Gaelic Games

Na Fianna overcome Lucan Sarsfields to reach Dublin final

Donal Burke scored 0-9 as only northside team left in championship breezed through

Lucan Sarsfields’ Luke Walsh and Donal Burke of Na Fianna compete during the Dublin SHC semi-final. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Paul Keane at Parnell Park
Sun Oct 31 2021 - 15:18

Na Fianna 1-20 Lucan Sarsfields 0-12

In the end, a first ever Dublin SHC final place came relatively at their ease for Na Fianna who cruised through to the decider with plenty to spare at Parnell Park.

Led in scoring terms by Dublin forward Donal Burke - he struck 0-9 - and new recruit Liam Rushe in defence, the Mobhi Road men led virtually from pillar to post.

Lucan sought a rare final appearance themselves, their first since 2013, but leaked six points without reply between the fifth and 13th minutes and operated largely in Na Fianna’s slipstream from there on.

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With Rushe, who transferred this season from St Pat’s, Palmerstown, at the centre of their defence, and Feargal Breathnach patrolling behind him as a sweeper, Na Fianna dominated and conceded a paltry 0-4 from open play.

There were some magical moments from Na Fianna, like AJ Murphy’s point from a sideline cut, and Paul O’Dea’s two long range scores, but this was a largely methodical and ultra-efficient display.

Na Fianna cut Lucan apart at times with precise passing and found the going far easier than their three-point quarter-final win over St Judes.

That early burst of scoring left Na Fianna in a strong position with a 0-8 to 0-2 lead, centre-back Rushe among the scorers.

O’Dea’s second score of the half put Na Fianna, curiously the only northside outfit left in either the senior hurling or football championships, 0-9 to 0-4 up at the water break.

Colin Currie’s 30th minute goal after Sean Currie’s initial shot was blocked was a significant strike and left Na Fianna on the verge of victory, 1-12 to 0-6 up at the interval.

That nine point gap remained between them at the second water break and late scores from Micheal Murphy, Burke and Colin Currie stretched the gap to 11 by full-time.

Na Fianna: J Treacy; K Burke, S Baxter, C Kelly; P O'Dea (0-2), L Rushe (0-1), D Ryan; P Feeney (0-1), M Quilty; S Currie, F Breathnach (0-1), S Barrett (0-1); C Currie (1-2), AJ Murphy (0-2, 1 s/l), D Burke (0-9, 6f).

Subs: M Murphy (0-1) for AJ Murphy 43, H Fenlon for Baxter 49, E McHugh for Quilty 52, K Murphy for Barrett 59, E O'Sullivan for Kelly 64.

Lucan Sarsfields: S McClelland, J Bellew, L Walsh, A Murphy; M McCaffrey, C Crummey (0-1), P Rigney; J McCaffrey, R Smith; C Walsh, P Kelly (0-1), E O Conghaile; C Keher, C Dowling (0-9, 7f, 1 65), P Crummey.

Subs: K Fitzgerald for Walsh 35, D Flannery (0-1) for O Conghaile 38, C McHugh for Kelly 45.

Referee: T Gleeson.

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