitely all hit four points from play.

All three of St Brigid's second half scores came by way of Johnny McGuirk frees (he scored six frees overall) as their challenge ebbed away following their great early promise.

The sides were level, 0-12 to 2-6, at half-time despite Brigid's making the much stronger opening to this contest.

The Russell Park men led by eight points, 2-3 to 0-1, by the tenth minute following goals from Donnacha Ryan and Paul Winters.

RESULTS TO DATE

Round 1

Kilmacud Crokes 3-24 Cuala 0-18

St Brigid's 2-24 Thomas Davis 0-12

Round 2

Kilmacud Crokes 1-28 St Brigid's 2-9

Cuala 3-26 Thomas Davis 1-8

FIXTURES TO COME

Saturday

Parnell Park: Cuala v St Brigid's, 5.0

O'Toole Park: Kilmacud Crokes v Thomas Davis, 5.0

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2021 GO-AHEAD DUBLIN SHC 'A' GROUP 4

Ballyboden St Enda's have already sealed their spot in the quarter-final from Group 4 following victories over St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh (4-19 to 0-16) and Faughs (1-25 to 0-14).

Boden face ScoilUíChonaill on Saturday in O'Toole Park (3.0) knowing top place in the group will be theirs if they at least get a draw.

The group's other contest - between Faughs and Plunkett's - in Parnell Park on Saturday (3.0) will decide the other side to progress.

Last time out a scoring surge just before the three-quarter mark set Ballyboden up for victory over Faughs at Parnell Park.

A fine fetch and point from Faughs' Niall Fitzgibbon left the Tymon North outfit four points in arrears, 0-14 to 0-10, after 40 minutes but then Boden hit the next five points to open up a nine-point cushion at the second water break.

The influential duo of Conal Keaney and Niall McMorrow combined for Keaney to ignite the scoring rush with Simon Lambert, following quick interplay by Boden, Conor Dooley (free) and a brace of points from play by Aidan Mellett made it 0-19 to 0-10.

Points from Jack McVeigh and Ciarán Brennan cut the deficit but any hopes Faughs had of a successful comeback were ended by Conor Dooley's converted penalty in the 48th minute following a foul on Niall McMorrow.

The same afternoon St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh, who had lost to Boden in Round 1, overcame Scoil Uí Chonaill 4-17 to 0-6.

RESULTS TO DATE

Round 1

Ballyboden St Enda's 4-19 St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh 1-16

Faughs 1-22 Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-8

Round 2

Ballyboden St Enda's 1-25 Faughs 0-14

St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh 4-17 Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-6

FIXTURES TO COME

Saturday

Parnell Park: Faughs v St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh, 3.0

O'Toole Park: Ballyboden St Enda's v Scoil Uí Chonaill, 3.0