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NA FIANNA 2-21
BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S 1-21
Image courtesy Cliona Mellett
14-man Na Fianna completed their third successive victory in the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship when overcoming Ballyboden St Enda’s by three points at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was the All-Ireland champions that enjoyed a 2-13 to 1-11 interval lead with an early goal from David Keogh for Ballyboden more than nullified by two green flags raised by Tom Brennan at the opposite end.
The dismissal of Sean Burke in the third quarter offered St Enda’s a lifeline but they never managed to level matters as the greater experience of an admiitedly weakened Na Fianna proved pivotal by the final whistle.
Jack Meagher opened the scoring for Na Fianna inside twenty seconds only for David Gleeson to level matters in an instant for St Enda’s.
Both sides looked threatening in attack as reflected in scores for Niall McMorrow and the marauding Conor McHugh with the latter subsequently striking the crossbar with a powerful effort in the 5th minute.
While Paul O’Dea popped over from the rebound, the holders looked vulnerable at the back and they conceded the first goal of the game in the 10th minute as the lively Gleeson slipped through and while his low shot was parried by Jonno Tracey, Keogh was on hand to hammer home from eight yards.
Points from O’Dea and Charlie McCarthy saw Na Fianna respond well to this setback but Boden midfielders John McGuire and Jack Lambert restored their three-point lead by the end of the first quarter.
That buffer was eroded by the 17th minute as Brennan batted home from close range, beating Finn McGarry at his near post, and they built on that score through points from Colin Currie (free) and McHugh.
A second Na Fianna goal arrived in the 24th minute as Meagher released Brennan for a low shot that trickled into the bottom corner of the net.
St Enda’s replied through scores from Lambert and Fergal Ryan but a brace of Currie frees saw Na Fianna take a five-point lead into the interval.
A brilliant solo score from Ciaran Stacey saw Na Fianna extend their lead within forty seconds of the restart and they continued to impress through further points by Charlie McCarthy and O’Dea.
However, the dismissal of their full-back Sean Burke in the 41st minute undermined their control as their opponents halved their arrears through a Gleeson brace and a McMorrow free.
While scores from Meagher and Currie kept the Na Fianna noses in front, their lead was gradually being whittled away with points by Gleeson, Fionn Murphy and Niall Ryan leading the Boden comeback.
Lambert’s free in the 58th minute left just a point between the sides but the holders weathered the late storm through insurance points by Brennan and Gavin King.
Scorers – Na Fianna: T Brennan 2-2; C Currie 0-6 (5f); P O’Dea 0-4; J Meagher 0-3; C McHugh, C McCarthy 0-2 each; C Stacey, G King 0-1 apiece. Ballyboden St Enda’s: D Gleeson 0-7 (5f); J Lambert 0-4 (2f); N McMorrow 0-3 (1f); D Keogh 1-0; C Dooley 0-2 (2f); F Ryan, J McGuire, N Ryan, J Madden, F Murphy 0-1 apiece.
Na Fianna: J Tracey; W Wheatley, S Burke, K Burke; D Clerkin, C McHugh, P Feeney; G Spollen, J Meagher; P O’Dea, C McCarthy, C Stacey; C Currie, T Gleeson, T Brennan. Subs: S Barrett for Gleeson (Blood Sub, 24-26), G King for Gleeson (41), B Ryan for Spollen (45), L Stacey for Feeney (50), S Barrett for McCarthy (60),
Ballyboden St Enda’s: F McGarry; J Kennedy, F Ryan, L Mulligan Lynch; S McDonnell, P Dunleavy, C Dooley; J McGuire, J Lambert; J Madden, N McMorrow, N Ryan; D Durkin, D Gleeson, D Keogh. Subs: D Kenny for Keogh (36), F Murphy for McMorrow (45),
Referee: Chris Mooney (St Patrick’s Palmerstown).