PREVIEW: Na Fianna Aiming For Leinster Glory At Croke Park

By Conor Martin 

Image courtesy Paul Barrett 

Na Fianna stand on the brink of making history when they take on Offaly’s Kilcormac-Killoughey in the AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Final at Croke Park on Saturday night (7.40pm). 

The Glasnevin club successfully retained the county title and have navigated their way through Leinster to find themselves in the provincial final for the second time in a row. 

They will be hoping to put last year’s heartbreak behind them and become provincial champions for the first time. 

Na Fianna overcame the challenge of St Martins in last weekend’s Leinster semi-final with a four-point win at Parnell Park.

Colin Currie was his usual reliable self in front of the posts with nine points for himself; AJ Murphy and Dónal Burke were on form also.

A goal from Séan Ryan six minutes from time put Na Fianna on track for the win after wrestling back the lead from St Martins.

Jack Meagher and Ciaran Stacey have also been a source of inspiration this season in the county and provincial championships, while the defensive efforts of Sean Burke have also been key to their success this year- he demonstrated that in Na Fianna’s semi-final with some heroic defending to ensure the Dublin champions progressed. 

Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s men have shown resilience and grit this year; their late show against Kilmacud Crokes demonstrates just that. However, one big push and for everything to click into gear is what the men from Mobhi Road need on Saturday.

Just like Na Fianna, Kilcormac-Killoughey retained their county title this year beating Ballinamere to win the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship for the sixth time and they have had a 100% win record all the way up to this weekend’s final.

They overcame St Mullins and Castletown-Geoghegan in the quarter and semi-finals respectively. 

The Offaly champions were made to work for a spot in the final by their Westmeath opposition, and in injury-time, Adam Screeney rattled the net to book a place in the Leinster final and to break Castletown- Geoghegan hearts.

The Offaly champs have a lot of firepower in their ranks. Screeney is the obvious example- the Offaly superstar scored 3-50 alone in the Offaly championship and Charlie Mitchell showed he has no problem locating the posts with 5-17 in the Offaly championship.

They have strength in depth too, Adam’s brother Jack will also be looking to have a big say this weekend as will the talented duo of Conor Mahon and Damien Kilmartin. 

Kilcormac-Killoughey have one Leinster championship to their name, which they won back in 2012. Na Fianna, on the other hand, will be hoping to achieve another milestone in the form of a first-ever Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship.

You can buy tickets here. The game will also be shown on RTÉ live, throw-in is at 7:40pm