PREVIEW: Big Saturday in store in Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Championship

By Conor Martin 

After a few weeks' break, the Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Championship is back this weekend! 

Cuala take on Na Fianna, with the Dalkey side going in search of their first win of the Championship. 

They followed an opening day defeat to Kilmacud Crokes with a draw with Lucan Sarsfields last time out. 

Liam Murphy and Colum Sheanon have been bright sparks for Cuala already so far, but they are as well-equipped in defence as Diarmuid Ó Floinn stood firm in that draw against Lucan, and Murphy and Jamie Conroy made sure Cuala has something to show from their second game. 

Na Fianna have made a good start to their defence of the Dublin hurling crown and sit on top of the pile undefeated with a win and a draw in their opening two games. 

Colin Currie helped the northsiders make a red-hot start against Kilmacud Crokes last time out, when he rattled the net in the first minute after he was played by Ciaran Stacey. The pair would link up again as the first-half went on; this time, Currie was the provider for Stacey, who fired home. 

Gavin King would score the third Na Fianna goal before the break as the current Championship holders held a narrow half-time lead.

Jack Meagher had an impressive cameo off the bench and Joe Kavanagh was also impressive, as Niall Ó Ceallacháin's men had to settle for a point.

A win for Na Fianna would tighten their grip on a top-two finish, but rest assured this determined Cuala side will push them all the way. 

Also throwing-in at 15:30 on Saturday are Lucan Sarsfields and St Brigids, who take on each other at O’Toole Park.

Sarsfields received a bye in the first round of championship action but put in an impressive performance in their draw with Cuala in Round 2. 

Ben Coffey was the standout player for Lucan last time out, scoring 1-11 of Lucan’s total of 1-16, and Brigids will have to keep a close eye on him this weekend. 

St Brigids received a bye in the last round of action but know they must do much better than their first outing, where they were beaten 5-26 to 0-14 by Na Fianna. 

Their lack of discipline cost them dearly as goalkeeper Alan Nolan and Paul Winters received their marching orders. 

Winters was his side's top-scorer despite seeing red, while Jonathan McGuirk also looked promising.

An improved performance is needed this weekend as the two teams go in search of their first win of the Championship.

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Over in Group 2, Ballyboden St Endas will be looking for their first win of the competition as they take on Whitehall Colmcille.

Ballyboden kicked off their championship in Round 2 against St Vincents, after receiving a bye in the first weekend of the Championship.

Paul Ryan and Niall McMorrow helped Boden to an interval lead, but despite the second-half efforts of Simon & Jack Lambert, St Vincents did just enough to walk away with a 0-17 to 0-15 win.

After being given a rest in Round 2, Whitehall Colmcille will be looking to build on their impressive 4-17 to 2-18 win over Craobh Chiaráin from Round 1. 

Whitehall had racked up three goals by the time the half-time whistle was blown, thanks to the efforts of Conor Cummins, Paddy Spellacy, who converted a penalty and Eoghan O’Donnell.

Jamie Raferty would score goal number four for Whitehall to seal the win.

Expect an entertaining game as Colmcille’s look to shock last year’s losing finalists.

Saturday’s evening game at Parnell Park sees St Vincents looking to maintain their 100% record as they take on Craobh Chiaráin.

Opening the 2024 championship with a seven-point win over St Judes, Darach McBride and skipper John Hetherton guided their club home, with Hetherton scoring 0-12 of the Vinnies total of 0-21.

The pair would again be influential as they edged out Ballyboden, with Hetherton leading the way once more as he scored 0-9, with eight of the scores coming from frees. Conor Burke’s performance in Vincent’s second game was also impressive. 

Craobh Chiaráin found the net twice in their opener against Whitehall: James Finn with a first-half effort and Billy Ryan with a late second-half goal. 

In their second game against St Judes, Cian Derwin was the hero, as he stuck the ball between the posts late in the game to earn the men from Donnycarney a draw.

Derwin would pick up an impressive personal tally of seven points, whilst Ryan picked up 0-5 for himself. 

Craobh Chiaráin will now look to build on that never-say-die performance last time out and take it into this weekend’s tough encounter.

Kilmacud Crokes are the club that receive a bye this weekend in Group 1 while over in Group 2 St Judes are also given a rest.