Na Fianna knock out champions Kilmacud Crokes in thrilling Go-Ahead SHC1 Quarter Final

Sun, 1st October 2023

Image courtesy Cliona Mellett

NA FIANNA 4-15

KILMACUD CROKES 1-22

A hat-trick of goals from AJ Murphy proved decisive as Na Fianna dumped champions Kilmacud Crokes out of the Go Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship following their thrilling quarter-final at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

In what was a repeat of the county finals from both 2021 and 2022, Na Fianna entered the break with a deserved seven-point advantage and while Crokes levelled matters late on, the Glasnevin side finished on the front foot to claim a deserved success.

The game took its time finding any discernible pattern as Kilmacud lost full-forward Alex Considine through injury in the 3^rd minute while Na Fianna were doubly inconvenienced as they were forced to replace both John Tierney and Conor McHugh inside ten minutes.

As a result, neither side overly impressed or dominated with early points from Dara Purcell and Fergal Whitely for the holders cancelled out by AJ Murphy and Sean Currie.

Purcell added another point from midfield in the 10^th minute, restoring parity following a Colin Currie score for Na Fianna before the Glasnevin outfit pounced for the game’s opening goal in the 14^th minute.

A smart piece of play from Colin Currie down the left flank saw him create an overlap and his subsequent pass to Ciaran Stacey was transferred to Murphy, who made light of the tight angle when firing powerfully past Eddie Gibbons.

Brian Ryan finally found his range when adding to the Na Fianna lead with Kilmacud gradually reducing their deficit to two points following further points from play by Whitely, Purcell and Conal Ó Riain.

With Kevin Burke a commanding presence at centre-back, Na Fianna continued to restrict Kilmacud’s options up front and their discipline ensured that free-taker Oisin O’Rorke remained a peripheral presence throughout the first-half.

Colin Currie added two points from placed balls to edge Na Fianna further ahead and they finished the half on a high as Brendan Kenny was dispossessed, allowing Shane Barrett the chance to maraud through the Crokes defence before leaving Gibbons helpless with a sublime finish.

Leading by 2-8 to 0-7 at the break, another Currie free pushed Na Fianna further ahead in the 35^th minute although Whitely soon restored that seven-point margin with his third classy point of the day.

The mini-comeback was ignited by a sequence of three successive points from Gibbons (free), Ó Riain and Brian Hayes before Colin Currie briefly got Na Fianna back on track with a smart score off his left.

Kilmacud’s third-quarter momentum could not be denied however as substitute Caolan Conway made an instant impact when splitting the posts while O’Rorke tapped over two points from frees.

All that momentum was temporarily lost in an instant at the end of the third quarter as a long delivery was seized upon by Murphy, whose rising connection proved too much for the exposed Gibbons.

Back came Crokes as O’Rorke clipped over three points on the bounce with Colin Currie and Ronan Hayes trading scores to leave two points between the teams by the 52^nd minute.

The drama continued to unfold in the Donnycarney sunshine as Ronan Hayes continued to influence matters and his third point since his introduction helped restore parity by the 61^st minute.

Na Fianna regrouped once again as Sean Baxter and Murphy edged them back in front and the latter when left in acres of space as he fired home his third goal in the fifth minute of added time.

Ronan Hayes scrambled a consolation goal for Crokes with the last puck of the game as Na Fianna deservedly claimed a last four berth, denying their nemesis in the process.

Na Fianna will now meet Lucan Sarsfields in the last four.

Scorers – Na Fianna: AJ Murphy 3-3, C Currie 0-7 (3f, 1 ‘65’), S Barrett 1-0, B Ryan, S Currie 0-2 each, S Baxter 0-1. Kilmacud Crokes: R Hayes 1-3, O O’Rorke 0-5 (4f), D Purcell 0-4, F Whitely 0-3, C Ó Riain, C Conway, B Hayes 0-2 apiece, E Gibbons (f) 0-1.

Na Fianna: J Tracey; S Burke, C McHugh, D Clerkin; D Ryan, K Burke, P O’Dea; B Ryan, P Feeney; C Currie, J Tierney, S Currie; C Stacey, S Barrett, AJ Murphy. Subs: G King for Tierney (7), L Rushe for McHugh (10), T Brennan for Barrett (39), S Baxter for Stacey (50), M Murphy for King (Blood Sub, 53), J Burke for Brennan (56).

Kilmacud Crokes: E Gibbons; C Ryan, B Sheehy, B Kenny; C Ó Cathasaigh, M Grogan, B O’Carroll; B Hayes, D Purcell; F Whitely, O O’Rorke, C Ó Riain; R Costelloe, A Considine, M Roche. Subs: S Purcell for Considine (3), C Mac Gabhann for Kenny (half-time), C Conway for Ó Riain (40), R Hayes for Costelloe (40).

Referee: Sean McCarthy (St Vincent’s).