Preview: Dublin SFC1 semi-finals

Tue, 8th September 2020

2020 DUBLIN SFC1 SEMI-FINALS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Parnell Park: Ballyboden St Enda's v St Jude's, 5.30

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Parnell Park: Ballymun Kickhams v Kilmacud Crokes, 4.30

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Then there were four ... it's down to Dublin SFC1 semi-finals stage as the competition picks up in both pace and quality.

The group winners from the round-robin stage held their form by prevailing in their respective quarter-finals and all four clubs (Ballyboden St Enda's, Kilmacud Crokes, Ballymun Kickhams and St Jude's) will enter their semi-finals in buoyant mood.

Holders Ballyboden St Enda's have been pitted against St Jude's in their semi-final with Kickhams facing Crokes in their other last-four encounter this Saturday in Parnell Park (5.30).

With the games coming quick and fast and the level of intensity increasing the strength in depth of the respective panels will be tested in the weeks ahead. In the weekend before last (quarter-finals) key players picked up injuries which will be a concern ahead of their semi-finals.

Boden had to dig deep to see off the vibrant challenge of Raheny in their quarter-final, a fact acknowledged by their selector Finian Hyland.

“When it comes to knockout, it brings a different element to championship and there’s no safety net that you have in the group games.

“It wasn’t our best day in Parnell Park, no doubt about that but we’re lucky to have the strength in depth and were able to bring in the subs who worked hard for us and got the scores.

“Young Ciarán O’Reilly scored 1-1 so he’s done really well as he’s been waiting for a year, a year and a half to get his game," said the Ballyboden St Enda's selector.

“When it comes, you have to take that chance as well, and he did that.

“We were also able to bring in Declan (O’Mahony) who caught some great balls while we also brought back in both Conal (Keaney) and Ryan (Basquel).

“They are all top-class players who are proven down the years for Ballyboden in the championship and it’s really all about the squad,” added Finian.

The holders semi-final encounter is an intriguing battle between the top-scorers in this year's Dublin SFC1 so far and the team (St Jude's) who have conceded the least - something has to give surely?

Boden, in their four games to date have amassed a massive 15-69 (114 points) and conceded 4-51 (63) while Jude's have scored 4-51 (63) and only conceded 1-34 (37) - the only goal to date they have conceded was in their quarter-final victory over Skerries Harps (1-17 to 1-10) with Killian McGinnis breaching their defence with a good finish.

A strong start to the second-half put St Jude’s on their way to victory over Harps as they sides were deadlocked 0-6 each at the break with Skerries having played with wind advantage.

Jude’s showcased their championship credentials when opening with serious intent at the start of the second period when hitting 1-5 without reply in a brilliant 13-minute spell.

The goal was a superb individual effort from Kevin McManamon who got possession just inside his own half and drove at the Harps defence, weaving his way deep into enemy territory - his initial goal attempt was parried by Skerrie’s keeper Cormac Rocks but the Dublin senior reacted best to rise and fist the rebound to the net.

McManamon was central throughout to Jude’s victory, he scored 1-5 (0-2f) and was always busy with the likes of Diarmuid McLoughlin and Tom Devlin also playing telling, leading roles in the Tymon North club’s victory - they will look for the same dynamism for these forwards next day out as they attempt to topple the champions.

The other Dublin SFC1 semi-final pits two championship heavyweights with Ballymun Kickhams facing Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday in Parnell Park (4.30).

Much debate pre-championship had centred on the lift the 'Mun would get out of having their six Dublin panellists (Evan Comerford, Philly McMahon, John Small, James McCarthy, Dean Rock and Paddy Small) 'fresh' for this year's campaign.

Well certainly that theory was underlined in the quarter-final victory over Na Fianna, a reversal of last year's result when the sides collide in the weeks after Dublin's historic five in-a-row.

When they were really needed county men James McCarthy, John Small and Dean Rock really stood up as they turned around a five-point half-time deficit to eventually book their last-four spot.

The Mun trailed 0-8 to 1-10 at the interval but kicked six points on the spin on the restart.

