Na Fianna Edge Past St Martins to Book Leinster Final Place

Image courtesy Paul Barrett 

NA FIANNA 1-16 

ST MARTIN’S 0-15 

Na Fianna advanced to their second successive AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship final as they edged St Martin’s by four points at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

The first-half was a dogged, tight affair with six points from Colin Currie helping create an 0-10 to 0-6 advantage for Na Fianna by half-time.

With eight minutes remaining, they were overtaken by the Wexford champions but substitute Seán Ryan plundered the all-important goal in the 54^th minute, beating Dylan Byrne from an acute angle for the decisive moment of the contest.

Despite falling behind to an early Rory O’Connor free, it was the hosts that settled the quicker as Colin Currie replied with a free of his own in the 2^nd minute.

Currie doubled his own tally from under the terrace three minutes later and a sublime Gavin King sideline in the 9^th minute was just reward for Na Fianna’s initial control, handed to them by strong performances at the back from Liam Rushe and Peter Feeney.

Points followed through Ciaran Stacey and Currie (free) before St Martin’s, through a Rory O’Connor free, ended a barren period of fifteen minutes at the start of the second quarter.

Colin Currie replied with his fourth score of the half but an improving St Martin’s were offered encouragement as they popped over two points from play in quick succession through David Codd and Jack O’Connor.

Na Fianna’s three-point advantage was restored by a Currie free in the 20^th minute but a brace of Rory O’Connor frees saw the fortunes of the visitors improve even further with five minutes of the half remaining.

However, it was the hosts that finished the half strongly as scores from Jack Meagher, Currie (free) and King left them well-placed with a four-point interval lead.

Rory O’Connor repeated his trick from the opening-half when converting a free within thirty seconds of the resumption as the hosts struggled to find their fluency in the early stages of the second-half.

Granted, Currie restored their buffer through a 37^th minute free but most of their best work was being done in a defensive manner.

A deft Rory O’Connor flick set up Darren Codd a minute later and the former fired over his sixth point of the game to leave just two points between the sides by the 41^st minute.

The visitors maintained their momentum to draw level in the early stages of the final quarter thanks to excellent points by Jack O’Connor and substitute Ben Stafford.

The tightness continued as Meagher and AJ Murphy finally got Na Fianna’s scoreboard ticking over again but they found themselves in arrears by the 53^rd minute as Barry O’Connor edged St Martin’s in front.

Na Fianna’s response was immediate as Stacey and Murphy combined to set up Ryan from eight yards with late points by Dónal Burke and Colin Currie ensuring there was no reprieve for St Martin’s with Sean Burke defending heroically for the hosts in the closing stages.

Scorers – Na Fianna: C Currie 0-9 (8f); S Ryan 1-0; G King (1 sideline), J Meagher 0-2 each; C Stacey, D Burke, AJ Murphy 0-1 each. St Martin’s: R O’Connor 0-8 (7f); David Codd 0-2; J O’Connor, Barry O’Connor, Jack O’Connor, Darren Codd, B Stafford 0-1 apiece.

Na Fianna: J Tracey; S Burke, C McHugh, K Burke; P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney; B Ryan, S Currie; J Meagher, C Currie, C Stacey; AJ Murphy, D Burke, G King. Subs: D Ryan for O’Dea (half-time), S Ryan for B Ryan (43), D Clerkin for King (46).

St Martin’s: D Byrne; E O’Leary, C Firman, P O’Connor; D Water, P Dempsey, J Barrett; David Codd, J O’Connor; Darren Codd, Jack O’Connor, R O’Connor; B O’Connor, K Firman, J Devereux. Subs: L Kavanagh for Devereux (36), B Stafford for K Firman (43), S Audsley for P O’Connor (54).

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).