Preview: Dublin SFC1 quarter-finals

It’s knockout weekend in the Dublin SFC with all four SFC1 quarter-finals taking place at Parnell Park. All games are being screened live on DubsTV. Click here DubsTV

On Saturday St Jude’s take on Skerries Harps in the first of the four contests (3.0).

Jude’s enter the game on the back of a 100 per cent record in SFC1 Group 3 after recording victories over Na FIanna (1-10 to 0-8), Ballinteer St John’s (0-14 to 0-8) and Lucan Sarsfields (2-10 to 0-8).

The Tymon North club have been regulars at semi-final stage over the past decade and will be hoping to reach the last-four once again.

Skerries finished runners-up to Ballymun Kickhams in Group 1 to set up Saturday’s last-eight encounter.

The sides clashed in the 2017 SFC when Skerries ran into a powerful St Jude’s three years ago as the Tymon North men ran out comprehensive 2-17 to 0-7 victors

That evening Jude’s set about their business in impressive fashion despite the difficult conditions with the accuracy of Declan Donnelly and Niall Coakley turning possession into scores.

By the interval Jude's were nine points clear, 0-11 to 0-2, and they kept the momentum going after the break.

Five minutes into the second half then Cork senior panelist Coakley struck for his side's first goal and ten minutes later Donnelly had raised his side's second green flag.

Harry Dawson was Skerries top-scorer with 0-3 (0-1f).

That game is followed by the meeting of Kilmacud Crokes and St Vincent’s (5.30).

Crokes won their three Group 4 games – against Raheny (6-13 to 0-10), St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh (3-20 to 3-8) and Castleknock (1-11 to 0-12).

Last time out against Castleknock the Dublin 15 side were left to rue a number of missed opportunities over the hour-plus as well as a slow start as Crokes advanced to the knockout stages.

The influential Dan O'Brien opened the scoring for Crokes within 90 seconds and two minutes later Dara Mullin got the final touch from very close range to raise a green flag after Hugh Kenny firstly had his shot well saved by Morven Connolly but Conor Kinsella followed up with his half-volley looking like it would have made the net anyway with Mullin making sure.

Dan O'Brien extended Crokes lead with a point of his less favoured left foot, the second of his four points from play, to make it 1-2 to 0-0 inside six minutes.

Ciarán Kilkenny then took centre stage for Castleknock, and with Crokes struggling off their own kickout, dominated the following ten minutes during which he kicked four excellent points from play with the impressive Tommy McDaniel also contributing a score to bring the sides level just before the 16th minute water-break.

Castleknock frustrated the Crokes attack during this spell with Rob Shaw doing well and as a result Crokes were somewhat stifled.

After the water-break Crokes emerged determined with Paul Mannion converting two frees, following fouls on Conor Casey and Cian O'Connor, before Dara Mullin pointed a free from the left flank, after Paul Mannion had been fouled off the ball, and when Mullin showed great acceleration before pointing it was 1-6 to 0-5 to the Stillorgan men.

Before the break Tommy McDaniel kicked two points, the first a mark from a great delivery from Shane Boland, with Dara Mullin firing over in between for Crokes after Conor Kinsella had hit the crossbar for Kilmacud to lead 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.

Castleknock though had kicked eight wides, Crokes none, and they were to prove costly in the long run.

The pace levels were maintained early in the second half before it dropped off in the final minutes with Dan O'Brien kicking over for Crokes just 24 seconds after the restart.

But Castleknock had the better of the next five minutes with points from the pacey Séamus O'Carroll, McDaniel and O'Carroll again following good work from Eoin O'Brien - in between Hugh Kenny had fisted over for Crokes following a clever slide-rule pass from Mannion.

Dan O'Brien's fourth point from play in the 39th minute put the clear goal in it, 1-9 to 0-9. The hard-working Conor Casey kicked a point to stretch Crokes lead after Morven Connolly, the Castleknock keeper, had performed his duties well to sprint off his line to deny O'Brien a goal-scoring opportunity.

Séamus O'Carroll had a goal chance but was denied by Conor Ferris approaching the three-quarter mark. But Castleknock pressed on with points from Gerard McDermottroe (free) and Rob Shaw, from long range, cutting the deficit to two points.

For the concluding ten-plus minutes the Castleknock side had an extra man following the black-carding of sub Liam Flatman but they couldn't make it count on the scoreboard, while holding Kilmacud scoreless for the last 18 minutes, as Crokes make it three wins from three starts in the group.

St Vincent’s, who were beaten by Ballyboden St Enda’s in the group phase, enter Saturday evening’s clash on the back of a 2-16 to 0-11 group victory over Clontarf.

