Lucan Claim Victory Over Na Fianna In Go Ahead Adult Hurling League

GO AHEAD ADULT HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION ONE 

LUCAN SARSFIELDS 1-20 

NA FIANNA 1-16 

By Daire Walsh 

LUCAN Sarsfields produced a strong second half performance to secure a well-deserved win over Na Fianna in a tense Go Ahead Adult Hurling League Division One clash at St Mobhi Road on Saturday afternoon.

Two points adrift at the interval, Lucan outscored their opponents 1-10 to 0-7 on the resumption to claim the spoils in clinical style. Having also got the better of Faughs on their home patch just three days earlier, the 12th Lock men currently occupy second place in the AHL1 table behind the unbeaten Ballyboden St Enda’s.

Chris O’Leary’s 1-11 haul proved crucial in getting Lucan over the line, but returning Dublin star Chris Crummey also produced a typically commanding display from centre-back. While inside forward AJ Murphy contributed an impressive tally of 11 points, 2021 Dublin SHC finalists Na Fianna suffered their fifth defeat of the campaign.

Following traded points between O’Leary and opposition wing-back Paul O’Dea, Na Fianna netminder Jonathan Tracey ruthlessly dispatched a fifth-minute penalty to the net after Tom Brennan had been fouled. The reliable O’Leary subsequently brought his personal tally to 0-5 with a series of eye-catching scores and while Murphy and corner-back Conor Kelly split the uprights for the hosts, Lucan drew level courtesy of Alan Byrne’s white flag effort just shy of the first-quarter mark.

Murphy was every bit as influential for Na Fianna as O’Leary was at the opposite end and he bagged his side’s final six points of the opening period - including a brace from play. Although O’Leary (two), Evin Dowling and Charlie Keher found the range as the action progressed, Lucan were staring into a 0-10 to 1-9 deficit at the start of the second half.

A Sean Ryan point initially kept Na Fianna in the driving seat, before Keher and Chris Crummey (from distance) cut the gap to a bare minimum in the 34th-minute. Even though Liam Stacey and Brennan combined to restore the Glasnevin side’s three-point cushion, O’Leary matched the exploits of Tracey by drilling a penalty beyond the reach of the same player on 41 minutes.

This score did wonders for the confidence levels of Lucan, who consequently pushed on to lead by four points with just 11 minutes remaining. Paul Crummey, O’Leary (free), Cian McHugh and Donal Flannery were on target during this juncture to place them within sight of the two points on offer.

After briefly departing the scenes with a blood injury, Murphy knocked over four frees to keep Na Fianna within touching distance. Nonetheless, with O’Leary adding three more points of his own as a supplement to a second from the excellent Chris Crummey, Lucan ultimately came out on top.

Next up for Lucan in AHL1 is a home encounter against Naomh Barrog at 12th Lock on June 11. Three days earlier, Na Fianna will welcome northside rivals St Vincent’s to RCSI Dardistown.

Scorers - Lucan Sarsfields:Chris O’Leary 1-11 (1-0 pen, 0-8f), Chris Crummey, Charlie Keher 0-2 each, Alan Byrne, Cian McHugh, Donal Flannery, Evin Dowling, Paul Crummey 0-1 each.Na Fianna:AJ Murphy 0-11 (9f), Jonathan Tracey 1-0 (pen), Conor Kelly, Paul O’Dea, Liam Stacey, Sean Ryan, Tom Brennan 0-1 each.

LUCAN SARSFIELDS: Sean McClelland; Eoghan Seery, Paul Rigney, Paul Claffey; Philip Smith, Chris Crummey, Alan Byrne; Robert Ward, Cian McHugh; Eoghan O Conghaile, Chris O’Leary, Donal Flannery; Evin Dowling, Paul Crummey, Charlie Keher.Subs:Sean Harkness for Ward (52).

NA FIANNA: Jonathan Tracey; Conor McHugh, Sean Burke, Conor Kelly; Paul O’Dea, Robert Fenlon, Ciaran Heaney; Ben Gaughran, Liam Stacey; Sam Carthy, John Tierney, Kieran Murphy; Sean Ryan, Tom Brennan, AJ Murphy.Subs:Eddie Mongey for Heaney (5-9, blood), Mongey for Carthy (h-t), J Guinan for McHugh (35), Aonghus Brady for Murphy (47-51, blood), Brady for Burke (56). 

Referee: Sean Stack.