Preview: PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Final

A massive crowd will descend on Parnell Park next Sunday afternoon as Castleknock and Cuala meet in their eagerly anticipated PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship final. 

While Cuala have won the title as recently as 2024, Sunday’s decider will represent Castleknock’s first final since 2016 and only the second in their club’s history. 

That final ten years ago saw ‘Knock push St Vincent’s all the way before eventually succumbing by 0-15 to 0-10 and they’ll be hoping for a more positive outcome to gain tangible reward for the massive strides that the club has taken since its inception back in 1998. 

Ciarán Kilkenny featured back in 2016, scoring two points from play, but he was played a more withdrawn role this year, sweeping in behind the forceful midfield duo of Kevin Stepehenson and Senan Forker. 

The latter has enjoyed a hugely influential campaign and that battle around the middle third with Cuala’s Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Peter Duffy and Cillian Dunne will go a long way to deciding the outcome. 

Despite coming through against Ballyboden St Enda’s last Sunday week, the Dalkey outfit struggled on kick-outs for the large part and will require a greater return if they’re to secure their second ever title.     

Cuala’s half-back line has been the springboard for much of their positive play with both Charlie McMorrow and Eoin Kennedy benefitting hugely from their exposure to intercounty football with Dublin over the summer.

Kennedy, who scored the winning point in Cuala’s only Dublin success against KilmacudCrokes two years ago, has been a revelation during this campaign, both as an aerial option from kick-outs but also in his ability to kick scores at critical times. 

His four semi-final points against Ballyboden were pivotal in getting his team over the line, especially given that scoring talisman Con O’Callaghan was relatively subdued on the day.

Of course, O’Callaghan remains the key cog in Cuala’s armoury with the return to action of his brother Niall O’Callaghan as a substitute against Boden handing the side a much-needed boost. 

The All-Ireland success of 2025 has instilled a confidence in their ranks but they still remain vulnerable against a Castleknock team that has matured with every passing game this season. 

The energy of Shairoze Akram has been utilised further up the field while Conor Chawke and Dylan Clarke have established themselves as pivotal figures in their impressive squad. 

They will also benefit from a strong bench that will likely see Shane Boland and Ger McDermottroe provide experience and composure in equal measures, assuming they don’t feature from the outset. 

The concession of three goals to Thomas Davis in their thrilling semi-final last Saturday week is a concern but their ability to bounce back from those concessions reflects a panel comfortable in their style of play.    

The occasion should not phase either side and if the weather behaves itself, we should be treated to another doozy in Donnycarney with the outcome only decided in the closing minutes.  

For those unable to attend on Sunday, the final will be shown live on TG4, with throw-in set for 4.15.