Na Fianna Crowned All-Ireland Hurling Champions for the First Time after Victory Over Sarsfields

Picture courtesy Sportsfile

NA FIANNA 2-23 

SARSFIELDS 0-20

Na Fianna delivered a display of the highest calibre as they eased past Sarsfields by nine points in their AIB All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling Championship decider at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.

On the most important day in the club’s history, Na Fianna delivered a performance to match with goals in either half from Tom Brennan just reward for their supremacy over the hour.

The outcome was never in doubt by half-time as Brennan’s goal in the 20^th minute helped build a heathy 1-16 to 0-7 lead by half-time.

While the scoring dried up upon the restart, Brennan’s second goal in the 42^nd minute ensured there was no way back for the Munster champions, who never looked likely to launch a telling comeback in the second-half.

It was Na Fianna that settled the quicker with Colin Currie opening the scoring through a 2^nd minute free only for Aaron Myers to level matters in an instant at the opposite end.

That free proved an isolated moment of encouragement for the Cork side as they struggled to make any impression up front in the first quarter.

In contrast, Na Fianna looked particularly sharp, regaining the lead through Paul O’Dea in the 4^th minute before doubling that advantage courtesy of Ciarán Stacey three minutes later.

Colin Currie had a goal chance blocked soon after but AJ Murphy was on hand to pop over the rebound and a Dónal Burke free from downtown saw Na Fianna push four points clear by the 9^th minute.

A sublime flick from Burke set up Brian Ryan for another score and a brace of points from play by the Na Fianna captain saw the Glasnevin side push eight points clear by the start of the second quarter.

While Sarsfields gained some traction following points in quick succession by Myers and Daniel Kearney, any momentum was eroded in the 20^th minute as Brennan made light of a tight angle when firing past Ben Graham from eight yards.

The lively Stacey continued to impress with another point and Brennan’s growing confidence saw him add another score as their opponents registered some poor wides at the opposite end.

The half ended in a similar vein of Na Fianna dominance as Murphy landed a quickfire brace prior to Seán Currie pushing his side twelve points ahead by the interval with a smart score from deep.

Points from Ryan and Murphy helped compensate the concession of three scores to Myers in the early stages of the second-half with O’Connor also looking sharp for Sarsfields as they looked to claw their way back into contention.

However, their ambitions were dealt a significant blow in the 42^nd minute as Stacey intercepted superbly before releasing Brennan for a composed finish beyond the helpless Graham.

With the likes of Peter Feeney and Conor McHugh excelling at the back, the emphasis turned to restricting Sarsfields but there was still sufficient ammunition for Murphy to fire over his fifth point from play early in the final quarter.

Granted, Myers and O’Connor continued to carry a threat, finishing the game with 0-5 and 0-10 respectively, but a late flurry of points failed to spare Sarsfields their fate on a momentous afternoon for hurling in both Glasnevin and Dublin.

Scorers – Na Fianna: T Brennan 2-1; C Currie 0-6 (5f, 1 ‘65’); AJ Murphy 0-5; D Burke (1f), B Ryan 0-3 each; C Stacey 0-2; P O’Dea, S Currie, J Meagher 0-1 apiece. Sarsfields: A Myers 0-10 (8f); J O’Connor 0-5; D Keaney 0-3 ( 1 ‘65’); B Murphy, D Hogan 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, T Brennan. Subs: D Clerkin for B Ryan (53), G King for Brennan (56), D Ryan for O’Dea (58), S Barrett for Murphy (61), S Ryan for Meagher (62).

Sarsfields: B Graham; P Leopold, C Roche, C O’Sullivan; B Murphy, E Murphy, L Elliott; Cathal McCarthy, Colm McCarthy; C Darcy, D Hogan, D Kearney; J O’Connor, J Sweeney, A Myers. Subs: S O’Regan for Darcy (half-time), C Leahy for Roche (half-time), L Healy for Colm McCarthy (40), K Murphy for E Murphy (45), E O’Sullivan for Sweeney (51).

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).