Na Fianna GAA Club
U16 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Na Fianna U16 Footballers playing campaign for this year ended last Monday week when neighbours St Vincents failed to turn up for their final match of the group stage of the Championship thereby giving Na Fianna a walkover. Although Na Fianna claimed the points for the game it was not enough to progress through to the semi-finals with results in other games that evening not going their way.
MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Na Fianna Minor Footballers put in their best display of the year without doubt brushing aside the challenge of St Rynaghs (U16 Championship winners 2 years ago & Minor Finalists last year) in Cloghan last Wednesday evening to win on a scoreline of 1-15 to 1-10 in the final game of the Championship group stage but unfortunately the win was not enough for Na Fianna to qualify for the semi-finals having finished third in the group thereby ending their playing campaign for this year. Na Fianna got off to the perfect start as they opened the scoring with a goal inside the first minute when the ball was passed up from midfield through a number of players before being flicked to the net by Gary Martin. Na Fianna then scored their first 2 points from Niall Dempsey and Jason Darby before St Rynaghs opened their account also with a goal and followed by 2 points. The remainder of the half saw St Rynaghs shade it scoring 4 points with Na Fianna replying with 3 points from David Jordan, Aaron Dwane and Ronan Crombie which meant St Rynaghs led at break 1-06 to 1-05. St Rynaghs extended their lead with the first point inside the first min of the second half. This spurned Na Fianna into action as for the remainder of the half they gave an exhibition in point scoring sending over 10 points in the process from Aaron Dwane, Jason Darby (3), Niall Dempsey, Liam Guinan, Gary Martin (3) and Eric Dolan with St Rynaghs only getting occasional breaks to score their 4 points.
NA FIANNA: Adam Kinahan, James Garry, Declan Byrne, Dean Pierce, Brian Crombie, Mikey Keogh, David Jordan (0-01), Liam Guinan (0-01), Niall Dempsey (0-02), Gary Martin (1-03), Ben Ridgeway, Ronan Crombie (0-01), Eric Dolan, (0-01) Jason Darby (0-04), Luke Dunne.
SUBS: Aaron Dwane (0-02)(for Gary Martin), Mark Garry (for Jason Darby), Gary Martin (for Ronan Crombie), Jason Darby (for Mark Garry), Ronan Crombie (for Luke Dunne)
U14 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Na Fianna U14 Footballers went into their final group match of the Championship against Tullamore in O’Brien Park last Friday evening needing a win to secure at least a play off for the semi final but were without at least 7 or 8 of their best players though injury and holidays and this took it’s toll as Tullamore claimed a comfortable win on a scoreline of 4-21 to 3-06. The first half was a very competitive affair, Na Fianna got off to a dream start as they opened the scoring with a goal inside the first 30 secs when Jack O’Brien lobbed the ball high in the air just from outside the box and it came down to Kevin Kinahan on the edge of the goal and he turned and shot across goal to the net which he followed it up with the first point immediately.The next 15 mins saw Tullamore get off the mark and go in front by scoring 1-06 to which Na Fianna replied with a single point from Jack O’Brien. In the 19th minute Na Fianna got right back into it by scoring their second goal when David Buckley worked his way in to the box with the ball from midfield before taking a shot which came off the crossbar and was taken by John Ridgeway who blasted his shot to the net. Over the next 5 mins Na Fianna then added 3 points in a row from John Tobin, Kevin Kinahan and Jack O’Brien to go in front by 2. Their joy was short lived as Tullamore came back in the remaining minutes of the half to score 1-05 without reply to lead at the break 2-11 to 2-05. Unfortunately this was as good as it got for Na Fianna as in the second half Tullamore surged ahead scoring another 2-10 with Na Fianna only managing to score 1-01, the goal a well taken effort from Jack O’Brien followed by the point from Kevin Kinahan.This defeat sees Na Fianna bow out of the Championship for this year having given a very good account of themselves throughout the campaign.
NA FIANNA: James Boland, Conor O’Meara, Robert Milner, Peter Walsh, Colm Corcoran, John Ridgeway (1-00), Ray Daly, David Buckley, John Cummins, John Tobin (0-01), Kevin Kinahan (1-03), Stephen Pierce, Colin Keogh, Jack O’Brien (1-02), Sean Rigney.
SUBS: Samuel Byrne (for Colin Keogh), Eoghan Garry (for Conor O’Meara), Colin Keogh (for John Cummins).
NA FIANNA GAA ALL IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL DRAW
Na Fianna GAA are organising a fundraising draw in conjunction with the All-Ireland Football Final with a first prize of 2 Stand Tickets to the All-Ireland Football Final and overnight accommodation including evening meal for 2 people in The Morgan Hotel, Dublin the night beforehand (A much sought after prize for any GAA supporter from Dublin or Kerry !!! ) with runner up prizes of €100 and €75 . Draw will be held in Ned’s Bar, Ballinagar on Saturday 10th September . Tickets available from any Committee Member, Team Managers or Selectors . All support would be much appreciated.
