Connolly leads Vincent's into SFC final

Connolly leads Vincent’s into SFC final

Mon, 26th October 2015

ST VINCENT’S 0-22 NA FIANNA 2-9

A Diarmuid Connolly-inspired Vincent’s kept the dreams of a three in-a-row of Dublin senior football championships alive with an impressive victory over Na Fianna in Sunday’s SFC semi-final at Parnell Park.

Connolly kicked five points from play, four in the opening half including three superb strikes, as well orchestrating a lively Vincent’s attack.

He had great assistance up front with Ruairí Trainor kicking four points from play while their entire starting attack scored from play with second half sub Joe Feeney also getting in on the act with three points from play.

Vincent’s were on top from the start and led 0-9 to 0-2 by the 18^th minute but the concession of a goal lifted Na Fianna spirits.

That goal came in the 21^st minute, brilliantly created by Conor McHugh for Adam Caffrey to apply the finish – that made it 0-9 to 1-3.

By the break it was 0-12 to 1-3 as Vins responded well with points from Connolly (two) and Ciarán Dorney.

Na Fianna tested the Vincent’s rearguard at times with Aaron Byrne particularly prominent but Vincent’s were unrelenting with 21 of their final tally of 0-22 coming from play.

With ten minutes remaining they were 0-18 to 1-6 clear before Na Fianna sub Odhrán O Maoleidigh carved through before blasting past Mick Savage.

However, it proved to be a consolation score as Vincent’s were too good on the day and too far in front.

SCORERS – St Vincent’s: D Connolly 0-5, R Trainor 0-4, J Feeney 0-3, G Burke, C Dorney, T Quinn (1 ’45) 0-2, M Concarr, B Egan, S Carthy, Cormac Diamond 0-1 each. Na Fianna: A Caffrey 1-2 (0-2f), A Byrne 0-3 (1f), O Ó Maoleidigh 1-0, N Cooper, G O’Reilly, T Brady, J Caffrey (f) 0-1 each.

ST VINCENT’S: M Savage; H Gill, J Curley, M Concarr; B Egan, G Brennan, N Mullins; D Murphy, S Carthy; G Burke, D Connolly, Cormac Diamond; R Trainor, C Dorney, T Quinn. Subs: J Feeney for Dorney (36), Cameron Diamond for Mullins (47), K Golden for Murphy (53), A Baxter for Cormac Diamond (60).

NA FIANNA: R O’Flaherty; J Cooper, N Cooper, E Murchan; E Mullan, N McGovern, G O’Reilly; JJ Martin, C O’Connor; J Caffrey, D Quinn, T Brady; A Byrne, A Caffrey, C McHugh. Subs: O Ó Maolieidigh for Quinn (39 inj), E Neville for McHugh (41), E Connolly for J Caffrey (50), N Flannery for Mullan (50), A Farrell for O’Reilly, A Fitzgerald for Brady (60).

REF: D Sheppard (Round Towers, Lusk).