Preview: The 2024 Go-Ahead Senior 1 Hurling Championship Throws-In This Weekend

By Conor Martin 

The 2024 Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship gets underway this weekend, looking to follow the excitement and the drama the 2023 Championship delivered.

Group 1 gets underway with defending champions Na Fianna taking on St Brigids at O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon. 

After years and years of being the bridesmaid, the Mobhi Rd men finally became the bride in a massive 16-point win over Ballyboden St Endas in the county final last year. 

They would go onto the provincial championship, narrowly losing out in the Leinster final by just a point to O’Loughlin Gaels. 

AJ Murphy and brothers Séan and Colin Currie had outstanding seasons for Na Fianna and the reigning champs will be boosted by the return of captain Dónal Burke, who saw his 2023 season hampered by injury but scored 2-62 in the inter-county championship for Dublin this year. All of those above will be looking to kickstart Na Fianna’s county title defence.

Their opponents, St Brigids, finished bottom of Group 1 last year, losing three games and drawing one. They eventually kept their Senior 1 status by winning the relegation play-off against St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh.

Cian O’Sullivan was one of the Dubs’ brightest sparks in league and championship this year before succumbing to injury in the latter stages of the Leinster Championship. He and St Brigids will be hoping for a quick return, as Brigids look for an improved championship showing in 2024.

Following the Group 1 opener, Cuala take on Kilmacud Crokes at O’Toole Park on Saturday evening. 

2020 county champions Cuala went out in the quarter-finals last year after finishing Group 1 with two wins and two defeats. Liam Murphy was reliable for the Dalkey side last year, as was captain Colm Cronin. 

Kilmacud Crokes also saw their 2023 Championship end in the last eight, with the Stillorgan side going out against eventual Champions Na Fianna. The 2021 & 2022 county champions had finished second in Group 1 last year with three wins and one loss before said exit.

Crokes have a lot of firepower in the ranks as they look to get their 2024 championship off to a great start, including the likes of Oisín O'Rorke, Ronan Hayes, Dara Purcell and Fergal Whitely. 

Over in Group 2, St Vincents and St Judes face off at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon as the two clubs look to lay down a marker.

Vinnies won Group 2 last year, advancing straight into the semi-finals of the Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship. Their 2023 season ended at the hands of Ballyboden St Endas in extra-time in a dramatic semi-final that saw their last gasp penalty saved by Boden's keeper Conor O’Donoghue. 

Pat Gilroy will be hoping the likes of John Hetherton and Tom Connolly can continue their form from 2023, as Vincents look to go one better than last year's semi-final. 

St Judes bounced back from relegation from Senior 1 hurling by enjoying an impressive Senior 2 campaign and reached the Senior 2 final, but ultimately lost to Craobh Chiaráin in the finale. 

The Templeogue side were still promoted alongside the Senior 2 champions. 

Judes have the experienced Danny Sutcliffe on their panel, who will be looking forward to drive them forward on their return to senior 1 hurling. 

Craobh Chiaráin, meanwhile, will also be looking to mark their return to Senior 1 hurling with a win over Whitehall Colmcille in the Saturday evening game at Parnell Park.

A win for Craobh in the Senior 2 final over St Judes was the icing on the cake as they returned to Senior 1 at the first time of asking. 

The Donnycarney men have an opportunity to really cement themselves as a senior 1 club.

The likes of Billy Ryan and Cian Derwin can help them do just that as they open their Championship this weekend.

Whitehall Colmcille will be looking to break a cycle of poor Championship showings when they open their senior 1 campaign. 

In 2019, 2020 & 2021, they went out in the group stages and after winning the senior 2 championship in 2022, they found themselves in the relegation play-offs last year, where they overcame Faughs by 1-19 to 0-17. 

Manager Robert Wade will be looking to captain Mikey Noonan, who impressed during the league. Paddy Spellacy in attack and defenders Josh Thorp and Johnny Barry have all stepped up when needed this year and all can make a difference for Whitehall in this Championship.

Lucan Sarsfields & Ballyboden St Endas are the two clubs who receive a bye this weekend and will begin their Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship campaigns on the weekend of the 20th July.