LAST YEAR’S DUBLIN senior hurling champions and Leinster finalists Na Fianna have stormed into the 2024 semi-finals after a comprehensive win over Ballyboden St Enda’s.
Na Fianna won by 18 points — 4-26 to 2-14 — at Parnell Park this evening, and have been drawn against St Vincent’s in the last four.
Niall O Ceallacháin’s side led by the minimum in difficult conditions at the break, but powered to glory with an emphatic second-half showing.
Na Fianna’s AJ Murphy and David Gleeson were the first-half goalscorers, with the scoreline 1-11 to 1-10 at the interval.
The Northsiders raised three more green flags in the second period, including this superb strike from the excellent Ciaran Stacey:
#GAABEO 50 nóim@Bodengaa 1-14 (17)@clgNaFianna 3-20 (29)
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) September 29, 2024
A leithead de chúl ag Stacey😱😱
WHAT A GOAL!!#GAA #Hurling@DubGAAOfficial
BEO/LIVE ar @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/nXZbONP8Gq
In all, Na Fianna scored 3-17 of their 4-26 from play, with Brian Ryan named Man of the Match.
“Winning a Dublin championship any year is very hard, especially when you’re trying to do back-to-back,” the midfielder told TG4 afterwards.
“Last year is parked, this is a completely fresh year. The aim is to win it again.”
Lucan Sarsfields prevailed in today’s earlier quarter-final at the Donnycarney venue. They were 0-25 to 2-13 winners over Whitehall Colmcille, and now face Kilmacud Crokes in the last four.
Lucan trailed 1-7 to 0-3 after 20 minutes, and 1-7 to 0-6 at half time, but they blew their opponents away thereafter.
Man of the Match Ciaran Dowling, Paul Crummey, Jack Behan and Ben Coffey were among Lucan’s scorers in a dominant second half.
Patrick Spellacy struck a late goal for Whitehall from a free, but it was just a consolation score at that stage. Jamie Raftery bagged their other major in the first half.
The final pairing in the Tipperary senior hurling championship was also confirmed this evening, after Loughmore-Castleiney defeated Thurles Sarsfields in the second semi-final.
Loughmore-Castleiney ran out 0-17 to 2-9 winners. They will play Toomevara in the final, after they powered into their first decider since 2008 with a semi-final win over Moycarkey Borris yesterday.
John McGrath led the Loughmore-Castleiney scoring charge with 0-12 (0-8). Eamonn Kelly’s men were ahead by the minimum at the break, 0-11 to 2-4, and ground out a two-point win in the end. Paddy Creedon top-scored for Thurles with 2-1.
Kilkenny GAA postponed all action today due to the weather warning: the senior hurling quarter-finals between O’Loughlin Gaels and Dicksboro, and Mullinavat and Erins Own, have been rescheduled for next weekend. O’Loughlin Gaels were last year’s All-Ireland club finalists.
Sunday club hurling results
Dublin SHC quarter-finals
Na Fianna 4-25 Ballyboden St-Enda’s 2-14
Lucan Sarsfields 0-25 Whitehall Colmcille 2-13
Tipperary SHC semi-final
Thurles Sarsfields 2-9 Loughmore-Castleiney 0-17
