PREVIEW: Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Championship Round 2

After an exciting opening round of club championship hurling, the Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Championship returns for a second weekend of action this week.

Group 1

Naomh Barróg and Na Fianna are up in the first Group 1 game of the weekend, when they meet at Parnell Park on Friday (8.30pm- live on DubsTV).

Naomh Barróg will be hoping for an improved showing in their second game after their heavy loss to Ballyboden St Endas last time out, going down to a 14-point defeat.

Their opposition Na Fianna began their championship campaign and their bid for three titles in-a-row with a win. Their 10-point victory over St Judes saw them turn on the style. All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship top scorer Seán Currie found the net, as did Liam Stacey, while Liam Meagher made a significant contribution as Na Fianna pushed on after Callum Graham had netted for St Judes, and the Glasnevin club will be looking to back up that win with another big performance on Friday.

St Judes and Craobh Chiaráin meet on Saturday at O’Toole Park, looking to kickstart their championship campaigns.

As mentioned, Jude's lost out to defending champions Na Fianna in the first round and will be hoping the talented Graham- a Dublin U20 hurler from 2025- can impress again this weekend. 

Craobh, on the other hand, pushed Lucan Sarsfields for most of their championship opener, with Cian Derwin keeping his side in contention.

They eventually went down to a 1-24 to 0-16 loss, however. On paper, both teams are evenly matched, so you can expect a good game this Saturday.

Lucan Sarsfields and Ballyboden St Endas round off the Group 1 action this week when they meet at Parnell Park early Saturday evening, in what is expected to be the tie of the weekend.

Lucan were good value for the win against Craobh Chiaráin. Paul Crummey found the net, while Ben Coffey had a major say on the game, scoring 10 points as Lucan pulled away to wrap up their first points of the championship in style.

Ballyboden also impressed in their first championship outing of the summer in their win against Naomh Barróg. Niall Ryan bagged a brace of goals for Boden, and Fionn Murphy also impressed with 1-5. Niall McMorrow, Conor Dooley, and David Gleeson also made themselves count.

It’s very early days, of course, but this clash of first (Ballyboden) and second (Lucan) should be a cracking watch.

Group 2

St Brigid’s and Whitehall Colmcille are the first game of the weekend, when they meet at Parnell Park on Friday (6.45pm- live on DubsTV).

Brigid’s suffered a six-point defeat to Kilmacud Crokes in their first game of the championship. Brigids led at the break by 1-15 to 1-6, with Cian O’Sullivan and Paul Winters having a big say on their team's performance. Ronan Hayes scored the Kilmacud Crokes goal, but in the second-half, Crokes demonstrated their class and took maximum points.

Their opponents, Whitehall Colmcille, made a perfect start to their Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 campaign with a 6-point win over Cuala. Key man Paddy Spellacy starred with 0-14 (11f), while the likes of Conor Sheedy & Cormac Costello also impressed against a lacklustre Cuala, who had been reduced to 12-men by the full time whistle.

St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh will need a much better performance if they are to get something from their clash with Kilmacud Crokes this Saturday after their opening day thrashing at the hands of St Vincents last weekend.

Ger Ryan’s 13 points and Dennis McSweeney’s goal were the only things Plunketts had to cheer about as they went down to a 23-point defeat.

As mentioned, Crokes were great value for their first win of the championship. Oisín O’Rorke, Conal Ó Riain, Mark Grogan and Brendan Kenny also starred. The previously mentioned Hayes goal became a brace, and Michael Roche also found the net. They’ll look to add to Plunketts misery with a big performance Saturday.

The second round of championship action concludes with Cuala playing Group 2 leaders St Vincents at O’Toole Park.

Cuala saw red in their opening game despite leading 0-14 to 0-12 at half-time; they would only score four second-half points as they lost three men to red cards in the second period. Cillian Sheanon, Jake Malone, and Jack Twomey all received their marching orders, as Cuala pretty much handed Whitehall’s first win of the championship to them on a plate.

They’ll have to be much more disciplined against a St Vincents team who scored a massive 6-27 against St Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh. Plunkett’s did lose Éanna Boland to a red card, but Vinnies were clinical in front of goals. Dublin’s John Hetherton found the net twice, as did James Mulcahy and Thomas Connolly.

Brian Bolger also scored nine points for himself in that win. He and his teammates will be hard for Cuala to stop if St Vincent’s hit full flow as they go in search of a second successive win.