PREVIEW: PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship- Round 5

There is still plenty to play for at both ends of both tables, as the final round of group matches in the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship take place this coming weekend.

The top four teams in each group will progress to the Quarter Finals, with the bottom two sides in each group destined for relegation playoffs.

GROUP 1

Group 1 features the mouthwatering clash between Na Fianna and Kilmacud Crokes in Parnell Park on Saturday (5.30) with the clubs having shared the last five titles between them.

Both have already secured their quarter-final spots having won all of their four group matches to date but the battle to clinch the remaining two knockout spots from Group 1 looks destined to go right down to the wire.

Erin’s Isle are best placed to finish in third place after wins against St Vincent’s and Naomh Barróg and their encouraging group campaign will be franked by a win over Whitehall Colmcille on Friday night.

The picture becomes slightly murkier after that but the result from Naomh Barróg and St Vincent’s will add clarity to the group as the quarter-final berths and relegation play-off teams are decided.

Barróg are in the most precarious position as they remain pointless, but a win over Vinnies would see them leapfrog the Marino outfit on head-to-head, with a victory for Erin’s Isle against Whitehall leaving the bottom three teams on two points.

That would require a mini-league in that instance to decide final placings, where only the results between the three clubs will be taken into account, making every single point scored to date having added significance.

Should St Vincent’s win in Parnell Park and Whitehall overcome Erin’s Isle at the same venue, those three teams will all finish on four points, with the top two sides advancing from the mini-group into the last eight and the bottom side facing a relegation play-off.

GROUP 2

Group 2 is equally competitive with Cuala leading the way on eight points and they’ll preserve their perfect record should they get the better of Ballyboden St Enda’s in Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

That might prove easier said than done, as Boden haven’t qualified for the quarter-finals yet and are looking uncomfortably over their shoulders as they sit on two points alongside near neighbours St Jude’s and Faughs.

Lucan Sarsfields are already sitting pretty in second spot and- like Cuala- have already secured their quarter final place. St Brigid’s are best placed to join them in the last eight, having recorded victories over Faughs and Ballyboden.

Brigid’s meet a St Jude’s team in O’Toole Park on Saturday that handed themselves a lifeline when edging St Enda’s in Round 4 and they could enter the knockout mix should they secure a positive result at the weekend.

Faughs have the unenviable task of facing Lucan in their final group game and they will look to Cuala and St Brigid’s to do them a favour if they’re to ensure avoiding the threat of a relegation play-off.       

Fixtures:

PTSB SHC1 Group 1: Naomh Barróg v St Vincent’s (Parnell Park, Friday 11 Sept, 6.45); Erin’s Isle v Whitehall Colmcille (Parnell Park, Friday 11 Sept, 8.30); Kilmacud Crokes v Na Fianna (Parnell Park, Saturday 12 Sept, 5.30).

PTSB SHC1 Group 2: Ballyboden St Enda’s v Cuala (Parnell Park, Saturday 12 Sept, 3.30); Faughs v Lucan Sarsfields (O’Toole Park, Saturday 12 Sept, 3.30); St Brigid’s v St Jude’s (O’Toole Park, Saturday 12 Sept, 5.30).