SFC1 and SFC2 promise plenty of exciting duels

Tue, 9th April 2019

The Dublin SFC1 and SFC2 get underway this week with plenty of top action in store at nine different venues across the county.

Last year a Paul Mannion-inspired Kilmacud Crokes were crowned Dublin senior football 1 champions when defeating St Jude's 2-12 to 0-13 in the SFC1 decider.

Mannion gave an exhibition of marksmanship, kicking 1-6 from play as Crokes won in pillar to post fashion. The Dublin star signalled his intent early with two superb points and it was his goal in the 57^th minute that finally sealed the fate of Jude’s when he threaded the ball through the legs of advancing keeper Liam Mailey.

Crokes’ defence was excellent, precise in their tackling and use of possession with the likes of Liam Flatman, Ross McGowan, Cian O’Conor and Cillian O’Shea to the fore.

It's a defence that conceded just on goal in their entire successful SFC1 run and that was a wondergoal by Ballyboden St Enda's James Madden in their opening group game of the round-robin phase.

Crokes open the defence of the title on Saturday afternoon in what should prove to be a great battle against Ballymun Kickhams in Group 1 in Parnell Park (7.0).

The sides met recently in AFL1 action when two goals from Dan O'Brien, who recently returned from a long-term injury, saw Kilmacud emerge 2-12 to 1-14 winners.

Also on Saturday at the Donnycarney venue as part of the same double-header is the clash of Na Fianna, now under the management of former Dublin footballer Dessie Farrell, and St Sylvester's (5.15).

The action commences on Wednesday night when last year's beaten finalists, St Jude's, face St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh in Group 3 in Parnell Park (7.30).

Neither side has been flying in the early season AFL1 games but that will mean little when the sides collide.

Jude's have beaten Templeogue Synge St in league action but lost to both Na Fianna and St Maur's while Plunkett's have lost all three games to date to Maur's, Lucan Sarsfields and St Vincent's.

Also on Wednesday night Castleknock face an in-form Ballinteer St John's in Group 4 at Monastery Road, Clondalkin (7.30).

St John's currently sit joint-top of AFL1 along with Lucan and St Maur's after early seasons victories over Thomas Davis, Skerries Harps and Cuala.

DUBLIN SFC1

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

Group 3

Parnell Park: St Jude's v St Oliver Plunkett's/ER, 7.30

Group 4

Monastery Rd: Castleknock v Ballinteer St John's, 7.30

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

Group 2

Garristown: Lucan Sarsfields v Skerries Harps, 7.30

Group 4

Lawless Park: St Vincent's v St Brigid's, 7.30

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

Group 1

Parnell Park: St Sylvester's v Na Fianna, 5.15

Parnell Park: Kilmacud Crokes v Ballymun Kickhams, 7.0

Group 2

O'Toole Park: Ballyboden St Enda's v Clontarf, 3.30

Group 3

O'Toole Park: Thomas Davis v Raheny, 5.15

DUBLIN SFC2

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

Group 1

Balgriffin: Round Tower Clondalkin v St Maur's, 7.30

Group 4

St Margaret's: St Peregrine's v Fingal Ravens, 7.30

Parnell Park: Parnell's v St Mary's, Saggart, 7.30

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

Group 2

Balgriffin: Nh Mearnóg v Templeogue Synge St, 5.30

Blakestown Road: St Anne's v Erin's Isle, 5.30

Group 3

St Margaret's: Round Tower Lusk v St Pat's, Palmerstown, 5.30

SUNDAY, APRIL 14

Group 3

O'Toole Park: Whitehall Colmcille v Nh Olaf, 2.15

Group 1

O'Toole Park: Fingallians v Cuala, 4.0

DUBLIN SFC (Clerys Cup): Roll of Honour

St Vincent’s (28 times) 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

Erin's Hope (4) 1887, 1932, 1956, 1978

Thomas Davis (3) 1989, 1990, 1991