Na Fianna reached their first ever Dublin Senior ‘A’ Hurling Final on Sunday afternoon, with a comfortable semi-final victory over Lucan Sarsfields at Parnell Park.
The Mobhi Road men led from the front, hitting six scores without reply between the fourth and 12th minutes to take control of the tie.
Paul O’Dea – the Go Ahead Man of the Match – struck two excellent points in the opening quarter, as his side took their first water break 0-9 to 0-4 up.
Ciarán Dowling’s placed balls kept Lucan in touch. However, Sean McCaffrey’s men suffered a blow just before the break, as Colin Currie hit the net for Na Fianna for the game’s only goal, following some good work from his brother Sean.
That helped Na Fianna to a 9-point lead at the break (1-12 to 0-06)- a lead they never looked like relinquishing.
Second half scores from Donal Burke – who finished with 0-9 overall – Sean Currie, Micheál Murphy and Colin Currie saw Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s side claim an 11-point victory (1-20 to 0-12) and a first ever appearance in the Dublin Senior Hurling Final.
Kilmacud Crokes will contest the 2021 Go Ahead Dublin Senior A Hurling Final, after ending Cuala’s three-in-a-row bid at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.
Crokes started the better, with scores from Caolan Conway, Fergal Whitely and a brace from Dara Purcell putting them 0-4 to 0-1 up in the opening five minutes.
They moved further ahead shortly afterwards, as Ronan Hayes slammed home a penalty in the 10th minute, after a foul on Alex Considine.
Cuala reduced the gap to two points by the break (1-7 to 0-8), thanks to three Con O’Callaghan points from play, alongside three David Treacy placed balls.
However, a strong third quarter gave Crokes the platform for their victory, as they outscored their opponents by 0-7 to 0-3 – Oisín O’Rorke hitting two excellent points in this period.
David Treacy’s frees kept the scoreboard ticking for Cuala, but the goal they needed eluded them until the last puck of the game – a Seán Moran free which crept over the line.
That goal did nothing to change the outcome however (1-18 to 1-13), as joint-managers Kieran Dowling & Donal McGovern led Crokes to the County Final, where they will face Na Fianna.
Caption: Kilmacud’s Fergal Whitely in action during Crokes’ win over Cuala at Parnell Park
Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
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