PREVIEW: Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Football Semi Finals- 2025

And then there were four...

The Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Football Semi-Finals take place this weekend, with four clubs still dreaming of claiming glory & becoming county champions.

Three of the four teams, Kilmacud Crokes, Na Fianna and defending Dublin, Leinster and All-Ireland champions Cuala, are in the semi-finals for the second year in-a-row, while Ballyboden St Endas are in the final four for the first time since 2023.

Both semi finals take place at Dublin GAA headquarters, Parnell Park, on Sunday, with Kilmacud Crokes taking on Na Fianna at 2:15pm. That’s then followed by Ballyboden St Endas v Cuala two hours later.

Crokes are chasing a 12th county title and go into Sunday’s game having won every game they’ve played in this year's championship so far. They won Group 4 with victories over Clontarf, St Judes and St Sylvesters.

They would then ease past Lucan Sarsfields in their quarter-final. The game was virtually over at the break, as they led 0-13 to 0-3. Lucan simply couldn’t handle their opponent's attack, with Shane Walsh their star man, scoring 1-11 overall.

Glasnevin club Na Fianna are hoping to win their first Dublin senior title since 2001 and make their first final appearance since 2022. They beat St Vincents and Ballinteer St Johns after a heavy defeat in their championship opener to Ballyboden St Endas.

James Doran and Keelan Sexton were then key to setting up Sunday’s semi-final, helping their club to an enthralling comeback win over Ballymun Kickhams last time out. The Mobhi Rd men trailed by 11 points just after the break, but came back to claim a 1-18 to 1-17 win, with Doran scoring a late point to clinch the incredible victory.

Ballyboden St Endas have been in fine form this season, claiming the Go-Ahead Ireland AFL1 title earlier this year, before a 100% start saw them win Group 1, beating Na Fianna, Ballinteer St Johns, and St Vincents, and finishing with a massive positive points difference of +40.

They dug deep to overturn a three-point deficit against Castleknock in the last eight. Daire Sweeney stepped up for his side when it mattered most and scored two two-pointers on the way to picking up a tally of eight points for himself as they took the next step in their bid for a fifth Dublin title- and a first since 2019.

Cuala also won their group and still have their 100% record, as they aim for back-to-back titles.

They won Group 3 with an impressive points difference of +41 and beat Raheny, Lucan Sarsfields and Thomas Davis to take the group's bragging rights.

The reigning champions go into their semi-final full of confidence, especially after their 4-20 to 0-12 win over Clontarf.

The Dalkey men pounced for two goals within three minutes through Cillian Dunne and Con O’Callaghan on their way to a 2-5 to 0-6 interval lead. Conor Groarke and Charlie McMorrow were Cuala’s two other goal scorers, while O’Callaghan finished the game with an impressive personal tally of 1-8.

It's all to play for this weekend.

Match tickets for Sunday's double header can be found here.

And the games will also be shown live & for free on DubsTV.