CROKES AND NA FIANNA QUALIFY FOR GO AHEAD DSF1 FINAL
Na Fianna will face defending champions Kilmacud Crokes in the Dublin Senior One Football Championship decider on October 16 after both teams came through their semi-finals with flying colours at the weekend.
Whereas Na Fianna defeated Ballyboden St Enda’s with 10 points to spare (1-14 to 0-7) at Parnell Park on Saturday, Crokes were 0-12 to 1-3 winners at the expense of Thomas Davis a day later.
This forthcoming showdown is a repeat of the 2005 decider, which coincidentally was also the last time the Stillorgan club completed back-to-back titles. Kilmacud triumphed on a final scoreline of 1-14 to 0-9 17 years ago, but will have reason to be wary of the challenge Na Fianna will pose based on what transpired in the Donnycarney venue in the past few days.
Na Fianna earned a third consecutive Dublin SFC crown back in 2001, but are still searching for their sixth top-tier success despite some strong performances in recent seasons. Ballyboden have been county champions on three occasions since Na Fianna last climbed the Parnell steps – as well as winning two Leinster crowns and an All-Ireland – but were facing into a stiff breeze during the opening period of their encounter with the Glasnevin men.
Na Fianna were eager to lay down a marker with the wind at their backs and managed to do so with early points from Conor McHugh and goalkeeper David O’Hanlon (’45’). ‘Boden were finding it difficult to establish a firm foothold in the play, with Sky Blues star Eoin Murchan continuing his excellent form of late in the Na Fianna defence.
‘Boden remained in touching distance, before their northside rivals created some daylight with quickfire efforts from wing-back Ali Fitzgerald, McHugh and Glen O’Reilly. It was becoming evident that Na Fianna were performing at their optimum level following a tricky quarter-final duel with Whitehall Colmcille and their stranglehold on the proceedings was maintained for the remainder of the opening period.
After Paddy Quinn and O’Reilly split the posts in fine style, a two-point salvo by McHugh increased the gap between the teams. David Lacey opened his own account by knocking over a free and while ‘Boden finally got up and running with a Colm Basquel free three minutes into first-half stoppage-time, Na Fianna brought a commanding 0-10 to 0-1 buffer into the interval.
Although the signs were ominous for Ballyboden, they did play with a lot more energy on the resumption. Wing-forwards Alan Flood and Basquel were both on target to give the Firhouse Road outfit a glimmer of hope.
Kenny Naughton’s side were starting to create numerous opportunities, but Na Fianna were popping up with scores at crucial junctures to ensure they remained in charge. Either side of a point from substitute Ryan O’Dwyer, O’Hanlon and Lacey found the range to leave the St Mobhi Road men eight points in front (0-12 to 0-4) inside the final-quarter.
‘Boden did their best to stem the tide with scores from Ross McGarry (two) and evergreen substitute Conal Keaney, only for Na Fianna to add further singles courtesy of Lacey and McHugh. Former Dublin underage footballer Lacey had three points to his name by this stage and enhanced his already impressive tally with a goal on 63 minutes to put the seal on an emphatic triumph.
McHugh and Lacey ended the contest with 1-8 between them, and will be two players to watch out for in that upcoming final.
Thomas Davis had already claimed the scalps of 2021 finalists St Jude’s (in the group stages) and Castleknock en route to the penultimate rounds and had their sights set on toppling title holders Kilmacud at Parnell Park on Saturday. It didn’t take long to outline their credentials with an opening point from Gavin Carruth being swiftly followed by a Fionn Murray goal in the fourth-minute.
Roared on by their passionate home supporters – who had come out in their droves to see their senior ladies team take on Crokes in a championship showpiece at Parnell just nine days earlier – the Tallaght outfit were seeking a return to a senior final for the first time in three years. History was on Davis’ side to an extent as it was Kilmacud they defeated in the 2019 semi-final.
There has been considerable change to both squads in the intervening period, epitomised by the fact that current Davis’ manager Ciaran Farrelly was one of their goalscorer in that 2-12 to 1-10 victory. Shane Cunningham featured in that game and he curled between the posts on nine minutes to supplement an earlier score from roving defender Dan O’Brien.
Although Paul Mannion was ruled out with an injury he picked up in Crokes’ last-eight win against Cuala, Galway footballer Shane Walsh was on hand to make his second start for the club. Either side of the first-quarter mark, he converted points from place-balls – three frees and one ’45’ – to edge Crokes into the driving seat.
His first from play was to follow in the 29th-minute, moments after Dara Mullin had added his name to the scoresheet, but Conor Guilfoyle ended a lengthy barren spell for Davis’ with a point in the 32nd-minute of the opening period.
This left Davis’ three points in arrears (0-8 to 1-2) at the break and when Dublin senior hurler Davy Keogh split the uprights at the end of an outstanding solo run 11 minutes after the resumption, they looked set to pose a major obstacle for Crokes in their quest for a third final appearance in five years.
Crokes methodically went about their business, however, and another two-point salvo by Walsh gave them some extra breathing space. The dismissal of midfielder Ryan Deegan left Davis’ with a mountain to climb in the closing stages, though their industry couldn’t be questioned at any point.
Nonetheless, Walsh brought his personal haul to 0-8 with a sublime effort from play and substitute Cian O’Connor also chipped over a fine score in stoppage-time to seal Crokes’ place in a mouthwatering Senior One showcase.