Na Fianna narrowly defeat Kilmacud Crokes to secure Final place

Image Courtesy Eamon O'Callaghan

NA FIANNA 3-11

KILMACUD CROKES 1-16

Na Fianna advanced to their first Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Football Championship final in three years after overcoming Kilmacud Crokes by the narrowest of margins at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

The contest seemed destined for extra-time but up popped their captain James Doran, as he had done in their quarter-final win over Ballymun Kickhams, to kick the winning point in added time. 

Na Fianna were buoyed by two goals inside the opening quarter from David Quinn (penalty) and substitute Darragh Kennedy before a 25th minute goal from Shane Walsh edged Crokes into a wind-assisted 1-11 to 2-3 interval lead.

Quinn’s second goal of the game early in the third quarter added renewed spark to the Na Fianna challenge and they deservedly booked their final spot as Doran burst through for the game defining score.  

David Higgins was forced to pull off a smart save to deny Brian O’Leary in the 3rd minute before Na Fianna’s bright start was rewarded by the opening score through Ciaran Reddin two minutes later. 

That lead didn’t last too long as Walsh curled over a superb two-pointer score in an instant and Kilmacud’s lead was doubled by the 8th minute through a well-taken Andy McGowan point. 

Another sublime two-pointer by Walsh extended the Crokes lead to four points but Na Fianna were handed fresh impetus as Doran was cut down close to goal and Quinn confidently despatched the resultant penalty beyond the reaches of the diving Higgins. 

Matters improved even further for the Glasnevin side from the kick-out as Conor Early seized on Higgins’ kick-out before finding Sean Caffrey, whose pass allowed Kennedy the chance to fire into the roof of the net from eight yards. 

Kilmacud regrouped well from these setbacks to regain a semblance of control through scores from Paddy O’Connor and Walsh (free) before Hugh Kenny kicked their third two-pointer of the half in the 21st minute. 

While Conor McHugh replied with a point for Na Fianna at the opposite end, Walsh was making the most of the chances that came his way as he cut inside from the left before calmly slipping the ball under David O’Hanlon.

O’Leary popped over a free at the opposite end but it was fitting that Walsh should have the final word of the half as he kicked another two-pointer in injury time to leave Kilmacud five points clear at the turnaround. 

A Walsh free extended that advantage within a minute of the restart but Na Fianna were beginning to take control around the middle third as they clawed their way back thanks to points by Caffrey and McHugh. 

The latter seized on a Higgins kick-out in the 35th minute before timing his pass to perfection to Quinn, who raced through to place a composed finish to the right-hand corner of the net.

Walsh and O’Leary traded points from play as the half evolved with an O’Connor point edging Crokes two-points clear by the end of the third quarter. 

Parity was restored by the 52nd minute as McHugh popped over two points in quick succession and it was left to Reddin and Doran to complete their comeback in the most dramatic of fashions. 

Scorers – Na Fianna: D Quinn 2-0 (1-0pen); C McHugh 0-4 (1f); D Kennedy 1-0; B O’Leary 0-3 (1f); C Reddin 0-2; J Doran, S Caffrey 0-1 apiece. Kilmacud Crokes: S Walsh 1-11 (0-4f, 3 P2); P O’Connor, H Kenny (P2) 0-2 each; A McGowan 0-1. 

Na Fianna: D O’Hanlon; A Rafter, J Cooper, F Potts; N McGovern, E Murchan, O Donohoe; J Doran, K Deeley; C Early, B O’Leary, D Quinn; C McHugh, C Reddin, S Caffrey. Subs: D Kennedy for Murchan (7), V Flynn for Deeley (half-time), K Sexton for Caffrey (48), C Baxter for Quinn (59), S Smith for Reddin (62), A Neville for Cooper (Blood sub, 63).  

Kilmacud Crokes: D Higgins; D O’Brien, T Clancy, M Mullin; A Jones, A McGowan, L Fearon; P O’Connor, C Dias; C O’Connor, L Ward, D Mullin; H Kenny, S Walsh, P Purcell. Subs: D Dempsey for Purcell (16), N Comerford for Ward (half-time), C O’Shea for McGowan (half-time), B Shovlin for O’Connor (59), R O’Carroll for Shovlin (63).  

Referee: Dave Feeney (Pobal Parnell).