Na Fianna Top their Group after Win over Lucan Sarsfields

NA FIANNA 0-25 

LUCAN SARSFIELDS 1-18

Na Fianna delivered a composed second-half performance to get the better of Lucan Sarsfields by four points in their Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship encounter at Parnell Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Something had to give in what was a battle between the joint leaders in Group 1 with the holders showing the required experience after the break to secure top spot in the table. 

Lucan played against the stiff breeze in the opening half but a 3rd minute goal from Paul Crummey and five Sean Harkness points handed them a 1-12 to 0-13 interval lead.

Na Fianna bounced back impressively in the second-half with Colin Currie’s twelve points going a long way to deciding the outcome. 

Despite Colin Currie opening the scoring through a 2nd minute ‘65’, Lucan found themselves in front soon after as Chris Crummey’s shot dropped short close to goal and Paul Crummey availed of some defensive hesitancy to fire home from ten yards.

Na Fianna drew level by the 7th minute through points by Currie (free) and Michael Murphy before Lucan edged back in front courtesy of Charlie Keher. 

The holders strung together a series of points to briefly gain the upper hand with points from AJ Murphy, Tom Brennan and Peter Feeney pushing them three points clear by the 12thminute. 

However, Sarsfields enjoyed a period of dominance either side of the first-quarter mark as they struck six points on the bounce to take control of matters. 

Sean Harkness accounted for half of these scores, including two from open play, while Kevin Fitzgerald, Keher and Liam Garrigan also found the range as their side established a deserved three-point advantage. 

AJ Murphy ended a scoreless period of eight minutes as he clipped over his second score of the half but Lucan continued to impress as they added to their tally thanks to John Bellew and Donal Flannery. 

The remainder of the half saw Harkness and Colin Currie share the final four scores, as Sarsfields entered the break holding a slender two-point lead. 

The aforementioned duo exchanged frees in the early stages of the second-half before Na Fianna’s Jack Meagher and Sarsfields substitute Jack Behan did likewise from open play to keep Lucan in the ascendancy. 

Gradually, Na Fianna’s running game began to bear dividends as they regained the lead by the 39th minute through points from AJ Murphy, Seán Currie and Colin Currie (free), with Lucan staying in touch through Harkness and Bellew. 

Brian Ryan clipped over a brace of scores early in the final quarter and another Colin Currie free pushed the All-Ireland champions into a three-point lead by the 53rd minute. 

That proved a sufficient buffer as the Lucan threat up front petered out to a large degree, allowing Ciaran Stacey and Colin Currie to add insurance scores in the closing stages.        

Scorers – Na Fianna: C Currie 0-12 (10f, 1 ’65); AJ Murphy 0-3; B Ryan, M Murphy, S Currie 0-2 each; P Feeney, J Meagher, T Brennan, C Stacey 0-1 apiece. Lucan Sarsfields: S Harkness 0-9 (6f, 1 ’65); P Crummey 1-0; J Bellew, C Keher 0-2 each; C Kennedy, L Garrigan, D Flannery, J Behan, K Fitzgerald 0-1 apiece.

Na Fianna: J Tracey; D Clerkin, C McHugh, S Burke; P O’Dea, L Rushe, P Feeney; B Ryan, J Meagher; M Murphy, D Burke, C Currie; AJ Murphy, S Currie, T Brennan. Subs: C Stacey for M Murphy (half-time), C McCarthy for D Burke (41), L Stacey for Feeney (52), W Wheatley for McHugh (59), S Baxter for Ryan (59). 

Lucan Sarsfields: S McClelland; M McCaffrey, P Rigney, M Pappalardo; J Bellew, C Crummey, R Smith; C Walsh, L Garrigan; S Harkness, D Flannery, K Fitzgerald; C Keher, P Crummey, C Kennedy. Subs: J Behan for Rigney (Temp, 12-15), Behan for Smith (half-time), M Coogan for Fitzgerald (40), R Ward for C Crummey (Temp, 48-49), Ward for Garrigan (59). 

Referee: Seán Stack (Pobal Parnell).