The SFC1 - Quater-finals are on this weekend
Huge weekend of football ahead now in the Dublin Football Championships. Wer'e going to focus on the SFC1 here, if I have time i'll look at the Round 3 of the SFC2 as well and the other grades.
For now here are the fixtures for this weekend:
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Crokes have been seriously impressive to date, topping group 4 with a points difference of +38. A good win v Clontarf in Round 1 was followed by big win over Judes and finally another big win against Slys. Seems to have been trying guy out along the way and by all accounts Mannion in particular standing out as someone enjoying the new rules.
Lucan after a poor season last year seem to be finding form, finished 2nd in Group 3 behind Cuala. Had a close but good win v Thomas Davis in Round 1, a bit of a pasting off Cuala in Round 2 but bounced back to beat Raheny in Round 3, running up 25 scores in that one. Mark Lavin seems to be coming good, which is great to see.
TT - While Lucan are improving it feels like they'll still be a ways off Crokes yet. Only one winner here, and it could get ugly if Lucan dont hit their straps early.
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Reigning All Ireland Champions Cuala topped Group 3 with a points difference of +41. Started with a big win over Raheny, followed that with a big win over Lucan and finished with a less big, but still big win over Thomas Davis. doesnt look like they're slowing down.
Clontarf squeaked through Group 4 in second place on 2 points with a -4 points difference. Lost by 7 to Crokes in R1, lost that strange game to Syls by one (0-07 to 1-05) where they didnt score int he second half and then beat Judes by 4 in R3 to claim the play off spot. They seems to be struggling for form this year compared to last.
TT - Unfortunately, this could be like the first game, a pretty one-sided game unless Clontarf find their form quickly and somehow limit Cuala.
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Ballyboden topped Group 1 on 3-0 and a points difference of +40. From what I have seen to date, Boden have impressed me the most, albeit i've not seen much of the crokes games but i feel like Boden had a touch group and they made short work of it. They had NaFianna beaten after 15-20 minutes and pretty comprehensively did the same to BSJ, who are two good teams imo. they beat Vinnies well in the dead rubber round 3 game as well, maybe not looking as impressive in the process but they didnt need to be. Attacking with movement and pace that's seriously impressive and kicking a fair clauuter of 2 pointers we well.
Castleknock finished 2nd in group two on 4 points and a points difference of +4 only. A good win over Whitehall in round one, was followed by a pretty comprehensive defeat to Ballymun in Round 2, meaning they had to win the shootut with TSS in R3 which they did pretty comfortably.
TT - I'd put Castleknock in the same category with BSJ and NAF, so if Boden hit their form early on, this could get away from Castleknock quite quickly. If they can somehow contain that Boden attack, then they've a chance.
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Tie of the round here imo
Ballymun finished top of Group 2 unbeaten and 2 wins and a draw and a PD of +17. They started with that draw against TSS, having got into a commanding position, they let TSS back into the game for the draw. Since the,n they've run up convincing wins against Castleknock and Whitehall.
Na Fianna finished second in Group 1 on 4 points with a PD of -2. After a very good league had that disastrous start against Boden beaten out the gate after 15 mins they couldnt stop boden running up 4-23. They regrouped to hammer Vincents scoring 5-18 and then pipped BSJ int he R3 shotout by a point.
TT - No idea who will win this, NAF have recovered well from their mauling in R1 and Ballymun seem to be going along impressively. Draw? Dont expect it'll be a huge win unlike some of the others potentially.
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Are the other end of the table, there's some crucial play off games
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Vincents finished bottom of Group 1 wih a points difference of -36. However, imo that group was a nightmare draw for a young team trying to build, all three teams in their group were strong, they list to BSJ in r1, NAF in R2, and Boden in R3 - this is a tricky draw as well
TSS finished bottom of Group 2 with a points difference of -14, despite that good comeback draw against Ballymun, they then lost to whitehall, conceding 4 goals, and Castleknock beat them well enough in r3 as well.
TT - not sure who will win this - possibly give TSS the edge
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TD inished bottom of Group 3 with a PD of -14, but they lost a narrow one to Lucan in R1, lost by 1 to Raheny in R2 and then lost by a few to Cuala in R3, so were very competitive agains what would be their peer teams.
Sylvesters finished bottom of Group 4 also with a PD of only -14, lost narrowly to Judes in R1, beat clontarf in that low socring game in R2 and fairly heavily to Crokes in R3.
TT - I think Thomas Davis will shade this one and survive.
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