Fintan O'Toole Reports from Croke Park

Na Fianna (Dublin) 2-23

Sarsfields (Cork) 0-20

THE STUNNING HURLING rise of Na Fianna was capped by the greatest prize of all today in Croke Park, as they swept past Sarsfields to land the All-Ireland title in considerable style.

For only the second time a Dublin club have achieved that senior hurling accolade as Na Fianna emulated Cuala, and they claimed the trophy thanks to an utterly dominant showing against their Cork opponents.

Na Fianna were in control from the start, ahead 0-9 to 0-1 after the opening quarter and had stretched that advantage further to lead 1-16 to 0-7 by the interval.

The opening goal arrived after 20 minutes with Tom Brennan, drafted late into the starting side, finishing neatly past the advancing Ben Graham after a surging run from Jack Meagher had cut open the Na Fianna rearguard.

Brennan grabbed the second goal in the 42nd minute, a strike that essentially settled this contest and determined the destination of the Tommy Moore Cup. On this occasion Ciarán Stacey’s run punched a hole in that Sarsfields defence, with Brennan stepping inside to finish to the net in a composed fashion.

Munster champions Sarsfields never got going with Aaron Myers (0-10) and Jack O’Connor (0-5) their chief scoretakers. The teams had swapped early points before Na Fianna rattled off eight scores without reply. Sarsfields registered their first point from play courtesy of Daniel Kearney in the 20th minute but conceded the goal to Brennan in the next phase of action.

Tom Brennan celebrates Na Fianna's win. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

The 12-point deficit Sarsfields faced at the break was daunting. They chipped away in scoring four of the first six points that were registered in the second half, but Na Fianna’s response was swift with a pair of Colin Currie pointed frees and then Brennan raised his second green flag.

With Na Fianna ahead 2-20 to 0-12, the game petered out to an inevitable conclusion. Sarsfields clawed back some respectabilitiy with O’Connor and Kearney both notching two points apiece in that time frame.

They pared the margin down to nine by the final whistle, yet Na Fianna had moved firmly out of sight by then, the scoring contributions of AJ Murphy, Brian Ryan, and Donal Burke proving pivotal to the success of the Glasnevin club.

Donal Burke lifts the Tommy Moore Cup. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Na Fianna: Tom Brennan 2-1, Colin Currie 0-6 (0-5f, 0-1 ’65), AJ Murphy 0-5, Brian Ryan 0-3, Donal Burke 0-3 (0-1f), Ciarán Stacey 0-2, Paul O’Dea 0-1, Seán Currie 0-1, Jack Meagher 0-1.

Scorers for Sarsfields: Aaron Myers 0-10 (0-8f), Jack O’Connor 0-5, Daniel Kearney 0-3 (0-1 ’65), Bryan Murphy 0-1, Daniel Hogan 0-1.

Na Fianna

1. Jonathan Tracey

2. Seán Burke, 3. Conor McHugh, 7. Kevin Burke

5. Paul O’Dea, 6. Liam Rushe, 9. Peter Feeney

8. Brian Ryan, 9. Seán Currie

10. Jack Meagher, 11. Dónal Burke (capt), 12. Ciarán Stacey

22. Tom Brennan, 14. AJ Murphy, 13. Colin Currie

Subs

• 21. Diarmuid Clerkin for Brian Ryan (53)
• 15. Gavin King for Brennan (56)
• 24. Donal Ryan for O’Dea (58)
• 17. Shane Barrett for Murphy (61)

Sarsfields

1. Ben Graham

20. Cillian Roche, 2. Paul Leopold, 4. Conor O’Sullivan (Captain)

5. Bryan Murphy, 6. Eoghan Murphy, 7. Luke Elliott

14. Colm McCarthy, 22. Cathal McCarthy

9. Daniel Kearney, 11. Daniel Hogan, 8. Cian Darcy

13. Jack O’Connor, 10. James Sweeney, 23. Aaron Myers

Subs

• 15. Shane O’Regan for Darcy (half-time)
• 3. Craig Leahy for Elliott (half-time)
• 29. Liam Healy for Colm McCarthy (40)
• 24. Killian Murphy for Eoghan Murphy (45)
• 28. Eoin O’Sullivan for Sweeney (51)

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)