Na Fianna Progress To Leinster Hurling Semi Final With Win Over Clough Ballacolla

NA FIANNA 3-20 

CLOUGH BALLACOLLA 1-15 

Image courtesy Paul Barrett

Two goals in the closing minutes allowed Na Fianna to get the better of Clough Ballacolla by a flattering eleven-point margin in their AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

Despite a sloppy start that saw them fall behind to a 9^th minute goal from Stephen Maher, Na Fianna were far sharper in the opening half as a Ciaran Stacey goal in the 29^th minute helped build a 1-12 to 1-7 lead by half-time.

They retained their lead after the break without finding their best form but late goals by AJ Murphy and goalkeeper Jonno Tracey saw them ease comfortably into the last four, where they will meet St Martin’s in the semi-final.

The visitors didn’t take too long to open their account as late replacement Cillian Dunne pointed within thirty seconds before Colin Currie levelled matters soon after with a smart score on the turn.

A brace of points from Stephen Maher saw Clough Ballacolla regain the initiative with Colin Currie converting a 7^th minute free to keep the hosts within distance.

Maher and Brian Ryan exchanged points in an instant before the former availed of a slip from Sean Burke in the 9^th minute to race through onto Willie Dunphy’s pass before firing low past the helpless Jonno Tracey.

A brilliant Dónal Burke score and a Jack Meagher effort saw Na Fianna respond well to that setback but they still trailed by three points by the 12^th minute as Stephen Bergin popped over his first score of the game.

However, the Laois champions failed to trouble the umpires for the next eleven minutes as Na Fianna assumed complete control of matters, restoring parity by the 18^th minute following successive scores by AJ Murphy, Paul O’Dea and Sean Currie.

Another trio of unanswered scores by Murphy, Colin Currie (free) and Ciaran Stacey was just reward for the home dominance before Kevin Mulhall finally got Clough back on track in the 23^rd minute, albeit after taking a shedload of steps.

Na Fianna had threatened the Ballacolla goal on a couple of occasions and they duly delivered in the 29^th minute as utilised his blistering pace, shipping a heavy challenge from Cormac Hogan before finding the roof of Cathal Dunne’s goal.

Meagher and Maher added to their team’s tallies in the closing minutes of the half to leave Na Fianna well placed with a five-point interval lead.

A brace of Colin Currie placed balls and a Burke point continued to keep Na Fianna on top upon the restart but the visitors ensured they remained in sight through scores from captain Aidan Corby and Robbie Phelan.

Without overly impressing, Na Fianna kept their buffer at a healthy margin and could have settled the issue early in the final quarter but Cathal Dunne made a superb save to his right from Ryan’s powerful low shot.

With Ballacolla enjoying a marked dominance around the middle third, they gradually trimmed their deficit through a brace of Maher frees but spurned presentable chances to put greater pressure on their tiring opponents.

They were left to rue those wides as Murphy pointed in the 55^th minute before he crashed home from close range following another incisive run down the middle from Stacey.

Any doubts were put to bed three minutes later as substitute Sean Ryan was fouled close to goal by Joe Corby with Tracey making the lengthy but worthwhile journey from his goal as he hammered home the resultant penalty.

Scorers – Na Fianna: AJ Murphy 1-4; C Currie 0-7 (4f, 2 ‘65’s); C Stacey 1-1; J Tracey 1-0 (pen); J Meagher, D Burke 0-2 each; P O’Dea, B Ryan, S Currie, D Clerkin 0-1 apiece. Clough Ballacolla: S Maher 1-9 (0-7f); Cillian Dunne 0-2; A Corby, K Mulhall, R Phelan, S Bergin 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: S Ryan for Murphy (Temp sub, 21-24), D Clerkin for King (46), S Ryan for B Ryan (51), J Kavanagh for D Burke (56), D Ryan for O’Dea (59), G Spollen for C Currie (60).

Clough Ballacolla: Cathal Dunne; C Hogan, D Maher, J Corby; D Conway, L Cleere, J Walshe; A Corby, K Mulhall; R Phelan, W Dunphy, Cillian Dunne; S Maher, M Hennessy, S Bergin. Subs: J Pearson for D Maher (42), P Brennan for Hennessy (50), S Corby for Cillian Dunne (59).

Referee: Eamonn Furlong (Wexford).