St Vincent’s 2-17
Na Fianna 2-15
Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park
THREE-IN-A-row chasing St Vincent’s had to call on all their experience to see off a determined young Na Fianna outfit and seal their place in the Dublin SFC quarter-finals.
In a game littered with young Na Fianna talent, it was the experienced duo of Enda Varley (1-8) and Tomas Quinn (1-4) who shot 2-12 between them to give the Marino club their second victory from two games in Group 1.
They’ll likely be joined by Na Fianna in the knock-out stages should the Glasnevin outfit beat Skerries Harps as expected in the final round of games when the competition resumes in a few months’ time.
Once again Diarmuid Connolly was not part of the St Vincent’s squad as his spell away from the game continues but they had enough in the tank to defeat Na Fianna in this competition for a fourth straight year.
This contest pitted the wily winners of four of the last five titles, against an up-and-coming Na Fianna side with a handful of Dublin U21 All-Ireland winners and Leinster minor champions from last season in their ranks.
Glenn O’Reilly scored five points for Na Fianna while Conor McHugh bagged 1-4 and set-up Sean Caffrey’s goal. James Doran, a talented Leinster-winning Dublin minor from 2017, and U21 Footballer of the Year Aaron Byrne were key cogs in this extremely lively outfit.
Backboned by 2016 All-Star Jonny Cooper at centre-back, Na Fianna look destined to become a major force in Dublin football over the next few years.
The most entertaining match-up on show was between county team-mates Eoin Murchan and Shane Carthy, with Murchan getting the upper hand despite his size disadvantage.
Carthy was named at full-forward but withdrew to the middle in a free-role, leaving St Vincent’s with a two-man full-forward line of Quinn and Varley.
Quinn turns 37 this year but looks as fit as ever and rarely misses a scoring opportunity. He has struck up a fine partnership with Varley since the former Mayo player transferred to the club in 2016.
Varley has pedigree on the inter-county scene and scored two points for Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland final against Donegal.
McHugh had the ball in the net early on for the Glasnevin club, but St Vincent’s scored two goals of their own through veterans Quinn and Varley to lead by 2-2 to 1-2 after 10 minutes.
Varley added a couple of curling efforts before Na Fianna enjoyed their most dominant spell of the half. O’Reilly’s striking of the ball was outstanding and he hit 0-4 during a productive nine-minute spell to bring Na Fianna on level terms.
St Vincent’s went into the interval in front by 2-8 to 1-9 after late scores from Varley, Quinn (free) and two from Lorcan Smyth.
McHugh’s industry set-up Sean Caffrey for Na Fianna’s second goal shortly after half-time, but four St Vincent’s scores in as many minutes left them three ahead by the 34th minute.
Varley brought his tally to 1-7 with a further two scores, while Na Fianna registered a brace apiece from McHugh and O’Reilly. Nathan Mullins jinked away from his man and clipped over, before Michael Deegan responded for Na Fianna.
Eoin Murchan hobbled off with a calf problem in the 57th minute and, while Deegan and McHugh pulled Na Fianna to within a point entering stoppage-time, Varley scored his eighth point of the afternoon to seal the two-point win.
WATCH:
— eir Sport (@eirSport) April 28, 2018
Full time highlights from Parnell Park as @StVincentsGAA1 make it two wins from two in the #DSFC1 after a hard fought two-point win over @clgNaFianna. #ClubChampionships #DublinGAA pic.twitter.com/ibaSLdsh3N
Scorers for St Vincent’s: Enda Varley 1-8 (0-2f), Tomas Quinn 1-4, Lorcan Smyth 0-3, Shane Carthy, Nathan Mullins 0-1 each.
Scorers for Na Fianna: Glenn O’Reilly 0-6 (0-3f), Conor McHugh 1-4 (0-1f), Sean Caffrey 1-0, James Doran, Michael Deegan 0-2 each, Eoin Murchan 0-1.
St Vincent’s
1. Michael Savage
5. James McCusker
3. Jarlath Curley
4. Craig Wilson
7. Brendan Egan
6. Ger Brennan
2. Michael Concarr
8. Nathan Mullins
23. Eamonn Fennell
22. Joe Feeney
11. Lorcan Smyth
12. Cormac Diamond
14. Shane Carthy
15. Tomas Quinn
13. Enda Varley
Subs
26. Albert Martin for Feeney (ht)
Na Fianna
1. David O’Hanlon
2. Darragh Kennedy
3. Niall McGovern
4. Eoin Murchan
7. Paul O’Hanlon
6. Jonny Cooper
5. Aaron Byrne
8. Eoghan McHugh
23. JJ Martin
14. Timothy Foran
13. Michael Deegan
12. Glenn O’Reilly
11. James Doran
10. Conor McHugh
15. Sean Caffrey
Subs
25. Eoin O’Dea for Foran (38)
24. Eoghan Neville for Murchan (57)
22. Jimmy Higgins for O’Reilly (60)
Referee: Darragh Sheppard
This is a poorly managed Cork team with a ref that has given them nothing and they find themselves level against supposedly the fourth best team in the country, imagine what they might do with good management support and fair break from the refree.
