Revamped Dublin SFC ready for lift-off this week

Wed, 11th April 2018

The revamped Dublin SFC1 gets underway this week with games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Defending champions, St Vincent's, who are going for a three in-a-row, face Skerries Harps on Thursday night in Parnell Park (6.45) - it forms part of a double-header with the clash of Na Fianna and Lucan Sarsfields (8.15).

Vincent's defeated Ballymun Kickhams, 1-8 to 0-8, in last year's final - a cagey affair at Parnell Park.

A full-house packed out the Donnycarney venue but the expected fireworks never really materialised as the Marino side had the slight upperhand throughout and in team captain Diarmuid Connolly possessed the most influential player on the park by a stretch.

It was Connolly's 13th minute goal which ultimately separated the teams on the scoreboard but his overall input was far more pronounced with another point from play and several assists.

Kickhams never hit top gear and struggled to create openings against a well structured Vincent's defence.

However, in the 59th minute Carl Deeley, one of the Mun's better performers, had a goal attempt parried over the crossbar by Michael Savage after slick interplay with Eoin O'Neill and Dean Rock had opened a clear route to goal.

Kickhams pressed hard to the finish but on two separate occasions Vincent's sub Eamonn Fennell, who was introduced in the third minute of added time, put in brilliantly timed tackles to rob first Aaron Elliott and then James McCarthy of possession in potentially dangerous positions.

In their semi-final St Vincent's finished with a goal-scoring flourish to defeat St Jude's, 4-12 to 1-12.

Victory ensured that St Vincent's reached their fifth Dublin SFC final in-a-row.

While the scoreline might suggest this was a clearcut victory for the Marino side it wasn't until the closing ten minutes that Vinnies pulled clear, at that stage Jude's had been reduced to 13 men following two second-half dismissals.

Saturday's action contains a very attractive double-header in Parnell Park with four winners of relatively recent times competing.

Ballymun Kickhams, champions of 2012, face St Brigid's, champions in 2011 (4.0). The sides met in the SFC last year when the Russell Park men opened very impressively before eventually the Mun took over to run out victors.

That is following by clash of southside rivals Kilmacud Crokes (champions 2010) and Ballyboden St Enda's (champions in 2015 and went on to capture the All-Ireland).

Crokes will be without Dublin star Cian O'Sullivan as he makes his way back following a shoulder operation while Boden's early season league form has been impressive under new manager, former Kildare footballer Anthony Rainbow.

THIS WEEK'S DUBLIN SFC SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 12

SFC1 Group 2: St Vincent’s v Skerries Harps (Parnell Park, 6.45)

SFC1 Group 2: Lucan Sarsfields v Na Fianna (Parnell Park, 8.15)

Friday, April 13

SFC1 Group 1: Raheny v St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER (Garristown, 7.0)

SFC1 Group 3: St Sylvester’s v Parnells (Balgriffin, 7.0)

Saturday, April 14

SFC1 Group 1: Kilmacud Crokes v Ballyboden St Enda’s (Parnell Park, 5.45)

SFC1 Group 3: St Jude’s v Ballinteer St John’s (O’Toole Park, 4.0)

SFC1 Group 4: Ballymun Kickhams v St Brigid’s (Parnell Park, 4.0)

SFC1 Group 4: Castleknock v Clontarf (O’Toole Park, 5.45)

Dublin SFC (Clerys Cup): Roll of Honour

St Vincent’s 28 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1984, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017

O'Toole’s 11 1918, 1919, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1946

Geraldines 10 1898, 1899, 1998, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1940, 1941, 1942

Kilmacud Crokes 7 1992, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010

UCD 7 1943, 1963, 1965, 1973, 1974, 2002, 2006

Parnell’s 6 1913, 1916, 1939, 1945, 1987, 1988

Kickhams 6 1897, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1912

Garda 5 1927, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1935

Na Fianna 5 1969, 1979, 1999, 2000, 2001

Young Ireland 5 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1896

Clanna Gael 5 1936, 1937, 1948, 1961, 1968

Erin's Hope 4 1887, 1932, 1956, 1978

Thomas Davis 3 1989, 1990, 1991