So the SHC1 2025 Quarter-Finals are on this weekend, let's look at the form of the runners and riders

Here's the fixtures

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Crokes v Barrog

Crokes come into this with a record of 4 - 1, the 4 wins in rounds 1-4 and a last round loss to Cuala (who were fighting for their survival). The loss might prove to be the kick up the backside needed to really drive on, they were slow to get up the pitch of Cuala's intensity, which led them to dominate the first 20 minutes.

Even with that tho, Crokes fought back into the game. Finished the group with a +52 points difference. Slight question marks - do they know their best 15 and can that FB line keep the better teams out from scoring goals? Time will tell but it'll take a very good team to know them out.

Barrog have done really well to get to the knockout stages in a group with bodenm lucan and the all ireland champs, they won their mini league v Judes and Craobh, with a very convincing win v Judes in the winner takes all tie in R5.

Expect them to be well up against it here, they've struggled against the top teams to date, and Crokes are as good as anyone.

TT - Crokes to win well.

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Vincents v Boden

Boden finished 3rd in Group 1 on 3 wins and 2 losses and a PD of +42. The three wins against the teams you'd expect them to beat, but lost both the games against teams they'd consider their peers. The lucan loss was close enough (4 points) and the loss to NAF was only 3 points, so very competitive in both of those.

Vncents are also 3 - 2 with a PD of +32. Started really strongly, then took a bit of a clipping off Crokes (8 points) and losy a narrow on v Brigids but then saved their season with a big ol'score against Whitehall.

TT - Hard to predict who will win this, really.

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Lucan v Brigids

Lucan finished the group in 2nd place on 4-1 and a PD of +34. Their sole loss in r5 against NaFianna, where they put up a pretty decent fight, just kind of lost their way in an attacking sense mid way through the second half and NAF got ahead. Otherwise ran up decent scores againt the lower finishing teams, albeit not a massive score against Barrog and beat Boden by 4.

Brigids finished on 3-2 and a PD of +12 they had a battling performance against Crokes in r1, beat Whitehall well in R2, lost a tight one-pointer to an improving Cuala in R3, then beat Vincents in a tight one in R4 abd another close one against OPER in R5.

TT - should be competitive, but Lucan to pull away by the end, their defence is strong and will look to contain COS.

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NaFianna v Cuala

Tie of the round for me - Cuala have been improving with each round as they get bodies back and had a very good, if squeaky bum, win over Crokes in R5. They finished the group on 3-2 with a PD of +14 - which would suggest they're in trouble but they started so badly, they've really done well to get this far.

NaFianna on the other had come into this on 5-0 and a PD of +60 - and they have been rotating players right through the group stages, getting games into loads of options and more established players like Rushe and Brian Ryan only returning in the last round.

TT - should be a good game, I'd almost have Cuala as favourites against anyone else from G1 but feels like NAF will be just a step too far, but they'll give it a rattle, if they can get Con through on goal, who knows.

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RELEGATION BATTLES:

On the relegation scrap, we have:

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Jude's v OPER

Judea finished on 1 - 4 and a Pd of -34, they'll be particularly disappointed with the manner of the R5 loss to Barrog.

OPER are 0-5 and -70 PD which tells it's own story. However they only lost in R5 to Brigids by 3 points, and only lost to Whitehall by 1 in R3, a few trimmings gainst the bigger teams, especially in the early round when they were down a fair few faces.

TT - hard to call - I have an inkling OPER might do it, but very hard to call.

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Whitehall v Craobh

Whitehall just missed out in R5 with 2 wins under their belt on 2-3 and PF of -46. The manner of the loss to Vincent will be a worry but it feels like the dual situation caught up with them along the way.

Craobh have had a poor championship and would possibly be better off in SHC2 for a year or two to try and regroup. a record of 0-5 and -101 PD tells the story, not even competitive against Judes or Barrog.

TT - Whitehall to retain SHC1 status, comfortably enough if they have a full pick.

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RESULTS:

SHC1 Quarter-Finals:

• Kilmacud Crokes 3-27 Naomh Barróg 0-18
• St Vincent’s 2-27- Ballyboden St Enda’s 1-31 AET
• Lucan Sarsfields 2-22 - St Brigid’s 1-16
• Na Fianna 2-37 - Cuala 2-34 AET

SHC1 Relegation Play-Offs:

• St Jude’s 0-25 - St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER 0-23
• Whitehall Colmcille 2-23 - Craobh Chiaráin 2-22 AET