Na Fianna have too much firepower for Faughs in SHC ‘A’ quarter-final

DUBLIN SHC ‘A’ QUARTER-FINAL

NA FIANNA 4-20 FAUGHS 2-10

Three second-half goals saw Na Fianna cruised to a comfortable double-scores 16-point victory in this Dublin SHC ‘A’ quarter-final at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.

Na Fianna led by five points at the break, 1-11 to 2-3, but early second half goals from Micheál Murphy and Martin Quilty saw the Mobhi Road men move out of sight.

They finished the game at their ease with the impressive Donal Burke, two tallied 2-10 overall, hit his second goal with points from the Dublin hurler (free), Paul O’Dea and Kieran Murphy adding gloss to their final scoring tally.

Micheál Murphy’s goal came two minutes into the second period following a brilliant pass from the energetic Seán Currie.

Two minutes later Martin Quilty was picked out by another pass showcasing great vision, this time from Paul O’Dea, which made it 3-12 to 2-4 and Faughs had a steep uphill task on their hands.

Sub Seán Ryan was making a telling presence as a target-man at full-forward and with plenty of possession the scores kept coming.

Three points from Donal Burke, including one free, made it 3-15 to 2-5 by the 43^rd minute before Carl O’Mahony struck his second free of the half for Faughs.

Faughs kept battling and Fergal Heavey and Shane Doherty were rewarded with scores but there was no way back for the southsiders.

Na Fianna concluded their day with an unanswered 1-4 with AJ Murphy igniting their late scoring surge with a fine point on the run from 50 metres.

In the opening half Na Fianna started positively with two early points from Seán Currie before the influential Donal Burke made it 0-3 to 0-0 inside six minutes.

A Carl O’Mahony free opened Faughs account but the St Mobhi Road outfit responded with the next three scores.

AJ Murphy flicked over a fine point off his left after collecting a long diagonal ball into the right corner by Donal Burke.

Donal Burke then fired over from his own ‘65’ in the 12^th minute before a minute later releasing Martin Quilty for a point from 50 metres to make it 0-6 to 0-1.

However, before the water-break great opportunism by Ciarán Brennan when he pressurised Na Fianna into a defensive mistake before racing through on goal and making no mistake, to lift the Tymon North men.

In the 18^th minute Na Fianna had a brief sighting on goal when Micheál Murphy put through Seán Murphy but he lost control and the opportunity was lost.

With ten minutes to go in the opening half Faughs punished further inaccuracy when attempting to work the ball out of defence resulting in Ciarán Brennan placed Carl O’Mahony who raised a second green flag for the southsiders.

But Na Fianna, who were guilty of some wasteful shooting in the opening half, replied in style when Donal Burke won a long Shane Barrett free 30 metres out and headed for goal, his shot from 20 metres was parried by keeper Liam Gleeson but found the net.

Between then and the interval Na Fianna held the upperhand with points from Donal Burke, three including two frees, and Seán Currie with Carl O’Mahony converting two deadball chances for Na Fianna to lead 1-11 to 2-3 at half-time.

SCORERS – Na Fianna: D Burke 2-10 (0-4f), M Quilty 1-2, S Currie 0-4, M Murphy 1-0, AJ Murphy 0-2, P O’Dea, K Murphy 0-1 each. Faughs: C O’Mahony 1-7 (0-7f), C Brennan 1-1, F Heavey, S Doherty 0-1 each.

NA FIANNA: J Treacy; H Fenlon, K Burke, S Baxter; M Oliver, S Barrett, P O'Dea; M Quilty, C McHugh; S Currie, AJ Murphy, E McHugh; S Murphy, D Burke, M Murphy. Subs: C Kelly for Fenlon, S Ryan for S Murphy, K Murphy for E McHugh, E O'Sullivan for Barrett.