PREVIEW: PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship Semi-Finals

Precious final berths are up for grabs next Sunday afternoon when the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship semi-finals take place in Parnell Park. 

Last weekend’s football semi-finals offered a wealth of entertainment and quality and next Sunday should be equally enthralling as holders Na Fianna, Cuala, Kilmacud Crokes and last year’s runners-up Lucan Sarsfields put their seasons on the line in Donnycarney. 

CUALA v NA FIANNA (Sunday, Parnell Park, 2.00). 

Na Fianna enter this last-four clash in mixed form with relief being their primary emotion when narrowly getting the better of St Jude’s by 0-26 to 2-18 at the quarter-final stage last Sunday week. 

It has been a tricky period for the holders as they lost their final group game to KilmacudCrokes before having just two points to spare against St Jude’s and it’s fair to say they are struggling to replicate the form that has seen them dominate the hurling landscape in the county for the past three years. 

Injuries have certainly played their part with Donal Burke’s absence from the panel for the quarter-final a cause for concern ahead of Sunday while many others are slowly getting back to full fitness but still not suite at their optimum.

It’s not all doom and gloom down Mobhi Road way however with the form of Seán Currie since his return to action a massive boost to the side’s chances while Ciaran Stacey’s pace could be a major asset going forward. 

Further down the field, the defence does not look as secure as in previous years but the experience gained from coming through periods like this is sure to stand to them assuming the contest goes right down to the wire. 

Cuala’s talents should ensure that is the case after a group campaign that saw them win all five matches before they beat Whitehall Colmcille by 1-25 to 2-11 at the last-eight stage. 

The concession of two goals to a weakened Whitehall might trouble them slightly while they spurned numerous goal chances that afternoon and such profligacy on Sunday is likely to prove fatal to their chances. 

However, it’s generally a positive picture that they present with their half-back line of Diarmuid Ó Floinn, Sean Moran and Jake Malone as strong a trio as one could hope for while dual player Eoghan O’Callaghan continues to shine in their full-back line.

How they utilise the versatile Conor Groarke will be pivotal to their chances and Cuala have shown all year that scores are not limited to one or two individuals with nine players on target against Colmcille. 

David Treacy caught the eye that day with a classy cameo off the bench that included five points from play and the return to the line-up of Liam Murphy was another positive for the Dalkey outfit. 

The teams met last year with Na Fianna edging a memorable quarter-final by 2-27 to 2-34 after extra-time and it may be that we will need more than the allotted sixty minutes once again to decide Sunday’s encounter.

KILMACUD CROKES V LUCAN SARSFIELDS (Sunday, Parnell Park, 4.00) 

The second semi-final is another clash that could keep us guessing right until the final whistle with Lucan Sarsfields looking to take another positive step towards securing their first ever title. 

They came so close to achieving that ambition last year, falling narrowly to Na Fianna in the decider and there will be shortage of motivation for Charlie Carter’s side as they look to right that particular wrong. 

Their conversion rate on the biggest of days has been an issue in recent years and they’ll hope that their second-half accuracy from their comfortable win against Erin’s Isle last Saturday week is a sign of things to come. 

Ben Coffey, Paul Crummey, Matt Coogan, Killian Costello and Ciaran Dowling all netted in that 5-20 to 1-12 win with Costello, Cathal Kennedy and Colm Walsh representing the youthful promise and leadership within their ranks. 

The experience of Paul Rigney, Matt McCaffrey, Ronan Smith, Chris Crummey and John Bellew will be vital in the Sarsfields defence who will have their hands full dealing with the pace and scoring threat of the Crokes attack.

Kilmacud weren’t at their best when accounting for St Brigid’s by 2-22 to 0-17 in the quarter-finals with the final scoreline belying their issues in the first-half. 

Brigid’s were the more impressive outfit up until Jack O’Neill’s 24th minute dismissal with Crokes availing of their numerical advantage to eventually ease home thanks to goals in the third quarter by Alex Considine and Oisín O’Rorke. 

Question marks still remain over Crokes despite winning all their six matches to date and we’ve yet to see Brian Hayes dominate midfield in the manner in which we have become accustomed. 

Their depth is impressive however with the likes of O’Rorke, Tom Stakelum and Ger Veale to spring from the bench while Ronan Hayes, Fergal Whitely and Dara Purcell are all capable match-winners.