By Conor Martin
The time for second chances is well and truly over as the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football quarter-finals take place this weekend, with all four games being played at Parnell Park.
Kicking off the last eight action are Cuala and Castleknock, who meet each other early Friday evening.
Cuala were impressive in Group 1 and maintained at 100% all the way through the group stages, including a third round 4-21 to 0-9 win over Fingallians and now have some handy momentum to take into their quarter-final this weekend.
Con O’Callaghan has been a danger in every Championship game so far and his 2-6 last time out demonstrates he will be an obvious man to watch, as will Luke Keating and Niall O’Callaghan, who are added to the long list of threats the south Dublin club have in their ranks.
Castleknock secured their spot in the quarter-finals in their group game, which turned out to be a decider between them and Raheny, which they won 0-14 to 0-11.
Despite losing Tom Quinn early on, Brian Farrell’s men managed to keep Raheny at an arm’s length, with Ger McDermottroe stepping up and scoring 0-5 for his club to help them into the next round.
Ballymun Kickhams and St Vincents are the other two that play under the Friday night lights after the quarter-final stage curtain-raiser.
Ballymun also enjoyed a 100% record in the group stage and look to be on a mission to get past the first knockout round of the Championship for the first time since winning the Dublin senior football crown in 2020.
Captain Dean Rock and Paddy Small have the ability and experience to lead from the front, but Robbie Bolger and Leon Young will be sure to have a say as Kickhams set their sights on the last four.
St Vincents. meanwhile, will be looking to find form at last when they play on Friday.
After an opening day win against Thomas Davis, they were well beaten by Kilmacud Crokes, before salvaging a late draw against Skerries Harps in their third game, qualifying for the quarter-finals on the head-to-head rule after finishing level on three points with Thomas Davis.
However, Cian Dunne and Albert Martin are a good source of inspiration they can turn to as they prepare for a tough task this Friday night.
Turning our attention to Saturday’s quarter-finals, Na Fianna and Clontarf are first up at Parnell Park as they play for the third semi-final spot.
Glasnevin’s Na Fianna have seemingly bounced back from last year’s group stage exit- beating Raheny and Castleknock last month, before sharing a point with Lucan Sarsfields in their final group game.
Conor McHugh and Ciaran Reddin have impressed in the saffron and blue, but after their last two showings, Tom Gray’s men will feel they will need to step it up this weekend. The experience of Jonny Cooper at the back can be crucial this weekend as Na Fianna look to keep their 2024 Championship hopes alive.
Clontarf have had an impressive Championship so far. After winning the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 2 Football title last year, they’ve seemingly settled well back into Senior 1 football life.
Their only defeat in the group stage was in the first round against Group 1 winners Cuala, before they beat Fingallians and St Judes in their final two group games.
Charlie Meehan, Matthew Barrett and Kieran McKeon all raised green flags as Clontarf breezed past St Judes. The previously mentioned experience of Na Fianna’s Cooper is equally matched by the presence of Jack McCaffrey in the Clontarf side, which ensures this tie will be sprinkled with plenty of star quality and will be one to watch.
The final quarter-final of the weekend is Kilmacud Crokes v Ballyboden St Endas, who play at 5:30pm on Saturday in a repeat of the 2023 final.
Crokes have looked in good form this Championship so far as they look to win another Go-Ahead Dublin Football Senior 1 Championship title, but they know they must be better than their showing against a spirited Thomas Davis side who held them to a draw in their final group game.
Robbie Brennan can call upon the likes of Paul Mannion and skipper Shane Cunningham, but they know they will be pushed all the way by a talented Ballyboden side.
Last year’s beaten finalists Boden have shrugged off their one-point opening-day Championship defeat to Ballymun Kickhams in relative style.
They ground out a win against St Sylvesters before thrashing Ballinteer St Johns in their last outing and will look to use that momentum to their advantage against a strong Crokes team.
Daire Sweeney has been a bright spark so far for the Firhouse Rd men and Kenny Naughton will be thankful he can call upon the likes of Céin D’Arcy, Ross McGarry, Colm Basquel and James Holland to turn up the heat on the defending champions as they look to banish the ghosts from the 2023 final and take a step closer to a first senior football title since 2019.
