LAST UPDATE | 25 Nov 2023
Na Fianna (Dublin) 2-14
Naas (Kildare) 0-17
Paul Keane reports from O’Moore Park
EVEN WITHOUT INJURED talisman and captain Donal Burke, Na Fianna are a team to be reckoned with and the first-time Dublin SHC winners will make the short trip to Croke Park for the Leinster club final next Saturday.
Niall O Ceallachain’s side only broke their duck in Dublin last month but are now just 60 minutes away from provincial success with O’Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny set to face them in seven days.
Two goals early in the second-half from Ciaran Stacey and AJ Murphy ultimately did the trick for the Mobhi Road men who looked at one stage as if they may advance with plenty to spare.
They were six points up with only 11 minutes remaining but a terrific finale from Naas saw the five-in-a-row Kildare champions reduce the deficit to just a point at one stage deep into stoppage time.
The 2022 All-Ireland intermediate champions couldn’t push on to level the game though and Na Fianna scores from substitute Tom Brennan and top scorer Colin Currie proved to be the insurance scores.
The result means that the Leinster club football final, between Naas and Kilmacud Crokes, will also be played next Saturday as part of a double header at Croke Park. If Naas had won this game, the football final would have been put back to 9 December.
The two Curries, Colin and Sean, have risen superbly to the challenge in his absence, blasting 10 points between them today, while Murphy finished with 1-1 and there was a strong showing in defence from two-time All-Star Liam Rushe who only returned to the setup in September following an extended travel break.
This was only Na Fianna’s second ever provincial fixture having won the Dublin championship for the first time last month.
They beat Raharney of Westmeath in the Leinster quarter-final 13 days ago and were installed as favourites again.
They duly opened up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter thanks in part to two points from converted Colin Currie frees.
But Naas, who were playing their 11th game in the competition, carried plenty of experience and reeled off four of the next five points in the game to take a 0-6 to 0-5 lead themselves.
Free-taker Jack Sheridan drilled a couple of those points while dual player Brian Byrne was on the mark too.
It was a tense, cagey contest and it appeared that both sides were only too aware of the huge prize in front of them – a first-ever Leinster senior final place.
A nervy looking Na Fianna were guilty of over-elaborating at times, particularly around the half-back line where they attempted to pass the ball precisely to the hand, while midfielder Brian Ryan drilled two wides and dropped another point attempt short as the Glasnevin men momentarily struggled to find a foothold in the game. In all, Na Fianna struck seven first-half wides.
They finished the half strongly though and Sean Currie, a lively performer who always seemed to find space on the right for a pass, clipped a point before Murphy won two frees in the same zone that allowed Colin Currie to convert.
That left Na Fianna with a 0-8 to 0-6 half-time lead but it remained anyone’s game.
The match-ups were intriguing; John McKeon picked up Na Fianna sharp-shooter Colin Currie, Peter O’Donoghue was on Murphy while, in Na Fianna’s defence, ultra experienced Rushe manned the centre. Naas full-forward Sheridan, who finished with 0-8 from placed balls, was picked up by Na Fianna’s Sean Burke.
A thriller belatedly broke out in the third quarter, ignited by a Na Fianna goal just 15 seconds into the second-half.
Stacey struck it after being set up by John Tierney. Just before the break, Tierney had threaded a sumptuous low ball through for Stacey who, on that occasion, hadn’t been able to collect the ball which rolled harmlessly out of play. But Stacey made amends at the second time of asking and planted a low shot beyond the goalkeeper from the right of goals.
Naas, to their credit, cancelled out the three-pointer within two minutes with points from Simon Leacy, Kevin Aherne and Byrne but a second Na Fianna goal in the 38th minute came as a crushing blow to the underdogs.
Murphy was on the mark this time, capitalising on a great run by Colin Currie who was initially fouled but capitalised on the referee’s sensible decision to play advantage.
Now Na Fianna led by 2-9 to 0-9 and the feeling was that if they could prevent Naas from scoring a goal, they would probably win.
That was precisely how it turned out because while Naas battled right to the death and picked off a series of points from Sheridan, Leacy and Cathal Dowling the closest they got to the Dubliners was a single point in stoppage time.
Meanwhile in Omagh, defending Ulster Club SFC champions Glen edged a thriller against Naomh Conaill to book their return to the provincial decider.
AJ Gallagher looked to have forced extra time when he kicked an equaliser for the Donegal men in the third minute of additional time.
But there was still time left on the clock for one final attack, allowing Emmett Bradley the chance to snatch a last-gasp 0-10 to 1-6 win for the Derry men.
FT: Glen 0-10 Naomh Conaill 1-06
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) November 25, 2023
It looked like Glen and Naomh Conaill couldn't be separated deep into stoppage time of the Ulster Club SFC semi-final
But up stepped Emmett Bradley with the winning point for @WattyGrahamsGAA
📺 Watch live https://t.co/FihgAWy8Ud pic.twitter.com/a04ljreanr
Scorers for Na Fianna: Colin Currie 0-8 (0-7f), Ciaran Stacey 1-1, AJ Murphy 1-0, Sean Currie 0-2, Brian Ryan 0-1, Shane Barrett 0-1, Tom Brennan 0-1.
Scorers for Naas: Jack Sheridan 0-8 (0-2 65, 0-6f), Simon Leacy 0-3, Brian Byrne 0-2, Cian Boran 0-1, Kevin Whelan 0-1, Kevin Aherne 0-1, Cathal Dowling 0-1.
Na Fianna
1. Jonathan Tracey
4. Diarmuid Clerkin, 2. Sean Burke, 3. Conor McHugh
5. Paul O’Dea, 6. Liam Rushe, 7. Kevin Burke
8. Brian Ryan, 9. Peter Feeney
10. John Tierney, 12. Sean Currie, 25. Micheal Murphy
14. AJ Murphy, 15. Ciaran Stacey, 13. Colin Currie
Substitutes: 11. Shane Barrett for Brian Ryan (h/t), 18. Donal Ryan for O’Dea (33), 17. Sean Baxter (captain) for Tierney (47), 24. Gavin King for Stacey (56), 26. Tom Brennan for Murphy (64).
Naas
1. Cormac Gallagher
2. John McKeon, 3. Ross Kelly, 4. Peter O’Donoghue
5. Harry Carroll, 6. Sean Gainey, 7. Kevin Whelan
20. Rian Boran, 9. Simon Leacy
10. Conor Boran, 15. Cian Boran, 11. Kevin Aherne
13. Brian Byrne (captain), 14. Jack Sheridan, 21. James Burke
Substitutes: 19. Ferran O’Sullivan for Whelan (27-h/t, blood), 12. Cathal Dowling for Conor Boran (44), O’Sullivan for Gainey (54), 30. Richie Hogan for Aherne (63)
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow).
