Kilmacud Crokes vs Na Fianna Preview
The Kilmacud Crokes will play Na Fianna in the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Hurling Championship Final. The two sides will meet at Parnell Park on October 26th at 7:45 pm. This is an exciting clash between Dublin’s last two hurling champions.
On paper, little separates the two famous GAA clubs. Both teams can win this if they perform to their optimum, so it should be a cracker. Na Fianna hopes to defend their title while Crokes wants to reclaim it.
Kilmacud Crokes vs Na Fianna Key Stats and Head-to-Head
Na Fianna is the reigning Dublin Senior Hurling Champions. They claimed their first title ever in 2023 after years of heartbreak. Now they can make it two in a row. They hope to make history and establish a hurling dynasty.
They came through a tough test against St Vincent’s, sealing their spot in the final. Na Fianna won 0-26 to 1-21 in a tough match at Parnell Park. The holders had an unimpressive first half and saw two players leave the field with injuries. They trailed by a point at half-time, 0-11 to 0-10.
Na Fianna improved after the break with Colin Currie slotting seven frees over the bar. However, Conor Burke scored a crucial goal for St Vincent’s. It went to extra time and Na Fianna showed their championship composure with Colin Currie snatching some great scores. Despite missing a penalty, they held out for a tight victory.
Meanwhile, Kilmacud Crokes defeated Lucan Sarsfields in their semifinal. Crokes are seven-time champions with their last victory coming in 2022. Their footballers blew the chance to win four in a row against Cuala last weekend. Now the hurlers can ensure the club finishes the year on a glorious note.
https://twitter.com/DubGAAOfficial/status/1848801499004145896
Crokes enjoyed a more comfortable semifinal against Lucan. Their 13-point victory saw them win 2-23 to 1-13. Conal Ó Riain and Michael Roche scored two goals for Crokes. Oisin O’Rorke and David Purcell grabbed five points each as they blew Lucan away. This was an awe-inspiring performance and they should be favourites.
Kilmacud and Na Fianna already played each other this season. They drew 3-14 to 0-23 in Group 1. Na Fianna showed consistent goal threat throughout this game but the Crokes were more clinical from the field. It’s easy to see why analysts are struggling to pick the winner because there’s very little to separate these teams.
Kilmacud Crokes vs Na Fianna Predictions
Predicted Score: Kilmacud Crokes 1-24 – 1-17 Na Fianna
Both teams remain unbeaten this season and played a tie in their first meeting. Our hurling prediction is that Kilmacud Crokes will win this game. They were more impressive in their semifinal against Lucan Sarsfields. This momentum will aid them in the finals and help them reclaim their crown.
Na Fianna struggled against St. Vincent’s in the first half of their meeting. They can’t afford to start slow against the Crokes. Their fellow finalists will ruthlessly exploit any signs of weakness. In their first game, Na Fianna scored enough goals to keep in touch, but that’s not a sustainable strategy. They must shut down the Crokes’ point-scoring threat.
Another issue for Na Fianna is that they played an intense period of extra time. Kilmacud should have fresher legs than the holders. This could be crucial in the later stages of this final. Na Fianna may struggle to keep up with the 2022 champions. Confidence won’t be a problem for either side because they both have recent titles. This is a fascinating game between two of the most closely matched teams in the country.
Both sides have superb players who can provide a massive impetus for their teams. Colin Currie had an outstanding semifinal for Na Fianna and is one of the top players. They’ll look to him for inspiration. We expect a strong point haul from him, even if he finishes on the losing side. He’s also a favourite to win the Man of the Match award.
Kilmacud’s David Purcell delivered an excellent display against Lucan. Alex Considine is another player who could deliver many scores for his side in this final. Watch out for Jonathan Tracey because the Na Fianna goalkeeper is a point-scoring threat from set pieces.
We predict this game will be relatively even until the midpoint of the second half. Then Na Fianna may experience tired legs and struggle to maintain their pace. However, they could channel the adversity from St. Vincent’s and feel like nothing can stop them on their quest for two in a row.
Don’t forget to check the live betting options during this game. One black card or injury could change the course of this Dublin Hurling Final. There is little to separate these sides, but the odds may shift quickly. React in real-time to everything that happens on the field.
Kilmacud Crokes vs Na Fianna Betting Tips
The teams are neck and neck at our online sportsbook. It’s evens for either team to win this Dublin Hurling Championship Final. A €10 bet on either side at 1/1 would see returns of €20 if successful. However, we believe betting on Kilmacud is the better option.
Their semifinal victory over Lucan was very impressive. They also didn’t come through a gruelling period of extra time. Their fresher legs and momentum could give them the edge against Na Fianna. We’re expecting them to win their second title in three years. Regardless, expect a close and competitive game.
Na Fianna is the incumbent champion, and they have a chip on their shoulder. They believe some people are underestimating them. In Colin Currie, they may have Dublin’s standout player right now. We favour the Crokes, but it wouldn’t shock us if Na Fianna were victorious.
Check out the other hurling betting markets. This is a high-scoring sport, so it offers many opportunities to create a great profit. Consider an over-under bet on the number of points in this game. Their last meeting saw them score a combined 46 points. We think there will be under 50 again in this final.
Another option is to select the winner of each half. The first period may be relatively even. However, we do fancy Crokes to win the second half regardless of the full-time result. They finish games strong and Na Fianna’s exertions may catch up with them. This may be the defining factor for anyone betting on the Dublin SHC Final.
Check the individual player markets too. Colin Currie is always dangerous and is one of the safest options to be this game’s top scorer. Oisin O’Rorke is Crokes’ main free-taker and could get opportunities to rack up points again here. You could also bet on the number of yellow, red, and black cards.
https://twitter.com/DubGAAOfficial/status/1814700437016047972
These teams already played a draw this season. It’s 15/2 for history to repeat itself, with €10 potentially making a significant €75 profit. This may seem unlikely, but anything can happen when these teams take to the field. However, we give Crokes the edge and expect them to excise the despair of last weekend’s SFC defeat.
There are multiple club hurling finals taking place across the nation. Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels plays Thomastown in one standout encounter. Or you can bet on Doon as they face Na Piarsaigh in Limerick’s showpiece events. Consider creating an accumulator with your favourite ties.
Kilmacud Crokes Team News and Predicted Lineup
Crokes will probably start the same team that overwhelmed Lucan in the semifinal. They won’t want to fix what isn’t broken. Michael Roche is in contention to start after scoring 1-1 from the bench last time. Dara Purcell may drop out due to injury.
- Predicted lineup: E Gibbons B Kenny, B Sheehy, D Lucey M Grogan, C Mac Gabhann, P Linehan, B Hayes, M Roche; F Whitely, O O’Rorke, C Ó Riain, D Purcell, R Hayes, and A Considine.
Na Fianna Team News and Predicted Lineup
Na Fianna may make more changes than Crokes in this final. Cian McBride and Alan Moore added veteran nous off the bench against St. Vincent’s. One or both of them may get a start. Fatigue may force more rotation but otherwise, they’ll start their strongest side.
- Predicted Lineup: J Tracey, S Burke, C McHugh, D Ryan; P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney; B Ryan, S Currie; C Stacey, C Currie, J Kavanagh, AJ Murphy, D Burke, and G King.
