Preview: Dublin SHC ‘A’ quarter-finals

Thu, 19th September 2019

The Dublin SHC 'A' moves up a gear or two this weekend with the quarter-finals all to be played at Parnell Park.

The action gets underway in Saturday, with Craobh Chiarain v Lucan Sarsfields (3.0) and Ballyboden St Endas v St Vincent's (4.45). Both games will be LIVE on Dubs TV across both Youtube and Facebook!

Meanwhile on Sunday, the two quarter finals are Na Fianna v St Brigid's (3.0) & Cuala v Kilmacud Crokes (4.45).

After the summer break from the Championship, the first two rounds of group games having taken place back in April, plenty of the last-eight showed good form in their concluding group games two weeks ago.

Reflecting on their victory over O'Toole's which saw them take top spot in their group ahead of Kilmacud Crokes, Na Fianna manager Declan Feeney said: “We are just delighted to win a match and it was really the first time that we have performed to our abilities for a long time.

“Forward-wise, I feel that we are moving well at present but we are a bit stretched in defence and we need to get lads back on the pitch as quickly as possible.”

Dublin defender Shane Barrett having missed Na Fianna's victory over O'Toole's.

Feeney was impressed by their next opponents, St Brigid’s, in their recent victory over St Jude's.

“I was very impressed with them the last day against St Jude’s especially as they didn’t seem to panic despite conceding two goals relatively early.

“To score 1-30 is some achievement and the form up front of Eoin Dunne and Cian O’Sullivan was excellent.“Paul Winters hardly missed a free all afternoon and while we scored heavily against O’Toole’s, I don’t anticipate that Sunday’s match will be as free-scoring."

Reigning champions Ballyboden St Enda's finished off their Group 4 campaign with a resounding 42-point (6-29 to 0-15) victory over Setanta in Parnell Park.

Boden had already booked their last-eight following narrow victories over Lucan Sarsfields and Whitehall Colmcille last April.

Joe Fortune's side were 3-16 to 0-2 ahead by the interval with their opening two goals coming in quick succession before the midpoint of the opening half with Paul Doherty and Luke McDwyer on target.

Six minutes before the half-time break Conor Dooley, who finished with a tally of 2-10 (1-0pen, 0-5f, 0-1 '65) sent a penalty to the net, following a foul on Luke McDwyer.

Boden added three goals in the second period - Kevin Desmond, Conor Dooley and sub Eoghan O'Neill the goalscorers.

Lucan Sarsfields secured the other quarter-final berth from Group 4 by beating Whitehall Colmcille, 2-20 to 1-15, in their encounter in Parnell Park.

Donal Flannery's first minute goal helped Lucan to a 1-9 to 0-8 lead with Seán Gray hitting five points for Whitehall (0-2 '65', 0-1f) including two excellently judged long-range points from play.

Sarsfields gained the upperhand on the restart with points from Ben Coffey (four, two frees) and Paul Crummey extending their lead with Lee Gannon Whitehall's sole scorer in the opening ten minutes of the second half.

As the game moved into added time Donal Flannery grabbed his second goal of the contest to seal the deal for Lucan while Dublin senior Eoghan O'Donnell hit a late consolation goal for Whitehall.

Dublin champions of 2015, 2016 and 2017, Cuala, moved effortlessly into the quarter-finals and finished off their Group 2 round-robin games with a 1-32 to 0-6 victory over Ballinteert St John's in O'Toole Park.

The only goal of the game came in injury-time when sub Nicky Kenny, who was introduced at half-time, brought his tally to 1-4.

Cuala dominated all over the park with Seán Treacy and Darragh O'Connell giving them a strong midfield platform with O'Connell also scoring four points from play.

The Willie Maher-managed side led 0-15 to 0-4 at half-time with James Gilligan and Aodhán Clabby (three) getting the St John's scores.

St Brigid's also emerged out of Group 2 courtesy of their 1-30 to 2-12 win against St Jude's in Parnell Park two weekends ago.

Jude's held a narrow 2-9 to 0-14 interval advantage before a strong second half display saw the Russell Park men gain the upperhand to run out 15-point victors.

