Byrne fires Na Fianna into SFC semi-final

Mon, 19th October 2015

NA FIANNA 1-9 ST JUDE'S 0-7

Na Fianna will face holders in the Dublin SFC semi-final after overcoming a defensive St Jude's in Sunday's quarter-final at Parnell Park.

Aaron Byrne scored the only goal of the match just before the midpoint of the second half to push Na Fianna into a 1-7 to 0-3 lead and they were never in any real trouble.

In the opening half the St Mobhi Road side led 0-4 to 0-1 at half-time with Jude's sole score coming from a Kevin McManamon free in the 19th ,minute.

A relatively young Na Fianna attack were showing good patience in possession and worked scores through JJ Martin, Conor McHugh, Tomás Brady and Adam Caffrey.

Three minutes into the second half David Quinn had a goal chance for Na Fianna but was denied by Paul Copeland in the Jude's goal.

A minute later Jack Caffrey extended Na Fianna's lead following excellent interplay among their forwards.

Points from Kevin McManamon and Declan Donnelly (both frees) saw Jude's cut the deficit to 0-5 to 0-3 after 38 minutes.

However, the goal from the impressive Byrne effectively sealed the deal for Na Fianna as it gave them enough breathing space to run out winners.

Na Fianna will face St Vincent's next Sunday (Oct 25) in Parnell Park (4.0) with Clontarf facing Ballyboden St Enda's in the curtain-raiser (2.15).

SCORERS - Na Fianna: A Byrne 1-2, A Caffrey 0-3 (0-2f), JJ Martin, CMcHugh, T Brady, J Caffrey 0-1 each. St Jude's: K McManamon 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 45), E Dalton 0-2, D Donnelly 0-1 (0-1f).

NA FIANNA: R O’Flaherty; J Cooper, N Cooper, E Murchan; E Mullan, N McGovern, G O’Reilly; JJ Martin, C O’Connor; J Caffrey, D Quinn, T Brady; A Byrne, A Caffrey, C McHugh. Subs: E Neville for J Caffrey (53), E Connolly for O’Reilly (57), N Flannery for McHugh (59), J Kelly for Mullan (61, black card), E Caffrey for A Caffrey (62, black card).

ST JUDE'S: P Copeland; P Cunninghan, P Courtney, O Manning; N O'Shea, C Guckian, R Finnegan; C Murphy, S Ryan; T Lahiff, R Joyce, B Sheehan; M Sweeney, P Maguire, K McManamon. Subs: D Donnelly for Lahiff (ht), N Cronin for Courtney (ht), D Sutcliffe for Murphy (36), C McBride for Manning (46), E Dalton for Sutcliffe (bc, 47), B McManamon for Joyce (50).
REF: D O'Connor (Nh Mearnóg).

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