PREVIEW: Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Final

It's a case of another Saturday, another Dublin county final, as the Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Final between Na Fianna and Lucan Sarsfields takes centre stage on Saturday night at Parnell Park (throw-in 7:15pm).

It’s also an all-Group 1 affair- the sides met earlier in the Championship, when Na Fianna came out on top.

Defending county champions Na Fianna are the only club out of the pair still with a 100% record. Funnily enough, the Mobhi Road men’s last championship defeat came at the hands of Lucan last year in the group stage of the championship.

However, Na Fianna showed great resilience to bounce back and retain the Dublin hurling title under the leadership of Niall Ó Ceallacháin, who had led them to county final glory for the first time in 2023. 

Ó Ceallacháin then ended his time with his club with a maiden Leinster and club All-Ireland title before enjoying a successful championship with the Dubs, leading the Boys in Blue to a first All-Ireland hurling semi-final in 12 years.

Now under the leadership of Aidan Downes, the Glasnevin club would love to win a third Dublin championship in-a-row and continue the success of recent years.

Lucan Sarsfields have built on their impressive 2024 and have gone one better than their semi-final exit last year. They are in the county final for the first time since 2013 and are hoping to win their first-ever senior hurling county title this Saturday.

Na Fianna

Na Fianna started their defence of the Dublin hurling crown in great style with a 2-26 to 1-19 win over St Judes in the opening round of the 2025 championship.

Seán Currie, Jack Meagher, Colin Currie and Liam Stacey all impressed, as Na Fianna sailed home with ease.

It was then two wins from two with a 1-27 to 1-14 win over Naomh Barróg. Tom Brennan was the Na Fianna goalscorer in that 13-point victory, battling through a number of defenders before firing home.

The third outing of the championship and their third win was a dramatic one and came in a 2-21 to 1-21 win over Ballyboden St Endas. Brennan was rattling the opposition net in this one too, scoring two goals after David Keogh had helped Ballyboden land the first blow of the contest.

Despite losing Sean Burke to a red, Paul O’Dea and Colin Currie helped their side rack up scores, while Brennan and Gavin King held on to withstand a late rally from Boden to claim a third win.

Craobh Chiaráin were no match for Na Fianna, as the defending Dublin, Leinster and All-Ireland champions won by 30 points, 3-32 to 1-8.

Shane Barrett and AJ Murphy helped Na Fianna to a 15-point advantage at the break before Barrett grabbed his second and Na Fianna's third goal of the afternoon.

Seán Currie top-scored with 0-12 for himself, while Darragh Meagher impressed with six points alongside the duo of Barrett and Murphy.

It was then five wins from five when Na Fianna beat Lucan Sarsfields 1-21 to 0-18 to win Group 1. Na Fianna put in a mature and composed performance.

Murphy, Seán Currie and Colin Currie were all on form, as was Brian Ryan, as they claimed a four-point win.

In their quarter-final Na Fianna had to dig deep and show what they were made of in their 2-37 to 2-34 win over Cuala after Extra Time.

In this enthralling tie, Na Fianna enjoyed a 2-15 to 1-14 interval lead, thanks to goals from Dónal Burke and Seán Currie.

That lead grew when Burke added two classy points to go alongside Seán Currie and Murphy's efforts, but back came Cuala, and despite Ryan adding what most thought were the matching winning scores, Cuala's George O’Toole ensured extra time would be played at Parnell Park.

Murphy and Charlie McCarthy pushed Na Fianna two points clear by half-time in extra time, while Tom Gleeson, Charlie McCarthy and Colin Currie helped settle the contest at last as Na Fianna marched on.

Things weren't as touch and go as they were in the quarter-final when they took on old foes Kilmacud Crokes in the semi-final, beating the southside team 2-22 to 0-17.

The first-half was a tight affair, with the two teams sharing 10 points each by the time the referee blew for half-time.

But after the break, Murphy and Ryan both found the net in the 50th and 52nd minutes, while Dónal Burke picked up five points for himself as Na Fianna booked a place in the Dublin Final for the fifth year in a row and now turn their attention to securing a hat-trick of Dublin senior titles in a row this weekend.

Lucan Sarsfields 

As mentioned, Lucan Sarsfields have built on their successful 2024 and want to go one better and become county champions for the first time.

They made their county championship ambitions clear with a solid Group 1 showing, finishing runners-up behind Na Fianna.

They won 1-24 to 0-16 against Craobh Chiaráin in their championship opener in a game that was slow to get going but then exploded into life after Lucan led 0-11 to 0-10 at the break.

When the teams came back out, it was all about Lucan; Paul Crummey scored a goal shortly after half-time, while Ben Coffey ended the game as top scorer with 10 points as Lucan won in style.

Charlie Carter's men then followed up that win with a 2-19 to 0-21 win over Ballyboden St Endas to make it two wins from two.

St Judes were next, and yet again, Lucan were comfortable winners, 2-24 to 0-15.

Lucan pulled away towards the end of the game, courtesy of goals from Donie Flannery and David Mulqueen.

Lucan then set up a winner-takes-all group decider with Na Fianna, after they deservedly beat Naomh Barróg 1-23 to 0-19.

A 10th-minute penalty from Seán Harkness following a foul on the lively Charlie Keher gave Lucan the advantage as they entered the break leading by 1-10 to 0-11.

Barróg weren't going away, but Sars had enough in the tank to prevail as Harkness finished the contest with 1-7 to his name.

Lucan Sarsfields then set up a winner-takes-all group decider with Na Fianna when they deservedly beat Naomh Barróg 1-23 to 0-19.

A 10th-minute penalty from Seán Harkness following a foul on the lively Charlie Keher gave Lucan the advantage as they entered the break leading by 1-10 to 0-11.

Barróg weren't going away, but Sars had enough in the tank to prevail as Harkness finished the contest with 1-7 to his name.

However, as mentioned, they'd lose their 100% record to Na Fianna despite a third-minute goal from Paul Crummey and five first-half Harkness points giving them a 1-12 to 0-13 interval lead.

John Bellew and Lucan substitute Jack Behan kept their side in it, but ultimately it was the reigning champions who had enough to win the game and the group, and Na Fianna emerged 0-25 to 1-18 winners despite Harkness finishing with nine points.

A nine-point 2-22 to 1-16 win over St Brigids secured their path to the final four. Locked at nine points each, Cian O’Sullivan and Charlie Keher were playing their parts for the respective teams. Paul Crummey and substitute David Mulqueen found the net for Lucan, who advanced despite losing Harkness to a red card.

In the semi-finals they were reunited with Ballyboden St Endas, this time getting by Boden by four points, 1-21 to 1-17, and Ben Coffey helped them to a 0-16 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

Darragh Kenny's penalty prompted a Ballyboden comeback when he converted it in the 33rd minute. But Lucan would score a penalty of their own when Coffey (who stepped up for his side with a top score of 1-11) put Lucan back in control of the tie in the latter stages.

Lucan now turns their focus to their date with destiny as they look to become top hurling dogs in Dublin for the first time ever.

We're in for a real treat on Saturday with two great clubs battling it out for Dublin hurling's biggest prize.

Rory Hanley will referee Saturday's game, with throw-in at 7.15pm.

The game will also be shown live on television on RTÉ 2.