Brigid's were rocked by a third minute goal when wing-back Eoin McLoughlin's 50-metre delivery accelerated up off the ground and deceived keeper Alan Nolan.

However, in Eoin Dunne Brigid's had a real leader in their attack and the centre-forward's clever use of possession and accuracy soon had his side in front, 0-7 to 1-2, with wing-back Mark Kavanagh also contributing two fine points.

But Jude's got back in front again in the 17th minute when Diarmuid McLoughlin fired low to the net after good approach play by Fionn O Riain Broin to lead 2-2 to 0-7.

A John Carty point extened Jude's lead before scores from Paul Winters, the influential Daire Plunkett from halfway, and Eoin Dunne edged Brigid's back into the lead, 0-10 to 2-3 with ten minutes remaining in the opening half.

As the game moved into first half added time points from Fionn O Riain Broin (free) and Diarmuid McLoughlin edged Jude's three points up but there was still enough time for Cian O'Sullivan, who scored 0-5 from play overall, and Paul Winters (free) to reduce the margin to the minimum, 2-9 to 0-14, by the break.

Brigid's began the second half with intent and hit six unanswered points inside 12 minutes. Their defence were on top, first to the ball, while Daire Plunkett, Eoin Dunne and Keith Mullally were dictating the tempo around the middle-third.

Brigid's goal arrived 12 minutes from time when the tireless Keith Mullally blasted the sliotar to the net past Stephen Larkin to make it 1-21 to 2-11 and immediately sub Luke Purtill stretched that advantage further with a point.

The Dublin 15 side concluded the game strongly in the last ten minutes with scores from Eoin Dunne, following a clever flick pass from Kevin Callaghan, Daire Plunkett, Kevin Callaghan from halfway, Keith Mullally, a brace of Paul Winters frees, Cian O'Sullivan and fittingly Eoin Dunne to run out commanding winners.

In Group 1 Na FIanna's 5-24 to 0-14 victory over O'Toole's in Parnell Park ensured they topped their group ahead of Kilmacud Crokes on scoring difference.

Two first half goals from Colin Currie put Na Fianna on the road to a comfortable victory when the inside forward illustrated a poacher's instinct to grab goals in quick succession in the 18th and 20th minute as his side coasted to a 25-point victory.

Na Fianna were 0-6 to 0-3 to the good when they struck for their first goal.

A long delivery from Peter Feeney was miscontrolled by Larriers keeper Brendan McLoughlin and Currie didn't need a second invitation as he swept the sliotar to the net.

Ninety seconds later Brendan McLoughlin parried a shot from Eoghan McHugh after an incisive first-touch move by Na Fianna and Colin Currie was again in the right place at the right time to push his side 2-6 to 0-3 clear after 20 minutes.

Declan Feeney's men never looked back.

Six minutes into the second half Colin Currie ran onto an angled delivery from Eoghan McHugh before holding up possesion to release raiding wing-back Paul O'Dea who fired to the net to make it 3-13 to 0-10.

Before the finish Seán Currie, younger brother of Colin, and Eoghan McHugh added goals to make sure Na Fianna progressed as winner of their group.

Kilmacud Crokes, who are manged by former Dublin boss Anthony Daly, defeated Faughs 0-24 to 0-13 in O'Toole Park.

Crokes led 0-12 to 0-10 at the interval before six points in-a-row on the restart gave them a winning position when Fergal Whitely, Oisín O'Rorke, Niall Corcoran, Fionn Ó Ceallaigh and Eddie Gibbons were all on target.

St Vincent's over-worked the scoreboard in Parnell Park in their 10-28 to 1-11 victory over Nh Fionnbarra in their Group 3 clash at Parnell Park.

Vincent's had ten different scorers with Cian McBride leading the way with 3-4 from play before being substituted at the midpoint of the second half.

The early signs were ominous for the Barrs and Vincent's stacked up the scores towards the close of the opening half to lead 3-16 to 0-4 at the interval.

Cian McBride got the first of his hat-trick of goals in the second minute when he got a touch to a Conor Burke point effort dropping short.

His younger brother Riain added two points as Vincent's put early distance between the sides.

