MATCH REPORT: St Jude’s Edge Past Na Fianna In Go Ahead AFL Division 1 Opener

ST JUDE’S 1-12 

NA FIANNA 0-14 

A goal in the 54^th minute from Alan Connolly proved pivotal as St Jude’s registered an impressive 1-12 to 0-14 victory over Na Fianna in their entertaining Go Ahead Dublin Adult Football League Division 1 opener at Tymon Park on Sunday morning.

Connolly’s was quickest to react as Eoin Kenny’s point attempt was partially blocked with his palmed finish from close range well placed over the advancing Na Fianna goalkeeper Steven Murray.

The goal completed a strong comeback from the hosts, who looked in a perilous position by the three-quarter mark as they trailed by three points and were struggling to create chances into the strong breeze.

However, with Na Fianna spurning a brace of goal chances at the opposite end, St Jude’s rode their luck to a degree and finished strongly to secure the precious two points.

With the elements in their favour, it was the home side that started on the front foot and they opened the scoring in the 2^nd minute as Kieran Doherty was afforded too much space, splitting the uprights off his left boot.

Kevin Lahiff was hugely impressive throughout and he doubled his team’s lead two minutes later following a strong run from wing-back and that lead was enhanced in the 9^th minute as Eoin Kenny popped over a straightforward free.

The visitors threatened sporadically in the early stages with Conor McHugh seeing his powerful drive well repelled by Cathal Howard but they finally troubled the umpires in the 10^th minute as James Doran clipped over from twenty metres.

Despite Paddy O’Loughlin restoring the St Jude’s lead soon after with a sumptuous score off the outside of his boot, Na Fianna were beginning to click into gear and they reduced their deficit to the bare minimum following frees from David Lacey and McHugh.

Doherty converted a free in the 19^th minute as St Jude’s made the most of limited possession but the lively Doran kicking a fine score to reward the improved efforts of his side.

However, the half finished with St Jude’s on top as Connolly and Kenny tagged on points and the latter almost netted in added time but Murray raced out bravely to block his effort after an excellent delivery from the left by the raiding O’Loughlin.

Trailing by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break, Na Fianna wasted little time in addressing their arrears and they restored parity within three minutes of the restart thanks to successive points from McHugh, Doran and captain Alistair Fitzgerald.

Doherty punished some ill-discipline in the away defence when kicking a brace of frees to edge his side back in front but St Jude’s failed to score for the ensuing ten minutes as their opponents seized complete control.

A wonderful solo score from Doran, jinking through a plethora of defenders before popping over, levelled matters by the 42^nd minute and substitute Seamus Smith made an instant impact a minute later as he handed his side the lead for the first time.

Points by Lacey and Sean Caffrey appeared to have added to Na Fianna’s momentum but they lost their way from that point with Howard converting a cracking ‘45’ into the breeze to prompt a home comeback.

Connolly’s point added to the sense that there was a final twist impending and his goal and subsequent point by industrious substitute Liam Grainger helped build a three-point lead.

McHugh kicked two points to leave the contest on a knife-edge but a levelling score proved elusive for Lar Norton’s side with their collective frustrations reflected by Fitzgerald’s dismissal deep into injury time.

Scorers – St Jude’s: A Connolly 1-2, K Doherty 0-4 (3), E Kenny 0-2 (2f), K Lahiff, P O’Loughlin, C Howard (‘45’), L Grainger 0-1 each. Na Fianna: C McHugh (2f), D Lacey 0-4 each, D Lacey 0-3 (2f), A Fitzgerald, S Smith, S Caffrey 0-1 each.

St Jude’s: C Howard; S Kirwan, C Fitzpatrick, P O’Loughlin; A Hassett, C McCarton, K Lahiff; S King, S Noone; S Murphy, J Carty, J Crennan; A Connolly, K Doherty, E Kenny. Subs: D Sheehy for Crennan (44), L Grainger for Murphy (46), D Andrews for King (48), R Wallace for Lahiff (53).

Na Fianna: S Murray; F Potts, N McGovern, A Baxter; G O’Reilly, C Reddin, C Baxter; A Fitzgerald, D Ryan; V Flynn, S Caffrey, D Quinn; J Doran, C McHugh, D Lacey. Subs: H Caffrey for Potts (41), S Smith for Flynn (41), C Dolan for C Baxter (44).

Referee: Dan Stynes (St Peregrine’s)