Previews for Round 2 of the Dublin Senior Hurling Championship

Crunch Games coming up this weekend now as teams jostle for the knockout stages, or at very least to avoid the dreaded relegation play-offs.

NB - Remember it's top 4 into the knockout stages - with 5th and 6th playing off v the opposite in the other group, so 5th v 6th.

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GROUP ONE
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Standings:

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Croabh v Barrog

Both teams are on 0-2 - this is going to be a crucial game of either harbour ambitions of getting out of the group, even if that's beyond them, you want to be playing the 6th place team from Group 2.

In terms of form, it's hard to know with only a 2-point points difference, the only thing is that Barrog have had Boden and NaFianna in the first 2 games, which is a tough start.

Croabh, by comparison, lost by 11 to Luca,n which you might expect, but were well beaten by Judes, a game they'd have hoped to get something from.

One to Watch:

• CC - Cian Derwin - very accurate on the frees and can chip in from play as well.
• Barrog - Nathan Kidd won some good ball and took a few scores off the possession for Barrog v NaFianna

TT - I think Barrg could win this, unless Croabh turn it on big time.

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Ballyboden v NaFianna

Mixed bag so far for Boden, a good win v Barrog to start and then a 4 loss to Lucan, not catastrophic by any means, but might be a sign of where they're at currently.

NaFianna, by contrast, are moving up through the gears nicely, scoring 28 scores in each of their first two games, winning comfortably v Judes and Barrog, albeit games you'd expect them to win reasonably well.

Should have Conor McHugh back for this and will be hoping that Donal Burke has been able to work on his general fitness over the break.

One to Watch:

• Boden: Nail McMorrow - Still one of their main players for Boden.
• NAF: So many to pick from so i'll go with someone less obvious, Ciaran Stacy was brilliant in the last round but i was really impressed with Jack Meagher v Barrog, he's strong & quick and makes things happen, think he has 8 or 9 points in the first two games from midfield/HF area, which is some going.

TT - NAF to win but might be given more of a game than the first two rounds, but till by 5+

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Lucan v Judes

Feels like Judes might have turned a corner a bit this year, which is good without Danny so far - they had a battling loss to NAF, where they kept it close for the first half, and then a big win over Craobh, which will give them bags of confidence. If they have managed to get Danny back over the three-week break, they could give Lucan a rattle?

Lucan have a comfortable enough win over Craobh in R1 and a good win over Boden in round 2, seem to have Paul Crummy scoring well and are usually always strong defensively.

One to Watch:

• Lucan: Ben Coffey - still their scorer in chief
• Judes: Callum Graham - Very good for the 20s when he returned to the starting 15, quick and likes a goal.

TT - Lucan to win by 5+ Closer then that and Judes revival is going better then expected.

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GROUP TWO
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Standings:

Match Previews:

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Vincent v Crokes

Big game here and thankfully it is being streamed - both come into this on 2-0 and are running up huge scores, so this will probably turn out to be a dour defensive one!

Crokes would be many people's favourites to dethrone NAF, if anyone can, but they have a few injury issues to deal with. Both Purcells are yet to feature, but Dara has been named on the bench. As has Davy Crowe, who has had a terrible run of injuries. If he can get back to anything like the player he looked like he could be, he'll be some addition.

Vincents have welcomed back Hedgo and they've run up two 9 goals in two games. Have Darrach McBride back butit seems that Riain is down in Oz again. Have a young lad starting at 6 so he must have something about him to be starting there for Vincents - will be interested to see how they go.

If there's a weak line for Crokes, it's probably their FB line so could be goals in this one as well.

One to Watch:

• Vincents: Too easy to say Hedgo - gonna go with Curley at CBH
• Crokes: Too many to choose from - Brendan Kenny seems to be starting in midfield.

TT - Crokes to win, could win well if they can keep Hegdo under control.

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Cuala v Brigids

Brigids gave Crokes a scare in Round 1, they had a very good league before that as well so seem to be building nicely.

Had a good win over Whitehall then in R2 to rubber-stamp their improvement with the leading scorer from play in the inter-county season in COS back in the fold, and fit, they badly missed him last year. Dunphy is no slouch either.

Cuala have been disappointing so far, hopefully they have a few bodies back after the break a poor loss to Whotehall in Round 1 (poor as in the manner of it) and then an 8 point loss to Voncents in R2 - for a team that seemed to be building nicely last year, it's disappointing.

One to Watch:

• Brigids: Go to be COS - he's a serious county player now.
• Cuala: Conor Grourke - i think he coul dbe brought into NOC's panel next year to add some much needed pace to the Dubs backline options.
  

TT - Tough one to call - BBrigids to win a good game - unless Cuala have a few bodies back and then it could go either way, nah, Brigids have their confidence up, i'll tip them to edge it.

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Whitehall v OPER

A Good win in Round 1 for Whitehall has been undermined a touch by the loss to Brigids, who they'd see as rivals for the playoff places. Also have a fair few dual players, so knocks and fatigue could start becoming an issue for them.

OPER have had about as tough an opening as you could ask for in this group, with a bit of a mauling from vinnies and a tough one v Crokes but those two are top 4 in the county, they'll be looking to give Whitehall a rattle here and try to get out of the relegation places.

One To Watch:

• Whitehall: Cossie is still class with a caman
• OPER: Cillian Hayes - good player, quick with it.

TT - Oh really not sure about this one, i think EOD might be out, so that makes a big difference, Whitehall to edge it?

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