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NA FIANNA 2-17
ST MARTIN’S 1-21
Na Fianna’s reign as provincial and All-Ireland champions came to an end at Chadwick’s Wexford Park on Sunday afternoon as they succumbed to St Martin’s by the slimmest of margins in their thrilling AIB Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final.
Extra-time looked the most likely outcome as the teams enjoyed sporadic periods of control throughout the engaging contest but it was the hosts who claimed a deserved win as Rory O’Connor converted the pivotal free deep into injury time.
The teams entered the break deadlocked at 0-11 to 1-8 with Sean Currie’s improvised goal in the 26th minute of huge significance given his side were on the back foot for the large part.
Another improvised strike, this time from AJ Murphy, allowed Na Fianna to edge in front in the third quarter but a Barry O’Connor goal in the 50th minute handed sufficient encouragement for St Martin’s and they struck the last three points of the game to progress to the last four.
It was the hosts that settled the quicker, opening the scoring through Darren Codd in the 2nd minute before they doubled their lead in an instant thanks to Barry O’Connor.
Despite Sean Currie pointing for Na Fianna at the opposite end, St Martin’s continued to impress as they added to their advantage through a Jake Firman point and Rory O’Connor’s 14th minute free.
Na Fianna remained in contention through points from AJ Murphy and Jack Meagher and a strong display from at wing-back by Peter Feeney but a brace of Rory O’Connor frees saw them trail by five points by the 25th minute.
It was at this point that Feeney found space down the left flank and his clever pass found Currie, who shrugged off a number of challenges before kicking into the net from eight yards.
That score galvanised the visitors as two Colin Currie points and a brilliant Donal Burke effort edged them in front before Jack O’Connor pointed in added time to restore the stalemate by the turnaround.
Despite Burke adding another smart score within two minutes of the restart, Na Fianna found themselves in arrears once again following a Jack O’Connor brace and another Rory O’Connor free.
The tide seemed to be turning in the visitors’ favour in the 42nd minute as AJ Murphy was hauled down close to goal and while the whole crowd waited for referee James McGrath to award a penalty, Murphy swivelled adroitly to pull to the net.
Na Fianna’s long-ball policy was reaping rewards as Brian Ryan popped over two points in quick succession but a well-taken goal from Barry O’Connor following a Rory O’Connor pass handed the initiative back to St Martin’s.
The response to this body blow was impressive as Colin Currie and Mícheál Murphy replied with scores and further points by AJ Murphy and Sean Currie pushed the holders into a two-point lead by the 60th minute.
Given the topsy turvy nature of the contest, that lead looked a precarious one and so it proved as Ben Stafford and Rory O’Connor (free) levelled matters before the latter sealed a memorable win for the hosts.
Scorers – Na Fianna: C Currie 0-6 (3f); S Currie 1-3; AJ Murphy 1-2; D Burke, B Ryan 0-2 each; M Murphy, J Meagher 0-1 apiece. St Martin’s: R O’Connor 0-9 (6f); B O’Connor 1-2; J O’Connor 0-4 (1f); D Codd, J Firman 0-2 each; M Coleman, B Stafford 0-1 apiece.
Na Fianna: J Tracey, M Murphy, C McHugh, S Burke, P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney; B Ryan, J Kavanagh; S Currie, D Burke, J Meagher; C Currie, T Brennan, AJ Murphy. Subs: C McCarthy for Brennan (half-time), L Stacey for Kavanagh (52), D Clerkin for M Murphy (Blood Sub, 56-57).
St Martin’s: C Quirke; E O’Leary, C Firman, P Dempsey; D Waters, J Barrett, D O’Leary; D Codd, A Maddock; J O’Connor, D Codd, J Firman; M Coleman, B O’Connor, R O’Connor. Subs: B Maddock for A Maddock (45), B Stafford for Coleman (48), S Audsley for O’Leary (59).
Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath).