PREVIEW: Go-Ahead Senior 1 Hurling Semi-Finals

By Conor Martin

It’s all eyes on Parnell Park once more, as four teams battle it out for a place in the Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Final this Sunday, as the 2023 Championship reaches the semi-final stage. 

St Vincents v Ballyboden St Endas, Sunday 15th October 2023, Parnell Park, 2pm

Group 2 winners St Vincents take on Ballyboden St Endas in the first of the Sunday semi-finals. Pat Gilroy’s men are looking to end a 30 year wait for a senior title. 

Vincents have a lot of firepower in their ranks and the likes of James Mulcahy, Rian McBride, Daniel Peel and Conor Burke will be a major threat. Not forgetting John Hetherton, who starred for the Marino Men with 14 points of his own in Vinnies win over Faughs.

On the other hand, Ballyboden St Endas will also be looking to end their wait for the Dublin hurling crown, having last won it in 2018 after beating Kilmacud Crokes in a replay.

They need two big performances in order to claim their eighth Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship title and are fully aware St Vincents will be ready to push them from the first minute to the last.

With Boden having to play a quarter-final against an experienced and talented Cuala side, some might say the extra game has allowed the men from the Firhouse Road to build up some sizeable momentum to take into Sunday’s semi-final. 

Paul Ryan scored 1-11 (0-8f, 0-1 sideline) and Pearce Christie also found the net to comfortably lead their side into this weekend’s semi-final. 

Lucan Sarsfields v Na Fianna, Sunday 15th October 2023, Parnell Park, 4pm

This one is bound to be an intriguing affair, as Group 1 winners Lucan Sarsfields take on beaten 2021 and 2022 finalists Na Fianna. 

Lucan were impressive as they won Group 1 with a 100% record, which featured an impressive four point win over defending Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Champions Kilmacud Crokes. 

On that day, Sean Harkness was lethal in front of the posts as he scored 0-11 (10f, 1 ’65) from the dead ball. The scoring options don’t stop there for Lucan, who are looking for a first outing in the final since their 2013 defeat to Ballyboden St Endas.

Ben Coffey’s a major threat when he bears down on goals and Dublin’s Chris O’Leary and Paul Crummey have dug in and provided big scores, as Sarsfields finished on top in Group 1.

After losing to them in the 2021 and 2022 finals, Na Fianna would have been glad to end Kilmacud Crokes bid for three senior titles in a row last time out. 

AJ Murphy bagged a hat-trick in scoring 3-3 to help Na Fianna into the semi-final.

Colin Currie and Shane Barrett were also on form that day, and they will need to be once again as Niall Ó Ceallacháin's men bid for a third successive final appearance. 

Neither side have won the Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship before. So, expect a full-blooded entertaining semi-final as they face off for the last spot in the final.