Full Time: Na Fianna 3-16 – 2-18 Kilmacud Crokes
A last-gasp goal ensured Na Fianna retained their title in the most dramatic fashion, as a valiant display by Kilmacud Crokes wasn’t enough to pip the Men from Mobhi Road.
Both sides had contrasting semi-finals when they played at Parnell Park just two weeks ago. Na Fianna’s tightly contested clash saw them pip St Vincents in extra time, while Kilmacud’s dominant second-half display saw them ease past fellow southside club Lucan Sarsfields—and the early signs showed they could repeat their heroics.
The rain didn’t dismay Gavin King from sending a wonderful sideline puck over the bar to open the scoring. Kilmacud pegged them back almost instantly through Conal O Riain, with another six points tacked on for the Stillorgan side without response.
As Crokes continued their rampant performance Na Fianna began to settle, with Jack Meaghar and Colin Currie cutting the lead down, and AJ Murphy’s seemingly goalbound strike just flying over.
It proved a wake-up call for Crokes, as David Purcell went straight down the other end and fired past Jonathan Tracey to put the southsiders firmly back in charge.
After some back-and-forth play, the Men from Mobhi Road once again cursed their luck as Meaghar’s puck smacked off the goal’s frame, but they could grab a point through Colin Currie after the play was called back for a foul.
On the next time of asking their luck turned, as Conor McHugh blasted his effort past Gibbons, cutting the lead back down to just five points at the break.
The second half started almost identically to the first. An early opening by Na Fianna’s Brian Ryan was cancelled out straight away. But the energy seemed to have swung in Na Fianna’s favour, as a point from Colin Currie and a well-taken penalty by Donal Burke saw a once 8-point lead chopped back down to just one.
It wasn’t long until they had finally pegged Kilmacud Crokes back, with Paul O’Dea’s puck from distance sailing over. But Kilmacud finally kicked back into gear, with Oisin O’Rorke smashing a shot into the back of the net.
O’Dea once again showed impressive range to fire over from halfway and cut the lead down to two, but once again O’Rorke popped one over to ensure his side kept Na Fianna at bay.
With three minuted added on and an equal a two-point deficit to overturn, Na Fianna were in need of a moment of magic to retain their title. But although a late call for overcarrying by Joe Kavanagh seemed to be a stay of execution, the subsequent free was missed.
Na Fianna heaped the pressure on in the dying seconds, but a hacked effort by Shane Barrett looked like a final missed opportunity. Sean Stack called it back for a free once more, and Ciaran Stacey popped up at the back post to give them the lead at the last second.
The goal proved to be decisive, as Na Fianna retained their title and set up a Leinster Senior Club Championship quarter-final clash with Clough Ballacolla
Full Time: Na Fianna 3-16 – 2-18 Kilmacud Crokes
Na Fianna: Jonathan Tracey, Sean Burke, Conor McHugh, Jack Meaghar, Paul O’Dea, Liam Rushe, Kevin Burke, Brian Ryan, Peter Feeney, Ciaran Stacey, Donal Burke, Sean Currie, Colin Currie, AJ Muprhy, Gavin King
Substitutes: Oisin Feeney, Shane Barrett, Sean Ryan, Gerry Spollen, Diarmuid Clerkin, Will Wheatley, Donal Ryan, Feargal Breathnach, Aaron Jesson, Joe Kavanagh, Jack Guinan
Kilmacud Crokes: Eddie Gibbons, Brendan Kenny, Brian Sheehy, David Lucey, Cian Ó Cathasaigh, Cian Mac Gabhainn, Mark Grogan, Brian Hayes, Dara Purcell, Fergal Whitely, Oisin O’Rorke, Conal Ó Riain, David Purcell, Ronan Hayes, Caolan Conway
Substitutes: Ben Hynes, Ronan Costelloe, Bill O’Carroll, Alex Considine, Cian Ryan, Fionn Ó Ceallaigh, Michael Roche, Brendan Scanlan, Padhraic Linehan, Brendain Ó Connaill, Davy Crowe
Referee: Sean Stack