Vincent’s had too much movement and energy for their opponents who were missing the presence and forward drive of Jack McCaffrey owing to injury.

The Brian Mullins-managed team laid the platform for their victory in the opening half and they had established a 1-11 to 0-6 lead by the interval.

Two Tomás Quinn scores, one a free, as well as scores from Mark L’Estrange and Diarmuid Connolly with Kieran McKeon scoring for Clontarf left Vinnies 0-4 to 0-1 up inside ten minutes.

With Seán Lambe breaking forward with great timing both Seán Lowry and Greg Murphy lively on the inside forward line Vincent’s continued to hold the upperhand.

Before the break points from Greg Murphy and two Tomás Quinn frees, with Kevin Lillis kicking a good score for Clontarf, making it 0-9 to 0-3 by the water break.

Before the interval Greg Murphy fired to the ‘Tarf net following good combination play ignited by a brilliantly weighted pass from Diarmuid Connolly to Shane Carthy on the move, all this coming after Tomás Quinn had dispossessed Chris Barrett and then shown battling soccer skillls to get the ball out of the congestion on the deck.

Vincent’s had other goal opportunities with keeper Ross O’Hanlon denying Diarmuid Connolly from close range.

Two minutes into the second-half Vincent’s settled the outcome when Dublin U20 panellist, Seán Lowry, found the net after unselfish play from Mark L’Estrange.

Clontarf rallied with points from Andy Foley and a Nathan Doran free but there was no way back as the game petered out.

Nathan Mullins was sent off on a double-yellow card towards the finish with Ross O'Hanlon making a fine save to deny Greg Murphy his second goal in the 58th minute.

Ger Brennan was introduced as a late sub in the second half making his comeback after temporarily 'retiring' last season with Craig McConnell getting a late consolation score for Clontarf.

On Sunday last year’s champions of Dublin and Leinster, Ballyboden St Enda’s, pit their wits against Raheny in their quarter-final at Parnell Park (2.0).

Boden’s form has remained of a high standard in their three Group 3 victories during which they tallied 13-53 (versus Clontarf 4-20 to 2-8, St Vincent’s 5-11 to 1-17 and Whitehall Colmcille 4-22 to 1-10).

Raheny booked their berth in the last-eight with their three-point victory (2-13 to 2-10) over St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh in Parnell Park last Wedneday night.

The sides were level inside the last quarter following a point from Gareth Smith for Plunkett’s, after Adam Keating and Niall Walsh just earlier looked like they were going to combine to goal.

But it was Raheny who finished the stronger with sub James O’Kane making a telling contribution with two points from play.

Raheny, with Brian Fenton, Brian Howard and Seán McMahon to the fore overall, held the upperhand in this period and were also denied goals on two occasions by Plunkett’s keeper Gavin Broughan, denying Cian Iver in the 54th minute, but importantly Gavin Ivory converted the resulting ‘45’.

Three minutes later Broughan again showed good reflexes to deny Rutherson Real with Raheny recycling possession for Gavin Ivory to kick another important late score.

The concluding quarter-final of the weekend sees Ballymun Kickhams face Na Fianna (4.30).

The clashed in last year’s SFC1 also when Na Fianna prevailed 0-13 to 0-8 when a determined last ten minutes saw Na Fianna finish the stronger to secure victory in their Group 1 shootout.

The St Mobhi Road side were the better side overall but were denied goals on several occasion by a combination of good goalkeeping by Seán Currie and some poor shooting by the Na Fianna forwards.

Going into the last ten minutes Na Fianna were 0-8 to 0-7 ahead after sub Jason Whelan had hooked over a fine point for the 'Mun.

But crucially Dessie Farrell's side replied with the next three scores to give themselves a cushion going into the final moments.

James Doran, who along with Eoin Murchan has not featured in this year’s SFC1 to date, fisted over the first of this salvo with Aaron Byrne adding a free before Doran was on target again to push his side into a 0-11 to 0-7 lead.

Dean Rock converted a free for Ballymun but it was to be Na Fianna's night as Seán Caffrey fired over following an angled pass from Glenn O'Reilly and Doran tagged on his fourth from play.

In the opening half Na Fianna 0-2 to 0-0 inside nine minutes, their opening score coming when Ballymun wing-back Leon Young in trying to clear his lines miskicked the ball over his own crossbar from a low Aaron Byrne cross into the danger zone.

Ballymun replied with four points in-a-row with Paddy Small (two), Rock (free) and Fiach Andrews on target.

But Na Fianna finished the half on the up with scores from Aaron Byrne (free) and Conor McHugh (two frees), the second following a great run by David Quinn.