G.A.A Club Notes
U16 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
After seeing their opening round encounter rained off Na Fianna U16 Footballers finally got their Championship campaign up and running last Monday week but not as they would have hoped as Edenderry claimed the win in Edenderry on a scoreline of 1-09 to 3-12. Na Fianna opened the scoring with the first point from Shane hyland inside the first minute but that would as good as it got in the first half as Edenderry made better use of their possession to tag on 1-07 without reply to go in a the break leading by 1-07 to 0-01. It got worse for Na Fianna at the start of the second half with the concession of their second goal inside the first min and by midway through the half Edenderry had increased their lead by shooting another 1-03 to Na Fianna’s 2 points. In the final 10 mins the game plan for Na Fianna finally came together as they were revitalised winning practically all the kickouts turning the possession into scores shooting 6 points along with a fine goal from Shane Hyland 2 mins from the end and during this time restricting Edenderry to just 2 more points. Unfortunately the lead built up by Edenderry was just to great to be clawed back but at least the way Na Fianna finished thegame gives hope for an improved performance next time out.
NA FIANNA: James Boland, Ben Dunne, Clint Horan, Jamie Conroy, Kevin Beirne, Barry Kealy, John Cummins, James Lalor, Mark Garry, Mark McNally, Barry Daly, kevin Kinahan, Dylan Hyland (0-02), Colin McDermott, Shane Dolan (1-03).
SUBS: Colm Corcoran (for Kevin Beirne), Liam Langton (for John Cummins), Darren O’Brien (0-01) (for Mark Garry), Jack O’Brien (0-03) (for Barry Daly), John Tobin (for Kevin Kinahan).
U14 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Na Fianna U14 Footballers made it 3 wins in a row in the Championship with a fine win over Kilcormac / Killoughey last Wednesday evening in Mount Bolus on a scoreline of 4-08 to 3-05 played in a torrential downpour for most of the game.Na Fianna got off to a bad start as K/K got through to score a goal straight from the throw in but they recovered and opened their account with 2 points in a row before K/K sent over their first point. Then in a 2 min spell before the 10th min came the turning point in the game as Na Fianna got through to score 3 goals , the first from Stephen Pierce as he won the ball in the square and rounded a tackle by the keeper then blastin the ball to the net, the second from David Buckley when his shot from about 20m out dipped in over the head of the keeper to the net and the the third was a fine effort dispatched by Cathal Curran. The next 10 mins saw K/K respond with 3 points to Na Fianna’s 2 and this is how it remained for the remainder of the half as Na Fianna went in at the break leading by 3-04 to 1-04. Alike the first half K/K opened the second half by scoring with the first attack. Over the next 20 mins that goal was wipped out by Na Fianna sending over 4 more points to K/K’s one. The win was wrapped up for Na Fianna 7 mins from the end when David Buckley’s 45m free went all the way in to the top corner of the net. K/K completed the scoring with a consolation goal with 3 mins left but it was too late to affect the result.
NA FIANNA: Shane Gorry, Eoin Corcoran, Sam Byrne, Peter Walsh, Ray Daly, John Ridgeway, Adam Kelly, Colin Keogh, Ian Buckley (0-02), Kaelyn Thompson (0-02), David Buckley (2-01), Reece Seery (0-02), Stephen Pierce (1-00), Cathal Curran (1-01), Jamie Ballisty.
SUBS: Aaron McKenna (for Eoin Corcoran), Conor O’Meara (for Stephen Pierce).
MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
It was a solid team performance by Na Fianna Minor Footballers as they easily dismissed the challenge of Ballycumber / Tubber in their Championship encounter last Friday evening in Tubber on a scoreline of 4-13 to 1-05 to make it 2 wins out of 2. Na Fianna opened the scoring with a point and then on 4 mins struck for their first goal when a quick break upfield saw the ball worked into the square where Declan Byrne’s shot was saved and in the scramble that followed Ronan Crombie got the finishing touch to send the ball to the net. B/T then got off the mark with their opening point and both sides added 3 more points apiece before B/T dispatched their only goal midway through the half to draw level for the only time in the game. The remainder of the half saw Na Fianna send over 5 more points which all well taken scores from distance with B/T replying with just 1 point. This saw Na Fianna pull clear and so at the break they led by 1-09 to 1-05. The opening score of the second half only came in the 10th min but it was a point for Na Fianna and they added another moments later. Then on 16 mins Na Fianna fired in their second goal when Declan Byrne’s shot was parried by the keeper and Jason Dunne re-acted quickest to follow up and bury the ball in the net. This killed off any hope of a recovery by B/T as Na Fianna added to their haul with their final 2 points and in a 2 min spell with 10 mins left Na Fianna captain Richie Reynolds completed the rout as he blasted in 2 goals.
NA FIANNA: Fintan Pierce, Jonathan Byrne, Mikey Keogh, Dean Pierce, Ben Ridgeway (0-01) , James Lalor, Fergus Flood (0-02), Niall Dempsey (0-01), Declan Byrne (0-01) , Ronan Crombie (1-00), Shane Hyland, Luke Dunne (0-03) , Aaron Pierce, Jason Dunne (1-00) , Richie Reynolds (2-04).
SUBS: Kevin Beirne (for Jonathan Byrne), Kevin Kinahan (0-01) (for Shane Hyland), Ben Dunne (for Luke Dunne), Eric Martin (for Aaron Pierce), Liam Guinan (for Jason Dunne).
U16 FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYOFF
Na Fianna U16 Footballers got back to winning ways as they came out on top against Rhode in their League PlayOff encounter last Sunday morning in Daingean on a scoreline of 3-05 to 2-06. Rhode were first off the mark with a point inside the first min but Na Fianna opened their account with their first goal in the 2nd min when following a run down the wing by Niall Lynch he sent in a pass to the square where John Tobin was in position to give the slightest of touches to palm it to the net. Rhode sent over 2 points to draw level before Na Fianna put over their first 2 points to go back in front. In the last min of the half Na Fianna put some distance between them by dispatching their second goal when John Tobin’s shot was held up by the strong breeze and taken by Colin McDermott in the square who blasted it to the net. This gave Na Fianna a lead of 2-02 to 0-03 at the break which they extended with 3 points in a row by midway through the second half. At this stage it looked to be all over but Rhode came back first with 2 points then dramatically drew level by striking 2 goals in the space of a minute with about 7 mins remaining. Na Fianna hit back 3 mins later by firing in their 3rd goal when John Cummins palmed in to the net a pass along the end line. Rhode then had a chance to draw level again in the final min when they were awarded a penalty for a foot block but Kevin Kinahan who had taken over in goals guessed correctly to pull off a great save. Rhode did add a point in stoppage time but it was only a consolation score as Na Fianna held on for the win.
NA FIANNA: Darren O’Brien, Colm Corcoran, Kevin Beirne, Jamie Conroy, Mark Garry (0-01), James Lalor, Ben Dunne, Niall Lynch (0-01), Kevin Kinahan (0-02), John Tobin (1-00), Barry Daly, John Cummins (1-00), Dylan Hyland, Ryan Guinan, Mark McNally.
SUBS: Barry Keeley (for Dylan Hyland), Colin McDermott (1-01) (for Ryan Guinan), Liam Langton (for John Cummins), Ryan Guinan (for Barry Daly), John Cummins (for John Tobin).
U16 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Na Fianna U16 Footballers will be trying to secure their first win when they continue their Championship campaign by taking on Rhode in Geashill next Monday (30th July) at 7:30pm. All support would be appreciated.
