Fair to say this is a total disembowelling of St. Brigid’s by Krokes Kilmakud. 4-20 to 0-13 after 46 minutes. Brian Hayes’s vroom vroom 80 yard run to set up their third goal is worth watching.
St. Brigid’s had previously run both Lucan and Cuala close.
Brigids had a pile of injuries to about 6 of their best players today.
Did crokes ever get back any of the players that left to travel / work etc. a few years ago or is it a constant churn each year ?
They are all back. A few decent young lads added this year and also colin crehan from clare
So probably at the strongest they’ve been for a few years ?
Not sure. Ronan Hayes still long term injured. I see alex considine didn’t start to-day either. They would still be warm favourites though
Cuala beat Newmarket on the BOICMC tonight.
Moneygall a lovely niche venue for this prestigious fixture.
Any sign of King Con?
Wasnt playing tonight.
What’s this?
Box Office Industries Challenge Match Circuit
There’s only one King CON in hurling and he doesn’t play for Cuala.
An update on the not quite box office Dublin A SHC this weekend. This was gameweek 4 and after the results this weekend all 6 knockout championship places have been sorted with another round of fixtures left to play. The order in which the teams progress has still to be determined though. It’s the same 6 teams who got to the knockout stages as last year.
Group 1
Lucan concluded the round robin phase of their championship with a 100% record and top spot in the group. They beat Whitehall Colmcilles on a scoreline of 3-18 to 1-21. Charlie Carter will be happy with that but now must manage the long six week gap until their semi final. This is due to the fact that they have a bye in their final group game and qualify straight to the semi finals as group winners thus skipping the quarter final. The rumour mill this morning was that Whitehall manager Shane “Saint” Stapleton had thrown his toys out of the pram and quit. This may have been the reason for the good showing by Whitehall who have been poor so far this year and now are facing into relegation. This was the only game this weekend I didn’t see so I can’t comment further.
Kilmacud Crokes utterly dismantled St Brigids in the other game in this group on a scoreline of 5-30 to 0-14. Brigids were down at least 5/6 of their very best players and Crokes subsequently made them suffer. Crokes have blooded about 5 young lads of around 19/20 and they’ve hit the ground running. Conal O Riain at wing back the most impressive of them in my eyes. The scoreline was even more impressive with them missing their main two forwards Ronan Hayes and Alex Considine. Hayes was involved in the warm up and could be back the next day. He hasn’t played since going off injured vs Wexford in championship in early May. Brigids have former Dublin keeper Alan Nolan as player manager. Their sideline was a funny set up with the manager playing. It was a collection of waterboys and auld selector types scratching heads.
Crokes play Cuala the next day out to see who comes 2nd/3rd while Brigids play Whitehall to see who comes 4th/5th and get an “easier” relegation final.
Group 2:
In the Friday night lights game Pat Gilroys St Vincents overcame Oliver Plunketts ER on a scoreline of 1-18 to 0-18 and guarantee their passage to the knockout stages. OPER must now enter the relegation dogfight again. They stayed up last year after a penalty shoot out. They started well on Friday night with Cian Boland impressive. However Vincents got a grip on things after 20 mins with Conor Burke, Hedgo and the returning McBrides being on target. An early 2nd half green flag from goal machine Hedgo put them in control by 6 points. A straight red card for Dermot Connolly on 45 mins for an off the ball incident gave OPER a lifeline. They could only close the gap to three points and were left rueing some poor wides.
Na Fianna had a comprehensive 4-30 to 1-10 win over group 2 whipping boys Faughs today. The win guarantees Na Fianna knockout hurling while Faughs will be hoping to avoid an immediate drop back to senior B. Na Fianna were in control from the start. A first half Faughs goal gave them some hope but that was quickly extinguished. Limerick import Brian Ryan was impressive in midfield for Na Fianna and I’d imagine is someone who could get a call up to the Dublin senior squad.
Na Fianna play Ballyboden the next day out while Vincents play Faughs. NaF, BBSE and Vins have all qualified for the knockout stages but in what order has still to be determined.
Would they not cut number of teams to 8? Standard atrocious from what I’ve seen.
So whoever loses between Na Fianna amd Boden will play either crokes or Cuala ?
They cut it from 16 to 10 for the 2022 championship.
The 10 team championships at Sen B, Sen C and inter are a lot more competitive than Sen A and seem to be raising the standard there.
Biggest problem I see is the 2up/2down every year in Sen A. Too many yoyo clubs can develop
OPER are improving but need to take a scalp soon. St Brigids are missing loads this year and usually more competitive. Faughs are very young. Relegation might be the best thing. They will bounce up older and stronger. Whitehall suffer due to being the Sen A club with most dual players. Lee Gannon and Cormac Costello are both big losses for their hurlers.
Looks like that alright. Should give good quarter finals.
Are you a tipperary man?
2 up/down in a ten team championship is ridiculous.
Worse….
