Thought we'd catch up on how the runners and riders are getting on compared to expectations.

1- Na Fianna

Going well enough for the All-Ireland Champions on 3 wins from 3 games to date with a +26 points difference.

Big enough wins over Judes and Barrog to start, and a very close win over Boden.

Positives:

Jack Meagher is scoring a lot from midfield, I think it's something like 12 points he has scored in 3 games. Tom Brennan is proving to be a serious handful in the FF line and seems to score goals, he was only belatedly added to the starting 15 last year, so overall, he's a positive addition. Ciaran Stacy seems to have taken up where he left off last year.

Concerns:

I'm not sure if the guys are away or injured, or if they are just trying things out but missing Donal Burke, Sean Currie, and AJ Murphy in that last game and nearly being beaten by a decent Boden team illustrates they are beatable if not at full strength. Brian Ryan hasn't started a game yet either.

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2 - Kilmacud Crokes:

Crokes are moving along nicely - sitting on top of group 2 with a +32 points difference.

A slow enough start, but came back well to beat an improved Brigids team by 6, then beat OPER well and a comfortable enough win against what had been a flying Vincents.

Positives:

Scoring 20+ scores per game and moving through the gears nicely. Good blend of experience in lads like Fergal Whitley, Oisin O'Rorke, and Ronan Hayes blended with younger guys like David Lucey and Kenny.

Concerns:

Will want to get a few guys back and fit and games into them for the knockout stages, they would be a lot more confideent with Dara and David Purcell fit and on form but both are out so long now they're running out of time.

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3 - Lucan

Lucan have been quietly going about their business with 3 wins from 3 and very little exposure to DubsTV or match reports, so it's hard to know in any great detail who is playing well.

Would love to hear from the Lucan people if they can fill us in with more details.

Good win over Craobh in R1, an impressive win over Boden in R2, followed by a convincing win over Judes in R3, so in a very good position.

Positives:

Mixing the younger and more established options, Keher is scoring a bit, as is Paul Crummy. Dublin u20 Mulqueen sorre a goal last weekend as did Flannery. Yet to concede a goal in 3 games is impressive but then they have a serious defence.

Concerns:

You'd expect them to beat Judes and Craobh so hard to tell much from those, always seem to go well in the group stage, but can they bridge the gap to the top 2 when the chits are down - thats the make or break time for Lucan.

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4 - Cuala

Poor start to the group with a loss to Whitehall and a heavy enough loss to Vincents, regrouped over the break with a season-saving win over Brigids.

Positives:

Jamie Conroy, last year u20 dub, scored 5 from play from midfield in a welcome return to form. Have Liam Murphy and Con back playing, which are two huge additions. Have managed to keep their knockout hopes alive with a crucial win last weekend.

Concerns:

Need 2 wins from 2 games to be sure of progression, but have Crokes in the last group game, so will be up against it.

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5 - Boden

On 1 win and 2 losses from 3 games, had a big win over Barrog in R1, then a 4-point loss to Lucan and a 3-point loss to NaFianna.

Positives:

Will take positives from the narrow battling losses to two of the 3 or 4 top-rated teams. Getting 20+ scores per game, so the attack is moving okay. Have Judes and Craobh in the last 2 rounds, so should cement play-off position there.

Concerns:

Not beating a NaFianna team who were without Donal Burke, Sean Currie, and AJ Murphy would have to be a concern - NAF will be considerably more dangerous with even 2 of those 3 available.

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6 - Vincents

Have had a good start to the group with a big ol'win over OPER in R1 and a convincing win over Cuala in R2,

Positives:

Scoring 9 goals over the first two games. Had they taken their chances might have asked more questions of Crokes. Conor Burke scoring from midfield. Nolan was a positive when pushed into midfield v Crokes. HB line defended agressively as you expect.

Concerns:

Outside Hedgo still lacking scoring forwards; Bolger can chip in, but not many of the other forwards. The wides, when they were staging something of a comeback, killed off their chances.

