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Defending champions Na Fianna sent out a statement of intent at Parnell Park on Friday evening by recording an emphatic triumph over Erin’s Isle in their opening game in Group 1 of PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship.
Seeking a fourth senior crown on the bounce this year, Na Fianna began this encounter in assured fashion. After Sean Baxter was picked in space for the opening score of the game, Sean Currie and Donal Burke also raised white flags to help the Glasnevin men to establish an early foothold.
Yet Michael Donohoe had been unfortunate not to bag a goal for Erin’s Isle during this initial burst from their opponents and the corner-forward eventually got the Finglas outfit up and running with a successful sixth minute free. Nevertheless, Na Fianna were playing with plenty of confidence and fired over unanswered scores through Joe Kavanagh and defensive duo Paul O’Dea and Will Wheatley to give themselves a five-point cushion inside the opening 10 minutes of the action.
Michael Donohoe did double his personal tally moments later, however, and Na Fianna breathed a sigh of relief when a long delivery by Conor Donohoe drifted past the target with their goalkeeper Jonathan Tracey briefly out of position on 11 minutes.
Michael Donohoe was then on hand to add his third of the game in between efforts from Diarmuid Clerkin and Kavanagh for Na Fianna, before Erin’s Isle half-forward Tadgh Gorman added his name to the scoresheet with a fine effort from play.
Na Fianna remained very much in control of their own destiny and a brace of points from the marauding Wheatley helped them to keep on top of the proceedings. To their credit, Erin’s Isle maintained a strong work ethic and were rewarded as the first half progressed with points from Nathan Fitzgerald, Michael Donohoe and Fran Carroll.
However, Jack Meagher and Burke (free) also found the range for Na Fianna during this juncture and a Tom Brennan point preceded Burke’s third of the tie to ensure the title holders established a 0-14 to 0-7 lead at the break.
The expectation was that Na Fianna would continue to underline their credentials on the resumption and thanks to successive scores from Brennan and Burke (two), they had moved 10 points clear by the 40-minute mark.
There was a potential way back into the reckoning for Erin’s Isle when they were awarded a penalty not long after this scoring burst from Na Fianna, but Tracey impressively turned away Conor Donohoe’s dead-ball strike.
While this served as a warning for Na Fianna that some work was still required before a win was secured, they slowly but surely increased their advantage with a brace of points from Currie and a ‘65’ from Burke.
Erin’s Isle finally opened their second half account when substitute Cian O’Hare fired over on the turn in the 54th minute. Yet Na Fianna were able to call upon some experienced replacements of their own and Donal Ryan did his chances of future inclusion no harm by splitting the posts off a later attack.
Currie took over free-taking duties from Burke after he was withdrawn in the latter stages and he added three more points to his already significant individual haul before the final whistle sounded.
Erin’s Isle did claim a goal when Fitzgerald pulled to the net after Tracey had saved a Conor Donohoe shot in stoppage-time, but Na Fianna were not to be denied their victory.
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