Na Fianna remain on course for their fourth successive Championship after defeating St Judes

NA FIANNA 0-26 ST JUDE’S 2-18

Na Fianna remain on course for their fourth successive PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship title after overcoming St Jude’s by two points in their quarter-final at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon. 

There was only four points (0-15 to 1-8) separating the sides at the break despite Na Fianna playing with the stiff breeze as Callum Graham’s 11th minute goal helped partially mitigatethe effects of seven Sean Currie frees. 

St Jude’s remained in the hunt throughout a thrilling second-half, taking the lead by the 47thminute but a trio of superb AJ Murphy points in the closing minutes was enough to see Na Fianna over the line. 

The holders started brightly thanks to points by Seán Currie (free) and Jack Meagher before Diarmaid McLoughlin opened up the St Jude’s account in the 5th minute.

Back came Na Fianna through scores from Brian Ryan, AJ Murphy and a second Currie free but their healthy buffer was short lived as a mistimed Danny Sutcliffe shot dropped short and Graham nipped in to fire past Jonathan Tracey from eight yards.  

While Na Fianna once again replied to this concession thanks to points from Joe Kavanagh and Colin Currie, St Jude’s continued to carry a threat into the breeze with Cathal Martin andimpressive wing-back John Carty both on target. 

The sides kept on trading scores with Joe McManus and Martin (free) keeping the Templeogue outfit right in contention but some lapses in discipline allowed Seán Currie far too many chances to convert from placed balls. 

Currie hit four frees on the bounce in as many minutes to leave six points separating the sides but a strong conclusion that yielded scores by Sean Wynne, Martin and Conor Nolan saw Jude’s trail by just four points by the turnaround.  

The tightness continued upon the resumption as the influential Meagher and McLoughlin exchanged scores from midfield in the early stages of the second-half. 

The former highlighted his threat from deep once again as he raced through in the 34th minute but his powerful, rising shot cannoned to safety off the crossbar as the holders searched for their opening goal. 

St Jude’s were having no such issues in terms of green flags and after Conor McHugh and Paul O’Dea had struggled to deal with a delivery from deep, Graham nipped to leave Tracey helpless for the second occasion with a crisp finish. 

A ninth free by Currie saw the holders edge two points clear in the 42nd minute but that lead had eroded inside the final quarter as Nolan, Sutcliffe and Ciaran Mangan all fired over classy scores for St Jude’s. 

The tension racked up even further as Currie and Mark Maguire swapped points before Na Fianna gained a modicum of control as Murphy and Ryan tagged on points by the 51stminute. 

Mangan and Graham kept the Jude hopes burning with excellent solo scores but Murphy’s brightness close to goal and Currie’s twelve points proved sufficient by the final whistle. 

Scorers – Na Fianna: S Currie 0-12 (10f, 1 pen); AJ Murphy 0-4; J Meagher 0-3; B Ryan, T Brennan 0-2 each; J Tierney, C Currie, J Kavanagh 0-1 apiece. St Jude’s: C Graham 2-1; C Martin 0-4 (3f); C Nolan 0-3 (2f); C Mangan, J McManus (1f), D McLoughlin 0-2 each; S Wynne, J Carty, D Sutcliffe, M Maguire 0-1 apiece.

Na Fianna: J Tracey; S Burke, C McHugh, C Kelly; D Clerkin, L Rushe, P Feeney; J Meagher, S Currie; C Currie, J Kavanagh, B Ryan; AJ Murphy, J Tierney, T Brennan. Subs: S Barrett for Brennan (Temp 14-16), C Stacey for Kavanagh (half-time), K Burke for Kelly (39), P O’Dea for Tierney (39), Barrett for C Currie (46), W Wheatley for Meagher (53).  

St Jude’s: M Hartnett; D Malone, G McManus, S Wynne; E Costello, C Mangan, J Carty; D McLoughlin, J McManus; C Nolan, D Sutcliffe, M Maguire; F Wardick, C Graham, C Martin. Subs: E McLoughlin for Malone (45), K Lahiff for Wardick (50), A Connolly for Maguire (58).  

Referee: Chris Mooney (St Patrick’s Palmerstown).