The Vincent's forward line was combing to telling effect while keeper Dara de Poire gave an exhibition of pucking the sliotar to the advantage of his forwards throughout.

Just before the break Vincent's struck for two goals when Brian Bolger and Cian McBride, with his second, both raised green flags.

Cian McBride's second goal illustrated Vincent's at the best as he fired to the net following great interplay between Tom Connolly, John Hetherton and Riain McBride.

John Hetherton was on target from placed balls and finished the game with a personal tally of 0-11 including five frees and two successfully converted '65s'.

There was scant consolation in this tussle for the Cabra side but Eamonn Dillon did score a superb individual goal before the finish when outpacing several Vincent's defenders and rifling low to the corner of the net in the 55th minute.

But for some fine goalkeeping by Tadhg Stone Vincent's would have scored more than ten goals but still the impressive Chris McGarry and sub Alan Moore both netted two second half goals as the Marino men ran out 44-point winners.

At O'Toole Park Craobh Chiaráin, who had already booked their quarter-final spot, defeated St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh 1-22 to 0-16 to top Group 3 and set up a quarter-final against Lucan Sarsfields.

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DUBLIN SHC 'A' QUARTER-FINALS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Parnell Park: Craobh Chiaráin v Lucan Sarsfields, 3.0

Parnell Park: Ballyboden St Enda’s v St Vincent’s, 4.45

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Parnell Park: Na Fianna v St Brigid’s, 3.0

Parnell Park: Cuala v Kilmacud Crokes, Parnell Park, 4.45

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2019 DUBLIN SHC 'A' GROUP: Results

Group 1 qualifiers: (1) Na Fianna, (2) Kilmacud Crokes

7 Sept Parnell Park Na Fianna 5-24 O'Toole's 0-15

7 Sept O'Toole ParkKilmacud Crokes 0-24 Faughs 0-13

17 April Parnell ParkNa Fianna 3-19 Faughs 2-7

17 April Parnell ParkO'Toole's 0-7 Kilmacucd Crokes 1-17

6 April Monastery RoadFaughs 3-18 O'Toole's 2-15

6 April Parnell ParkNa Fianna 1-16 Kilmacud Crokes 1-16

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Group 2 qualifiers: (1) Cuala, (2) St Brigid's

7 Sept O'Toole Park Cuala 1-32 Ballinteer St John's 0-6

7 Sept Parnell Park St Brigid's 1-20 St Jude's 2-12

19 April O'Toole Park St Brigid's 0-27 Ballinteer St John's 1-10

17 April Monastery Road Cuala 2-27 St Jude's 0-16

6 April O'Toole Park Cuala 3-26 St Brigid's 1-13

6 April O'Toole Park St Jude's 3-22 Ballinteer St John's 0-15

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Group 3 qualifiers: (1) Craobh Chiaráin, (2) St Vincent's

8 Sept Parnell Park St Vincent's 10-28 Nh Fionnbarra 1-11

8 Sept O'Toole Park Craobh Chiaráin 1-22 St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh 0-16

19 April Parnell Park Craobh Chiaráin 0-22 St Vincent's 0-11

17 April Lawless Park St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh 1-19 Nh Fionnbarra 1-13

4 April Parnell Park Craobh Chiaráin 7-22 Nh Fionnbarra 1-6

3 April Parnell Park St Vincent's 1-20 St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh 1-7

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Group 4 qualifiers: (1) Ballyboden St Enda's, (2) Lucan Sarsfields

8 Sept Parnell Park Lucan Sarsfields 2-20 Whitehall Colmcille 1-15

5 Sept Parnell Park Ballyboden St Enda's 6-29 Setanta 0-5

19 April Parnell Park Ballyboden St Enda's 2-18 Whitehall Colmcille 2-17

19 April O'Toole Park Lucan Sarsfields 4-22 Setanta 0-15

6 April Parnell Park Ballyboden St Enda's 1-15 Lucan Sarsfields 1-14

6 April Broomfield Whitehall Colmcille 2-22 Setanta 0-9

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ROLL OF HONOUR: Dublin SHC (New Ireland Assurance Cup)

Faughs 31 (titles) 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