Led by the likes of James McCarthy, John Small and 21-year-old Cameron McCormack Kickhams took control of the game with McCarthy’s point in the opening minute of the second-half a signal of intent.

Dean Rock, who tallied 0-8 (0-5f) overall, converted three frees to cut the gap to a point before a stylish point by Jason Whelan brought the sides level following hard graft by Carl Keely and Fiach Andrews.

An Andrew McCaul mark edged Ballymun in front before an Aaron Byrne free, following a foul on Conor McHugh, had the sides level once again, 0-14 to 1-11.

Their victory also highlighted the importance of strength in depth with subs such as Jason Whelan and goal-scorer Andrew McCaul, son of former Dublin senior of the 1980s Anton and nephew of former Dublin senior manager Gerry, playing their part.

Both semi-final games are full of promise. Only time will tell if they deliver on that promise but with the array of talent on show they shouldn't disappoint.

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BALLYMUN KICKHAMS

Group 1: First (Three wins)

Group results: Ballymun Kickhams 3-18 Skerries Harps 0-12; Round Towers Lusk 1-10 Ballymun Kickhams 3-26; Ballymun Kickhams 3-15 Thomas Davis 0-8

Quarter-final result: Ballymun Kickhams 1-18 Na Fianna 2-13

Scored to date: 10-77 (107)

Average scored per game: 26.75

Conceded to date: 3-43 (52)

Average conceded per game: 13

Number of Dublin SFC titles: 2

Last time Dublin SFC holders: 2012

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ST JUDE'S

Group 2: First (Three wins)

Group results: St Jude's 1-10 Na Fianna 0-8; Ballinteer St John's 0-8 St Jude's 0-14; St Jude's 2-10 Lucan Sarsfields 0-8

Quarter-final result: St Jude's 1-17 Skerries Harps 1-10

Scored to date: 4-51 (63)

Average scored per game: 15.75

Conceded to date: 1-34 (37)

Average conceded per game: 9.25

Number of Dublin SFC titles: 0

Last time Dublin SFC holders: N/A

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BALLYBODEN ST ENDA'S

Group 3: First (Three wins)

Group results: Ballyboden St Enda's 4-20 Clontarf 2-8; St Vincent's 1-17 Ballyboden St Enda's 5-11; Ballyboden St Enda's 4-22 Whitehall Colmcille 1-10

Quarter-final result: Ballyboden St Enda's 2-16 Raheny 0-16 (after extra-time)

Scored to date: 15-69 (114)

Average scored per game: 28.5

Conceded to date: 4-51 (63)

Average conceded per game: 15.75

Number of Dublin SFC titles: 4

Last time Dublin SFC holders: 2019

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KILMACUD CROKES

Group 4: First (three wins)

Group results: Kilmacud Crokes 6-13 Raheny 0-10; St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh 3-8 Kilmacud Crokes 3-20; Kilmacud Crokes 1-11 Castleknock 0-12

Quarter-final result: Kilmacud Crokes 4-15 St Vincent's 1-12

Scored to date: 14-59 (101)

Average scored per game: 25.25

Conceded to date: 4-42 (54)

Average conceded per game: 13.5

Number of Dublin SFC titles: 8

Last time Dublin SFC holders: 2018

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Dublin SFC (Clerys Cup): Roll of Honour

St Vincent’s (28): 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

O'Toole’s (11): 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1946

Geraldines (10): 1898, 1899, 1998, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1940, 1941, 1942

Kilmacud Crokes (8): 1992, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2018

UCD (7): 1943, 1963, 1965, 1973, 1974, 2002, 2006

Parnell’s (6): 1913, 1916, 1939, 1945, 1987, 1988

Kickhams (6): 1897, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1912

Garda (5): 1927, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1935

Na Fianna (5): 1969, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001

Young Ireland (5): 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1896

Clanna Gael (5): 1936, 1937, 1948, 1961, 1968

Ballyboden St Enda's (4): 1995, 2009, 2015, 2019

Erin’s Hope (4): 1887, 1932, 1956, 1978