Currie fires Na Fianna to victory over Jude’s after extra-time in SHC ‘A’ quarter-final

Na Fianna put in a strong second period of extra-time to defeat St Jude's, 0-26 to 0-23, in Saturday afternoon's Go-Ahead Dublin SHC 'A' quarter-final at Parnell Park.

The Tymon North men had moved three points clear, 0-22 to 0-19, at half-time in extra-time but the freetaking accuracy of Colin Currie fired Na Fianna to victory and into the last four.

Colin Currie struck six points in the second period of extra-time, including five frees, with Donal Burke getting Na Fianna's other point in this period to help his side to their three-point victory.

Danny Sutcliffe was Jude's sole scorer in the second half of the added time and it was his score deep in injury time in normal time that forced this contest into extra-time.

The early signs in extra-time were encouraging from a Jude's perspective with John Carty and Danny Sutcliffe giving them a two-point lead, 0-20 to 0-18.

By the interval in extra-time Danny Sutcliffe and Diarmaid McLoughlin had tagged on scores for the southsiders to hold a 0-22 to 0-19 advantage.

Na Fianna's freetaking was beginning to misfire with Colin Currie then taking responsibility and once he got his sights fixed he drove his side on to victory.

In normal time it was Na Fianna who settled the better with points from Donal Burke and Colin Currie inside the opening four minutes.

Danny Sutcliffe opened Jude's account in the fifth minute when converting a free from 45 metres.

But by the 11th minute Na Fianna had established a five-point advantage, 0-6 to 0-1, with Paul O'Dea, Colin Currie, and Donal Burke - two frees, the second from halfway - all on target.

By the first water break Jude's had recovered with scores from Fionn O Riain Broin, Diarmaid McLoughlin and John Carty to leave it 0-6 to 0-4.

Jude's moved in front during the second quarter when points from Danny Sutcliffe (free), Eoin McLoughlin and Fionn O Riain Broin edged them 0-8 to 0-7 clear by the 28th minute.

Na Fianna though closed out the opening half on top when scores from Donal Burke converted a free following a foul on Colin Currie, Burke again from play from halfway, and Seán Baxter (free) gave their side a 0-10 to 0-8 lead.

Around the three-quarter mark Jude's made their move with Danny Sutcliffe hitting five points in succession between the 40th and 50th minute to propel his side into a 0-15 to 0-13 lead.

Just before the second water stoppage he converted two frees and his point from play made it level, 0-13 each, at the break.

On the restart he converted two further frees to give his side their two-point lead.

Before the end of normal time the sides were on level terms on four occasions.

Points from Colin Currie, two from play, with side of a Donal Burke free nosed Na Fianna in front but Eoin McLoughlin's 54th minute point made it 0-16 each.

First Jude's edged back in front through Kevin Lahiff, then Na Fianna's turn with points from Kieran Murphy and Donal Burke (free), before Danny Sutcliffe's late, late free brought the game to extra-time.