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7 - Brigids

Started the group with a battling 6 point loss to Crokes but only after they had given Crokes a hellova fright. High scoring win then v Whitehall in R2 which looked to have set them up for a real tilt at the knockout places but the narrow loss to Cuala in R3 has them fightint for their kncokout place now for the rest of the group. Huge game against Vncents in R4, followed by what could be another crucial one v OPER.

Positives:

A fit and on-form COS is just a huge weapon at this grade. Paul Winters is also going well. Scored 2+ scores in the two games that weren't against Crokes. Loss to Cuala was narrow and could have gone either way, with everyone back like Cuala have now, they're a serious enough team.

Concerns:

O'Neill is a loss to injury picked up a knock in the win over Whitehall. Losing that narrow game v Cuala has slightly derailed a positive start to the Championship but they have a chance to get it back on track v Vincents.

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8 - Judes

Judes folk might not agree, but for me, they're in a mini league with Barrog and Craobh for the 4th knockout place and/or to avoid relegation play offs.

Have had a positive spring, placed 6th in AHL1. Put up a fight v NAF in R1 initially until NAF pulled away in the second half. Then had a big win over Craobh in R2, scoring 1-27 and then lost to Lucan (as you would expect for now).

Boden next would expect to be a tough game as well as they're just a level above where Jude's are currently, and then what looks like a crucial battle against Barrog in R5 (likely to be crucial as Barrog have Lucan in R4).

Positives:

Have lost to two of the best teams in the county and beaten their immediate challenger well, scoring well.

Concerns:

Didn't really trouble Lucan, not that you'd expect a result, but the gap was big enough and only scoring 15 points. Will Danny be back at all?

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9 - Craobh

Struggling and on three losses from three games so far, and unfortunatly all the losses are heavy enough, to Lucan initially as you'd expect but then heavy losses to their peer clubs in Judes and Barrog.

Positives:

Not many positives to take from the season so far, hopefully Cian Derwin will be back for what looks like a certain relegation play-off.

Concerns:

Lost both games heavily to teams they'd have been hoping to fight for survival. Most likely to finish 6th and so could be looking at a relegation game v Cuala or Brigids, which on current form would not end well.

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10 - OPER

Tough opening fixtures for OPER with Vincents up first and then Crokes, not clubs you'd choose to play first when down a few bodies. Then lost what seems like a classic battle v Whitehall. Two huge games to come against Cuala and Brigids who are each ony on 2 points, so might have a fighting chance of qualification?

Positives:

Ben McSweeney returned and got a goal. He's a ball-winner and would add to a lot of teams. By all accounts, Cillian Hayes going well as well - still in their own hands, albeit two good teams they need to beat.

Concerns:

Would have to be concerned about being 2 points behind the two teams above, if either of them get a win in their other game then it's looking like a relegation battle. finishing 5th could be crucial as it'd mean avoiding Barrog or Judes both of who look a lot stronger the Craobh currently.

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11 - Barrog

Again, really in a mini league with Judes and Craobh for that 4th place spot to knockout stages and to avoid relegation play off.

Tough opening to the SHC with Boden up first and then NAF, both of which they lost reasonably heavily but won the Crucial made v Croabh really well.

Positives:

Winning that game v Craobh really convincingly will give confidence going into the next round but would expect Lucan to be oo strong as well, but then critical game v Judes in R5

Concerns:

Right in the mix in 3rd spot in Group 2 - set up by that good first round win v Cuala, then lost quite heavily to Brigids but won a great battle v OPER.

Well, not a concern really, more realism, a team building like Barrog just aren't able to bridge the gap to the Bodens and NAFs, they will need time to get to that level.

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12 - Whitehall

Not really surprising that Whitehall are better in the Championship, than they were in the League without their duals. Need another win to be sure of knockout hurling as lost the head to head v Brigids, but that is complicated by having Crokes and Vincents to come.

Positives:

Cossie is playing brilliant stuff, EOD at his "wrecking ball" best in the forwards and Lee Gannon did a good job on COS when they met Brigids (well as good as anyone).

Concerns:

Tight game v OPER and losing heavily to Brigids, suggests a bit off the big guns when push comes to shove in the knockout stages. Crokes up next will tell a lot.

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