Na Fianna get SFC1 off to winning start against Syls

Sun, 14th April 2019

DUBLIN SFC1 GROUP 1

NA FIANNA 3-14 ST SYLVESTER'S 0-9

An impressive Na Fianna were too good for St Sylvester's in Saturday's Dublin SFC1 Group 1 encounter at Parnell Park.

Though playing into a stiff breeze in the opening half the St Mobhi Road men laid the foundation for their 14-point win with some enterprising football.

Dessie Farrell's side moved the ball with pace and precision and by the break had built up a 2-8 for 0-5 cushion.

With a young forward line they got the ideal start when Conor McHugh collected his own point effort rebound off the post to fire to the net.

David Lacey following up with two brilliantly struck deadballs (one free, one '45') to quickly move into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead.

The accuracy of Micheál McCarthy hauled Syls back into the game but unfortunately for them the former Dublin footballer was their only forward who really troubled the Na Fianna defence over the hour.

Meanwhile at the other end James Doran, Aaron Byrne, Lacey and McHugh had the Malahide outfit on the back foot while the work-rate was epitomised by one brilliant block by Glenn O'Reilly deep in his own defence during the opening period.

Na Fianna's second goal arrived in the 11th minute when Doran ran at the heart of the Syls defence and was brave to flick the ball inside to Byrne to rifled to the net despite the best efforts of keeper Michael Shiel.

By the break Na Fianna were nine points to the good and really moved out of sight four minutes into the second half when Lacey found the net off his left foot from close range following good interplay between McHugh and Seán Caffrey.

While Syls battled to the finish they nearly really posed the goal-scoring threat they needed as Na Fianna closed down the direct route to goal.

The Malahide side finished with 13 men after Mark Hazley and Jack Hazley were dismissed late in the second half.

Na Fianna, who lined out without the injured Dublin duo of Jonny Cooper and Eoin Murchan, will now face Kilmacud Crokes in two weeks' time while Syls will play Ballymun Kickhams.

SCORERS - Na Fianna: C McHugh (0-1f), David Lacey (0-1f, 0-1 '45') 1-4 each, A Byrne 1-0, G O’Reilly 0-2 (0-1f), K Deeley, S Caffrey, O O Maoleidigh, D Quinn 0-1 each. St Sylvester's: M McCarthy 0-7 (0-6f), J Walsh, A Wright 0-1 each.

NA FIANNA: S Murray; E Mullen, A Farrell, D Kennedy; N McGovern, P O'Hanlon, Dean Ryan; K Deeley, J Lawless; G O'Reilly, A Byrne, J Doran; S Caffrey, C McHugh, D Lacey. Subs: D Quinn for Lacey (45), O O Maoleidigh for McHugh (48, blood), Donal Ryan for Lawless (52), M Deegan for Caffrey (53), A Fitzgerald for McGovern (56), E O'Dea for Doran (56).

ST SYLVESTER'S: M Shiel; J Peacock, C Quinn, A Cunningham; D Deneher, F Carney, R Palmer; R Hazley, P White; J Walsh, A Wright, A Hartnett; C Meaney, M McCarthy, D Brennan. Subs: P Gibney for R Hazley (ht), M Hazley for Meaney (45), J Hazley for Hartnett (52).

REF: D Sweeney (St Oliver Plunkett's/ER).