Quarter-finalists decided with weekend SHC action

Champions Cuala showed why they are reigning All-Ireland, Leinster and Dublin champions when blitzing Crumlin early on before prevailing 3-23 to 1-12 in their Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group 1 clash at Parnell Park on Saturday.

The Dalkey side now progress to the quarter-finals where they will face St Brigid’s, victors also on Saturday, against Nh Fionnbarra.

Mattie Kenny's men, who are going for a SHC 'A' three in-a-row, had the scoreboard ticking immediately as they hit 1-6 inside the opening four minutes.

Cuala looked like they could end the game as a contest inside the opening half but Crumlin rallied strong and seven points separated them at the break.

Dublin senior footballer Mark Schutte struck an early goal on his way to a personal tally of 1-3 from play.

Schutte added two points in this early period of dominance with Jake Malone hitting 0-2 himself.

Alex Quinn opened Crumlin's account in the fifth minute before the impressive Nicky Kenny (0-5 from play) and David Treacy, who finished with 0-10 (0-5f), put further distance between the sides.

By the 15th minute marker Cuala were 14 points to the good with Colum Sheanon, David Treacy and Kenny again finding their range.

In the 27th minute Adam McGreal fired to the Cuala net and following an Alex Quinn point the score was 1-14 to 1-7 at the interval.

Con O'Callaghan, fresh from his All-Ireland SFC winning heroics, was introduced in the second half and make it tell with a goal as the Dalkey men cruised to victory.

In Group 2 on Saturday a massive 0-17 (0-11f) haul from Paul Winters saw Brigid's defeat Nh Fionnbarra 1-27 to 2-13 in Parnell Park to advance to the last-eight.

The opening half concluded in a flurry of goals with Tony Costello goaling for the Barrs in the 22nd minute before John O'Loughlin found the net for Brigid's in the 30th minute, moments later Barrs raised their second green flag when DJ Smithers fired to the net.

Both sides were reduced to 14 men early in the second half when O'Loughlin (St Brigid's) and Carl Turner (Nh Fionnbarra) were dismissed.

But Winters, from deadball and open play, and Cian O'Sullivan (0-4 from play) saw the Russell Park men to victory.

Kilmacud Crokes secured top spot in Group 3 following their 0-23 to 2-13 victory over St Vincent’s in Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

Vinnies were boosted by a third minute goal from Keith Connolly and pushed on with points from John Hetherton, Alan Moore and Graeme Giblin.

However, Fergal Whitely played ‘like a man possessed’ and his eight point haul over the hour separated the sides.

Points from Seán McGrath, Oisín O’Rorke, Cian Mac Gabhann, Lorcan McMullan, Rob Murphy and Caolan Conway gave Crokes a 0-11 to 1-6 interval lead.

But it was Whitely who emerged asthe Man of the Match to point the way to victory for his side.

The second part of the double-header saw Craobh Chiaráin complete their third straight win when easing past rivals O’Toole’s by 3-20 to 0-12.

Chiaráin’s could not have asked for a better start with two goals in the opening six minutes from Paul Kelly and they never looked back.

WEEKEND SHC 'A' RESULTS

Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group 1: Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-21 Faughs 0-16.

Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group 2: Lucan Sarsfields 0-23 Ballinteer St John’s 0-12.

Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group 3: St Vincent’s 2-13 Kilmacud Crokes 0-23; St Jude’s 1-20 Setanta 3-9.

Dublin SHC ‘A’ Group 4: Craobh Chiaráin 3-20 O’Toole’s 0-12; Na Fianna 4-29 Naomh Barróg 0-9.

DUBLIN SHC 'A' QUARTER-FINALS

Lucan Sarsfields v Ballyboden St Enda's: Sunday 8th October / O'Toole Park / 14:15

Cuala v St Brigid's: Sunday 8th October / O'Toole Park / 16:00

Kilmacud Crokes v Na Fianna: Sunday 8th October / Parnell Park / 14:15

Craobh Chiarain v. St Vincent's: Sunday 8th October / Parnell Park / 16:00