Na Fianna edge Ballymun Kickhams to seal last semi-final place

Image Courtesy Niall O'Connell

NA FIANNA 1-18 

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS 1-17

The last semi-final spot in the Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship was claimed by Na Fianna, who finished on the front foot to pip Ballymun Kickhams by the slimmest of margins at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon. 

After an even opening quarter, Ballymun seized control of matters towards the break with a trio of Dean Rock two-pointed frees leading his side into a 0-13 to 0-5 interval advantage. 

A Cathal Tighe goal early in the third quarter to have built an unassailable lead for Kickhams but Keelan Sexton’s penalty brought Na Fianna back to life and a superb point in injury time from James Doran settled the issue in the most dramatic of fashions.  

Both teams took their time to settle as Kickhams eventually took the lead in the 4th minute through a typically composed two-point free from Dean Rock. 

Ciaran Reddin replied for Na Fianna with a sublime curling effort and the enterprising opening continued as Carl Keeley and Brian O’Leary traded points by the 7th minute. 

While David Leonard popped up to restore Ballymun’s two-point lead soon after, Na Fianna were quickly back on level terms with a David Lacey free preceding O’Leary’s second point from play. 

The tightness continued as neither side were allowed to establish any prolonged periods of control, with a brace of Dillon Keating edging Kickhams back in front by the 22nd minute. 

James McCarthy burst through to double that lead in an instant and an excellent Leonard score opened up a three-point buffer for Ballymun by the 24th minute. 

Na Fianna were suddenly facing an uphill task as Rock converted his second two-pointed free and three further points from placed balls by the Dublin selector handed his side a healthy eight-point buffer by the turnaround.

Na Fianna’s comeback hopes suffered a massive blow within three minutes of the restart as Tighe was on hand close to goal to cleverly divert a Paddy Small attempt past the unsighted David O’Hanlon.

However, their initial response to this setback was encouraging as a Conor Early point preceded a two-pointed free from O’Hanlon with the goalkeeper adding a ‘45’ for good measure by the 39th minute. 

Kickhams stemmed the tide briefly through points from Rock and Keeley but a battling Na Fianna bounced back as Sexton kicked a two-pointer before crashing home a penalty at the start of the final quarter following a foul on fellow substitute Conor McHugh. 

A brilliant two-pointer at the opposite end by Paddy Small appeared to get Kickhams back on track but another Sexton two-pointer drew the sides level by the 57th minute before Doran embarked on a silky run from deep two minutes into added time to clinch a famous win for Na Fianna.      

Scorers – Na Fianna: K Sexton 1-4 (1-0 pen, 2 P2); C Reddin 0-4; D O’Hanlon (F2, ’45), B O’Leary 0-3 each; C Early 0-2; D Lacey (f), J Doran 0-1 apiece. Ballymun Kickhams: D Rock 0-8 (3 F2, 1f); C Tighe 1-0; P Small (P2), D Leonard, C Keeley, D Keating 0-2 each, J McCarthy 0-1.  

Na Fianna: D O’Hanlon; F Potts, J Cooper, A Rafter; O Donohoe, E Murchan, N McGovern; K Deeley, J Doran; C Early, B O’Leary, D Quinn; D Lacey, C Reddin, S Caffrey. Subs: K Sexton for Lacey (15), V Flynn for Deeley (36), C McHugh for Caffrey (42), D Kennedy for Donohoe (45), D Clerkin for Reddin (57). 

Ballymun Kickhams: E Comerford; E Dolan, D Conlon, E Hill; J Grant, J Small, B Ashton; J McCarthy, C McCormack; C Tighe, C Keeley, D Leonard; P Small, D Keating, D Rock. Subs: R Bolger for Keating (37), D Robertson for Grant (46), A Elliot for McCormack (46), L Young for Dolan (53), A Hubbard for Keeley (53).   

Referee: Seán McCarthy (St Vincent’s).