PREVIEW: PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship Quarter-Finals

Eight will become four this coming weekend as the eagerly anticipated PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship quarter-finals take place in Parnell Park across Saturday and Sunday. 

If the group stages are anything to go by, we’re in for a festival of football across Saturday and Sunday with the quartet of matches pitching southside against northside.  

KILMACUD CROKES V CASTLEKNOCK (Parnell Park, Saturday, 3.30)

Both teams left it to Round 3 before securing their last eight berths with Crokes overcoming Ballinteer St John’s by five points to progress from the group alongside Clontarf. 

As has often been the case, Paul Mannion provided the inspiration in that 1-19 to 1-14 win, with his personal tally of 1-13 including no less than five two-pointers.   

His enduring brilliance will be pivotal to a Crokes team that are probably not at the level of previous years and an injury suffered by Dara Mullin against St John’s is a headache that manager David Nestor could have done without. 

Castleknock possess more than enough ability to prevail on Saturday with their midfield pairing of Senan Forker and Kevin Stephenson likely to enjoy an advantage over their direct opponents. 

Ciarán Kilkenny has been repositioned at centre-back to positive effect and they’ll travel to Parnell Park with optimism if the likes of marauding wing-back Rob Shaw, Lenny Cahill, Ben Galvin and Eoin Sawyer can take the chances that come their way.  

BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S V CLONTARF (Parnell Park, Saturday, 5.30)

Ballyboden have had the most comfortable progression to this stage with wins against Templeogue Synge Street, Castleknock and St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh easing their way to top spot in the group. 

Colm Basquel remains their most potent attacker but the support cast is nothing to be sneezed at when you consider the proven class of Daire Sweeney, Ross McGarry, Ryan Basquel and the returning Ryan O’Dwyer. 

Céin D’Arcy should ensure a generous amount of possession around midfield but Leo Cunningham is a formidable presence in that area for a Clontarf side that tend to make the most of the talents at their disposal. 

That quality was evident in their Round 1 victory over Kilmacud Crokes and they will look to the pace of Charlie Meehan and Jack McCaffrey to unlock the solid Boden defence. 

Luke O’Boyle is maturing with every game for ‘Tarf and his attacking threat alongside that of Kieran McKeown and Benjamin Kelly could ensure this goes right down to the wire.      

CUALA V SKERRIES HARPS (Parnell Park, Sunday, 2.00). 

This clash has the potential to be the tie of the weekend with both teams far more comfortable going forward as they both boast a plethora of attacking options in their ranks. 

Skerries have been a breath of fresh air in the group stages but they must curtail their Jekyll and Hyde tendencies that have seen large leads wiped out in their Round 2 loss to Thomas Davis and narrow win against Na Fianna in Round 3.  

Greg McEneaney’s form has been pivotal to Harps’ progress and if he can exert an influence around the middle third alongside Ethan Dunne, Tim Deering and Adam Fearon, Skerries possess a sufficient threat up front through Ciaran Murphy and Stephen Smith to post a competitive tally. 

That might be easier said than done as Cuala possess a talented group at centrefield in Peter Duffy, Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne and Cillian Dunne while Charlie McMorrow and Eoin Kennedy have benefitted massively from their experiences at intercounty level this year. 

Skerries manager Paul Curran will need to have a plan in place for the talismanic Con O’Callaghan, who continues to enthral with 0-30 accrued to date and it’s fair to say he’s due a green flag, given his exceptional goalscoring record down the years. 

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS V THOMAS DAVIS (Parnell Park, Sunday, 4.00). 

Ballymun have shown encouraging glimpses this campaign and they looked to be finding their collective stride during the second-half of their crucial Round 3 win against St Jude’s last Sunday week. 

Despite having to field without the injured Paddy Small, the Kickhams forward line clicked into gear with senior statesmen Fiach Andrews and Dean Rock leading with the way as they shared 1-8 from play over the hour. 

Keelin McGann’s arrival from Longford this year has brought pace and scoring impetus to the team while Evan Comerford, John Small and James McCarthy provide their side with a wealth of experience. 

Thomas Davis had the luxury of qualifying before Round 3 and while they succumbed to a Brian Fenton-inspired Raheny, they could take solace from another competitive clash after narrow wins over Na Fianna and Skerries Harps. 

Fionn Murray’s elevation in form was reflected in his 1-10 tally against Raheny with Ryan Deegan, Adam Waddick, Mark Nolan and Chris Sallier key cogs for Ciarán Farrelly’s side.