Ryan’s late goal enables Na Fianna to shake off brave Raharney side

Na Fianna 1-24, Raharney 0-19

Gerry Buckley

While, in truth, they never actually looked like winning the game, the senior hurlers from Raharney pushed a talented Na Fianna side all the way in TEG Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon, before a late Brian Ryan goal enabled the metropolitans to win an entertaining Leinster quarter-final by a flattering eight-point margin.

The gold and blue-clad outfit, fresh from securing their first Dublin crown just a fortnight earlier, brought a huge throng of supporters with them down the N4, but they had to endure a nervy hour-plus before ultimately justifying their pre-match favouritism. A typically well-built Dublin team, they were made to fight all the way by the Deelsiders who spurned a couple of half-chances of goals which could easily have swung the game in their favour.

Grace Nic Domhnaill’s rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann preceded the throw-in on what was an inevitably heavy pitch despite the relatively pleasant afternoon. Playing against the wind, Na Fianna raced into an early two-point lead courtesy of the lively AJ Murphy and Colin Currie (a free), either side of Killian Doyle hitting a monster free wide. The latter player halved the deficit in the sixth minute from a free which went over via Jonathan Tracey’s hurley.

The Dubliners were very economical and unanswered points followed from the sticks of John Tierney, Murphy and Peter Feeney (from long range). The impressive Eoghan Ahearn and Tierney traded points, before a Doyle free and a fine score from Joey Boyle left the home team trailing by 0-6 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter. An element of niggle had noticeably crept into the game at this juncture.

The sides soon swapped points from placed balls – Colin Currie (a free) and Eamon Cunneen (a superb lineball). The hard-working Brian Ryan opened his account in the 20th minute at the end of a fine move, as did Sean Currie a little over a minute later. Killian Doyle registered his first score from play (availing of a great piece of fielding by Eoin Keyes) before Gavin King hit what proved to be his side’s only wide of the first half from a lineball. The winners now led by 0-9 to 0-6.

The teams equally shared ten points in the last ten minutes of the first moiety (including a designated four minutes of injury-time). Na Fianna’s five white flags were raised by Murphy (a delightful finish), Colin Currie (a free), Ciaran Stacey, Sean Currie and Ryan, while the Lake County champions responded courtesy of Doyle (four, including three frees) and Ahearn. The losers missed two late chances to reduce the deficit, and Na Fianna deservedly led by 0-14 to 0-11 at half-time.

Stacey almost got in for a goal within 20 seconds of the resumption of play for the new metropolitan champions. The respective free-takers, Colin Currie and Killian Doyle, swapped points before Cormac Boyle (who had a fine game) and Ahearn both pointed to leave the margin at the bare minimum. The Currie brothers, Sean (open play) and Colin (a free), then pointed for the Dublin champions. Doyle looked set to reduce the gap from a free in the 40th minute, but it was overturned and the 2022 All Star nominee was surprisingly booked on the advice of a linesman. Within a minute, Ryan put Na Fianna four clear (0-18 to 0-14).

Another Doyle brace (a free and a ‘65’ after Keyes initially appeared to have been fouled close to goal) halved the deficit, but a wonderful sideline cut in the 44th minute by Sean Currie had Na Fianna ahead by 0-19 to 0-16 at the end of the third quarter. Colin Currie and Doyle converted a free each at either end, and Murphy and Ahearn soon added to their impressive point tallies from play.

Colin Currie rifled over two very good frees for Na Fianna, and Doyle was also accurate from a free closer to the target. Currie brought his placed ball tally to nine before his colleague Ryan wrapped up a hard-earned win when he burst through for a well-taken goal to seal the tie with a minute of normal time remaining. A brief skirmish ensued around the midfield area. Killian Doyle picked up a second yellow card in added-time.

Scorers - Na Fianna: C Currie 0-9 (9f), B Ryan 1-3, AJ Murphy, S Currie (1s/l) 0-4 each, J Tierney 0-2, P Feeney, C Stacey 0-1 each.

Raharney: K Doyle 0-12 (9f, 1‘65’), E Ahearn 0-4, C Boyle, E Cunneen (s/l), J Boyle 0-1 each.

Na Fianna: Jonathan Tracey; Seán Burke, Conor McHugh, Diarmuid Clerkin; Paul O’Dea, Liam Rushe, Kevin Burke; Brian Ryan, Peter Feeney; John Tierney, Gavin King, Sean Currie; Colin Currie, AJ Murphy, Ciaran Stacey. Subs used: Shane Barrett for King (39), Sean Baxter for Stacey (47), Jack Burke for Tierney (51), Donal Ryan for Clerkin (58), Conor Kelly for Ryan (60+2).

Raharney: Aaron McHugh; Conor McKeogh, Jamie Mulkearns, Darren Finn; Cormac Boyle, Robbie Greville, David Hickey; Eamon Cunneen, Gary Greville; Killian Doyle, Ciaran Doyle, Joey Boyle; Brian McGrath, Eoin Keyes, Eoghan Ahearn. Subs used: Rory Keyes for Hickey (51), Devin Hill for C Doyle (inj., 60+1), Michael Doherty for C Boyle (60+4).

Ref: Padraig Dunne (Laois).

Examiner's Eye on game

Man of the match

Brian Ryan (Na Fianna). Even apart from his decisive late goal, the winners’ midfielder had been a dominant personality all through, scoring three points in the process.

Key moment

Had Eoin Keyes managed to get in for a goal in the 42nd minute, the outcome could have been different.

Stats watch

Wides - Na Fianna 5 (first half, 1); Raharney 6 (4)

‘65’s - Na Fianna 0 (0); Raharney 1 (0)

Yellow cards - Na Fianna 2 – AJ Murphy, S Baxter; Raharney 4 – D Finn, J Boyle, K Doyle [2]

Black cards - None

Red cards - Na Fianna 0; Raharney 1 – K Doyle

Talking point

At both club and inter-county level, home teams in TEG Cusack Park continue to be out-supported by visitors. Last Sunday was another case in point.

Ref watch

The game threatened to get out of hand on a few occasions and some players from both sides were lucky to avoid picking up cards, but Padraig Dunne did well overall.

Next up

Na Fianna will face Naas for a slot in the Leinster final. Raharney exit the championship.