Dublin SFC Semi-final/St Vincents 1-12 Na Fianna 0-5: Send out the old, bring in the new. Na Fianna's ageing warriors look to have made their last stand as an energetic St Vincent's progressed to the Dublin county final last night with a fearless display.
UCD wait in the decider that has been set for next Monday night under lights at Parnell Park.
Kieran McGeeney, 48 hours after his inspirational turn for Ireland in the International Rules first Test, was named at corner forward for Na Fianna. Maybe that was to keep him fresh for next Sunday's second Test at Croke Park but within minutes McGeeney was out around the middle contesting breaking ball.
He settled into a running duel with Tiernan Diamond, which earned him a yellow card before half-time having already been warned for impeding opposing centre back Ger Brennan.
Brennan was doing a fine impression of the 34-year-old in his heyday as the flanker battered his way up the middle. His influence denied any chance of McGeeney being called ashore for a rest. They eventually cancelled each other out.
If not for some miserable shooting, Dermot Connolly aside, St Vincent's would have been better off than their 1-3 to 0-3 lead at the interval. There were some early moments of quality, a long-range Brennan point and a typical poacher's goal from Tomás Quinn, who had flown in from Florida yesterday. The radar was initially off target - he hit a fifth-minute penalty tamely to Cian Kelliher's left - but when a Niall Dunne shot fell short on 17 minutes, Quinn gathered before rifling to the net.
Na Fianna's Breadain Ó Callarain added to scores from Senan Connell and Kevin O'Neill to equal matters but St Vincent's monopoly of possession never faltered. Another incident of note in the opening half saw St Vincent's goalkeeper Michael Savage pull off a point-blank save from Dessie Farrell.
It all seemed primed for a titanic second half but by the time Na Fianna launched Jason Sherlock off the bench St Vincent's were out of sight after scores from Hugh Coughlan, Quinn, Connolly and Diamond.
Na Fianna replacement Jude O'Sullivan eventually posted a fourth point, 28 minutes after their third score.
ST VINCENT'S: M Savage; W Lowry, E Brady, A Costello; P Conlon, G Brennan (0-1), R Fallon; P Gilroy, N Dunne; K Golden, M Loftus, T Doyle (0-1); D Connolly (0-5, one free), T Diamond (0-1), T Quinn (1-3, two frees). Subs: H Coughlan (0-1) for K Golden inj (28 mins), S Loughlin for N Dunne (35 mins), B Manning for M Loftus (58 mins), J Moloney for T Quinn (59 mins).
NA FIANNA: C Kelliher; E Rutledge, E McNulty, R Houlihan; R O'Hagan, A Downes, N Cooper; J McGuirk, M Ó Callarain; K O'Neill (0-2), S Connell (0-1), B Ó Callarain (0-1); K McGeeney, K Donnelly, D Farrell. Subs: J Sherlock for J McGuirk (31 mins), J O'Sullivan (0-1) for E Rutledge (46 mins), N Dunne for D Farrell (54 mins), M Jarocki for S Connell (57 mins).
Referee: T Quigley (Kilmacud Crokes).
Galway officials will decide tonight what action to take against players and officials involved in the county hurling final last Sunday week. The committee appointed to survey the video of the tempestuous clash between Loughrea and Portumna will report to the Galway Games Administration Committee.
