Dublin SHC1 - 2025 - Round 5 is this weekend - lots to play for still!

Huge weekend of games in the Dublin SHC with several teams fighting to get into the knockout stages and others trying to get out of relegation trouble.

Group one

stands like this:

you have the following games:

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Judes v Barrog:

Both have fared more or less as you would expect really, competitive in spells against the big three in the group but ultimatley not able to beat any of them and a couple of heavy enough defeats. Both beat Craobh by more then i expected them to.

This clash is huge for both, a win sees the team through to the knockout stages, a loss sees them into relegations trouble.

TT - Very hard to call - maybe Barrog the edge with more Dubs involved?

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Lucan v NaFianna:

Ordinarily, this would be a hellova clash but with both sides through, this is going to be a bit of shadow boxing and expect both sides to try a few things our. NAF have already been shuffling the pack to a large extent and dont expect this to be any different.

I think first plays 4th from the other group, so might be some merrit in going for the win here but hard to know who will finist 4th in the other group, it could be Cuala who are getting stronger as the comptition goes on.

TT - i think Lucan might go more for the win here, but NAF have been shuffling the deck and have so many options and firepower NAF for the win unless they change too much up.

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Boden v Craobh

Total Dead rubber here really. Boden are into knockout and Craobh are into relegation play offs, otherwise exoect boden to be far too strong for Craobh who have really struggled in this group, not only against the big hitter but against their peer teams as well unfortunately.

TT - Only one winner - Boden

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GROUP TWO:

Outside Crokes Group Two is a dogfight with 4 teams on 4 points and only OPER are cut adrift - and they have been getting better since the lads returned.

Round 5 stacks up like:

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Vincents v Whitehall

Must win game for both to try and stay ahead of each other and Brigids and Cuala. Vincents lost a narrow enough one to Brigids in the last round. Whitehall were well beaten by Crokes, but they were missing a fair few regulars. They'll need them back for this crunch game; the toll of so many dual players might be catching up with them and Daire Grey is out as well.

TT - Vincents to capitalise on Whitehall's injury problems - if Whitehall can hold Hedgo then they've a chance.

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Cuala v Crokes

Crokes have possibly been the most impressive team to date (NAF shuffling the deck so much hard to tell) but they're trhough the group here now so might try a few things out, but they do have the oppertunity to knockout Cuala here. Cuala are getting stronger with each roundas more players are becoming avliable and are fighting to avoid relegation play off and to squeak into the kncoout stages.

TT - if Crokes are motivated enough to knock out their dearest neighbours, they should win but Cuala could cause them problems - Crokes to win a narrow one

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Brigids v OPER

OPER very nearly beat Whitehall and if they had would have it all to play for here. Brigids have had a very good championship, really just the narrow loss to Cuala has them in the dogfight in R5.

TT - Brigids to win - OPER could survive relegation battle tho.

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Loads are being streamed which is great:

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