Na Fianna remain unbeaten after win over Naomh Barróg in PTSB Dublin SHC 1

NA FIANNA 4-22

NAOMH BARRÓG 2-15

Na Fianna registered their third successive victory in Group 1 of the PTSB Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship when overcoming Naomh Barróg by thirteen points at Parnell Park on Friday night.

The damage was done by half-time as John Tierney’s excellent hat-trick prompted a healthy 3-15 to 1-7 interval lead for Na Fianna.

Conor McHugh’s dismissal made matters far tighter upon the restart but despite their buffer being reduced to ten points at one stage, they eased home through a late goal by AJ Murphy.   

The Glasnevin side wasted little time in seizing the initiative as Donal Burke turned provider for Tierney, who pulled home past Josh Rooney from close range.

Joe Flanagan replied with a free for Barróg but their opponents’ strong was reflected in further points by the 5th minute from Will Wheatley and Donal Ryan.

A strong run down the middle from Eoin Hart saw Barróg right back in the mix with his pass eventually finding Dylan Duggan, who found the net via the hurl of Na Fianna netminder Jonathan Tracey.

It proved a brief respite for the Kilbarrack side as Burke clipped over two superb points from the terrace side before his vision saw the inrushing Tierney ghost free to double his goal tally in the 15th minute.

Barróg enjoyed isolated moments of encouragement through points from Nathan Kidd, Flanagan, Sean Duggan and Daniel Moore but they were chasing shadows for the large part as Na Fianna clicked through the gears.

Joe Kavanagh helped himself to two points in quick succession while Wheatley and his midfield partner Paul O’Dea also clipped over points in the second quarter.

Tierney’s confidence was sky high and he raced through once again in the 30th minute, leaving Rooney helpless for the third time in the half as Na Fianna moved fourteen points clear by the interval.    

Despite O’Dea enhancing that advantage early in the second-half, Na Fianna were dealt a blow as dual star Conor McHugh was dismissed in the 34th minute after an altercation with Barróg full-forward Kidd.

Points by Séadhna Ryan, Flanagan and Aodhán O’Donohoe saw Barróg avail of their numerical advantage but Na Fianna kept their scoreboard ticking over courtesy of Burke (free) and substitute AJ Murphy.

However, the Kilbarrack outfit built up a degree of momentum as Duggan kicked to the net at the start of the final quarter and a Flanagan free brought the margin down to a more manageable ten points.

The contest petered out to its inevitable conclusion as Burke added two further frees to quash any hopes of a Barróg comeback with Murphy sealing the victory with a clinical finish in added time.      

Scorers – Na Fianna: J Tierney 3-1; D Burke 0-10 (5f, 1 ’65); AJ Murphy 1-1; W Wheatley 0-3; P O’Dea, J Kavanagh 0-2 each; D Ryan, T Brennan, S Barrett 0-1 apiece. Naomh Barróg: J Flanagan 0-7 (5f); D Duggan 2-0; D Moore 0-2; S Duggan, A O’Donohoe, S Ryan, N Kidd, F McDonald, N Ring 0-1 apiece.

Na Fianna: J Tracey; C Kelly, C McHugh, P Feeney; D Ryan, D Clerkin, L Rushe; W Wheatley, P O’Dea; J Tierney, D Meagher, E McHugh; J Kavanagh, D Burke, T Brennan. Subs: AJ Murphy for Kavanagh (41), G Spollen for Tierney (44), L Stacey for Meagher (47), S Baxter for Brennan (50), S Barrett for Burke (61).  

Naomh Barróg: J Rooney; L Glynn, S Duggan, M Sharry; A O’Donohue, P Doyle, S Gallagher; E Hart, S Ryan; S Doyle, J Flanagan, D Duggan; M Tierney, N Kidd, D Moore.  Subs: F McDonald for Glynn (20), N Ring for S Duggan (49), E Ó Conghaile for Tierney (54), D Heffernan for McDonald (56).

Referee: Colm McHale (St Oliver Plunkett’s/ER).