AIB All-Ireland Club SHC Final: Classy Na Fianna triumph:
AIB All-Ireland Club SHC Final
Na Fianna 2-23 Sarsfields 0-20
By Cian O’Connell at Croke Park
This was a sweet and satisfying triumph for Na Fianna at Croke Park.
On the most important club day of the lot, Na Fianna summoned a performance packed with quality to overpower Sarsfields.
Na Fianna were primed for a battle, thundering into the match ensuring Sarsfields were never able to fully cover.
Tom Brennan mined a couple of goals, Liam Rushe and Brian Ryan excelled, while Ciarán Stacey and AJ Murphy starred in attack.
It was a cool and crafty display, illustrating decades of work that has been carried out by the progressive Mobhi Road outfit.
The opening period illustrated Na Fianna’s power and considerable hurling ability as the Dublin team seized control.
Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s well organised team dictated the agenda, producing a brilliant display that was reflected with a 1-16 to 0-7 interval lead.
There was so much to admire in Na Fianna’s slick and efficient play, especially early on, as Sarsfields struggled to cope with the intensity.
In the first quarter Na Fianna registered 0-8 from 11 attempts, while at the opposite end Sarsfields only managed 0-1 from four.
Murphy was prominent inside, Stacey was fashioning chances, while Colin Currie struck over the frees with aplomb.
Daniel Kearney nailed Sars’ first point from play in the 20th minute narrowing the deficit, 0-10 to 0-3, but then Na Fianna pounced for a goal.
Jack Meagher’s pass located Brennan, who rattled the Sars net and suddenly Na Fianna were 10 points clear, armed with confidence and momentum.
Aaron Myers and Jack O’Connor, who both battled throughout for Sars replied with points, but Na Fianna remained in the ascendancy.
When referee Liam Gordon blasted the half-time whistle Na Fianna were 1-16 to 0-7 ahead.
After the restart, it was a similar story even though Myers and O’Connor landed some gorgeous points for Sarsfields.
Colin Currie and Stacey manufactured a chance for Brennan to rifle a second Na Fianna goal which steered them 2-20 to 0-12 in front.
The experienced Daniel Kearney, O’Connor, and Myers were defiant for Sarsfields, but it wasn’t enough to thwart a talented Na Fianna. Admirably, Dublin, Leinster, and All-Ireland titles have been gleaned by Ó Ceallacháin’s charges.
Scorers for Na Fianna: Tom Brennan 2-1, Colin Currie 0-6 (5fs), AJ Murphy 0-5, Brian Ryan and Donal Burke (1f) 0-3 each, Ciaran Stacey 0-2, Paul O’Dea, Seán Currie, and Jack Meagher 0-1 each.
Scorers for Sarsfields: Aaron Myers 0-10 (8fs), Jack O’Connor 0-5, Daniel Kearney 0-3 (1 65), Bryan Murphy and Daniel Hogan 0-1 each.
Na Fianna: Jonathan Tracey; Seán Burke, Conor McHugh, Kevin Burke; Paul O’Dea, Liam Rushe, Peter Feeney; Brian Ryan, Seán Currie; Jack Meagher, Donal Burke, Ciarán Stacey; Colin Currie, AJ Murphy, Tom Brennan.
Subs: Diarmaid Clerkin for Brian Ryan (53), Gavin King for Brennan (56), Donal Ryan for O’Dea (58), Shane Barrett for Murphy (60+1), Seán Ryan for Meagher (60+2).
Sarsfields: Ben Graham; Paul Leopold, Conor O’Sullivan, Cillian Roche; Bryan Murphy, Eoghan Murphy, Luke Elliott; Colm McCarthy, Cathal McCarthy; Daniel Kearney, Daniel Hogan, Cian Darcy; Aaron Myers, James Sweeney, Jack O’Connor.
Subs: Shane O’Regan for Darcy (HT), Craig Leahy for Roche (HT), Liam Healy for Colm McCarthy (40), Killian Murphy for E Murphy (46), Eoin O’Sullivan for Sweeney (51).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).