@John Carroll: if they’re bringing the supposedly fourth best team in Ireland to extra time the management can’t be that bad? Or are you saying both Mayo and Cork are just shit teams?
@Kevin Gallagher: well two poor teams but the ref was shocking
@Tim Brennan: was it? What major incidents did he get wrong?
@Kevin Gallagher: take a look at killian o connors pull back on cadogan and he knew he would have to black carded him and considered his contribution to the scoreboard it would have limited Mayo all in all Kerry will hammer the winner . Football refs are completely inconsistent and that’s the problem. What he gave as frees for mayo he ignored for Cork. Cork got one free inside the 35 meter line
@Tim Brennan: I don’t disagree that refs are inconsistent, but that wasn’t why Cork lost the game. They had plenty of goal chances to
finish Mayo off in normal time. Also, you could argue back and forth all evening on what the ref got right or wrong for Mayo and Cork. He missed Keegan being pulled back before his trip for a black card (and rightly should’ve been black carded), etc etc.
Also, you can’t seriously argue that Mayo are a shit team?
@Kevin Gallagher: clearly Mayo are not a shite team but I don’t believe this team is capable of winning an all Ireland. They have been robbed of their chance to win and refs in gaa favour the top teams as their ultimate prize is the ref an all ireland- and you know full well that poor refs have cost Mayo dearly. Cork have no excuses and a management that put Alan o Connor on the field tells everything about their vision
For cork football – he gave away 2 needless frees and could not run
@Kevin Gallagher:What i am saying is Cork should be well capable of beating Mayo who are supposedly the fourth best team around and with better management they could do it.For starters Alan o connor has been a huge servant to Cork football but only a group of idiots would have him on a senior inter county panel at this stage of his career.I could go on and on but why bother ….
Referee keeping Mayo players on the pitch here…….
@IrishOwl: I don’t know how Keegan managed to stay on there.
@Dave Murray: cork footballers shafted by a northern ref again
Blew up early
@Timmy O Sullivan: As a neutral I thought the officials were very harsh on Cork the whole game.
@John Kinsella: I second that. Seemed to be a lot harder for cork to get frees
Should be easy for Mayo. A 5 point victory I predict.
Jesus, I’m a mayo supporter and I don’t know if I’m that confident! I think if we take cork for granted we could get punished!
@Dec: Southern opposition often pose problems for Mayo but Mayo should have enough to beat the Cork buys
@Enda McCallion: not that easy so far
Why is it not on TV?
@Hello there friend: It was on Sky
Hope Cork can finish it in extra time. Great stuff so far being the under dogs. Go on the rebels.
Great effort from cork but that ref was atrocious.
Free streams ?
Cork should have won in 70 minutes, missed some gilt-edged chances. Fancy Mayo to finish stronger in the extra time. Great game for the neutral.
What a match. I’d say both sets of players are wrecked.
I don’t disagree but Mayo could say the same thing after leading by 7. To be fair, corks first goal was savage, I’m relieved more than happy after that win
One thing i will say, Mayo are brilliant supporters. Huge numbers follow the team around. That was a very poor turnout for the Cork footballers, those lads deserve better.
Ref won it for mayo
Don’t disagree but I’ve seen it go the other way for us. Might not be as lucky the next game. Need to up our game in a massive way. Will make it no more than the semi’s this year though(if we up our game!!)
Cork doing ok so far up to HT, and are unlucky to be three behind .I suppose it would have been crazy to expect anything from the refree as some of his calls have been poor and mainly against Cork.If they are to stay in this game they will have to push up and are very likely to be caught at the back then.
What tv channel is it on ?
A hope and a prayer for Cork.
Mayo are gone
@Colm Buckley: back in front
@Colm Buckley:
Gone through to the next round it seems
Well done to both teams.
Big crowd there ….around 45 thousand I’d say. A day that will resonate through the ages
@John Ryan: What?
Can’t see anything other than a Mayo win
The myth of David Clarke continues. His kickouts continue to be a liability. Best keeper in the land my arse.
Mayo forwards’ shooting has been excellent. Gotta love Andy Moran – absolute legend. Not sure how Cork are still in this, offering up far too many chances.
@Camroc: Not sure what your watching kid but both teams at the very least deserved a second day out.
@John Carroll: Did you reply to the wrong comment?
That was at 7 down and playing awful. Fair play to them they are putting a great show. Hope they win it
What channel is it on?
@Maurice Cott: sky sports arena 408
Well done mayo
The untouchable ref rode the arse off Cork and his love in with Aidan o Shea – Gaa ref are unbelievably bad
Brannigan is as bad at referring as he is at doing linesman!
36 mins in and cork already half way through their subs
Jesus… are they wearing slippers or what ???? FFS. Change em !!!!!
If we (cork) win this, is it defo the rossies next?
Kerrigan is a liability and cork are lame ducks
Why wasn’t it on tv
@Hello there friend: it was on sky
looks like this is running away from cork
Jesus cork are dirt
@ryan o sullivan: ???
K