Na Fianna begin defence of Go-Ahead Senior 1 Crown with emphatic win over St Brigids

NA FIANNA 5-26 

ST BRIGID’S 0-14 

Na Fianna made the most of St Brigid’s ill-discipline as they cruised to an emphatic twenty-seven-point win in their one-sided Go-Ahead Dublin Senior 1 Hurling Championship Group 1 opener in O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon.

The holders were well placed approaching half-time as they enjoyed a seven-point lead and they were further boosted as St Brigid’s goalkeeper Alan Nolan was dismissed in added-time following an altercation with AJ Murphy.

St Brigid’s uphill task became even steeper by the 47^th minute as Paul Winters was also sent-off, with the contest losing any semblance of competitiveness by the final whistle.

That such an eventuality should occur seemed unlikely after a relatively even opening quarter, one that saw St Brigid’s more than match their opponents through early points by Brian Moran and Winters.

However, their early optimism was punctured briefly as Gavin King fired home clinically in the 3^rd minute as St Brigid’s failed to deal with a Jonno Tracey puck-out.

Winters and Donnacha Ryan restored the St Brigid’s lead as the teams traded points but Na Fianna landed another body blow in the 14^th minute as Colin Currie swept home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

The holders pushed on through points by Ciaran Stacey, Currie, substitute Murphy and Seán Currie before St Brigid’s regained a degree of composure thanks to points from Andrew Dunphy and Winters.

Those scores offered only brief moments of respite however as Brian Ryan, Currie, Murphy and Donal Burke added points at the opposite end and Nolan’s dismissal didn’t augur well for their second-half chances.

That concern was confirmed as Na Fianna plundered two goals inside the opening three minutes of the restart with Murphy and Stacey leaving replacement goalkeeper Lorcan Doolin helpless with smart finishes.

From that point, it was a case of damage limitation for the Blanchardstown outfit as Na Fianna availed of their numerical advantage to push further clear with another substitute, Shane Barrett, netting within two minutes of his introduction in the 47^th minute.

The sending-off of Winters reflected the frustrations that St Brigid’s were experiencing although they managed to pop over a brace of frees through Jonathan McGuirk and scores from play by Kieran O’Sullivan and Thomas Mohan.

However, they were powerless to prevent their opponents from pulling away by the end with defenders Sean Burke, Conor McHugh and Paul O’Dea all helping themselves to scores as the Glasnevin side eased home.

Scorers – Na Fianna: C Currie 1-10 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘65’); AJ Murphy, G King, C Stacey 1-2 each; S Barrett 1-1; S Currie 0-3; P O’Dea 0-2; S Burke, C McHugh, B Ryan, D Burke 0-1 apiece. St Brigid’s: P Winters 0-5 (3f); J McGuirk 0-3 (2f); D Ryan 0-2; B Moran, A Dunphy, K O’Sullivan, T Mohan 0-1 apiece.

Na Fianna: J Tracey; S Burke, C McHugh, F Breathnach; P O’Dea, L Rushe, D Ryan; B Ryan, G Spollen; S Currie, D Burke, S Ryan; C Currie, C Stacey, G King. Subs: AJ Murphy for S Ryan (18). W Wheatley for Rushe (half-time), J Kavanagh for D Burke (36), J Meagher for Murphy (37), S Barrett for Stacey (45).

St Brigid’s: A Nolan; J O’Neill, C Doyle, B O’Sullivan; A Dunphy, B Moran, M Kavanagh; A McGuirk, J McGuirk; J O’Connell, P Winters, D Ryan; K O’Sullivan, C Kellett, S Meagher. Subs: L Doolin for Meagher (half-time), T Mohan for O’Sullivan (42), S Brady for O’Neill (50), M Fraine for Kellett (51).

Referee: Chris Mooney (St Patrick’s Palmerstown).