Na Fianna 1-14 0-07 Ballyboden
Na Fianna booked their place in the Dublin senior club championship as they comfortably cruised past Ballyboden in their semi-final clash.
Despite having players like Darragh Michael McCauley and Colm Basquel on the pitch, it took them 33 minutes before they even registered a single point, and there were genuine fears that they wouldn’t score in the half at all.
Johnny Cooper and CO were solid in the Na Fianna defence as Ballyboden just couldn’t seem to get out of their own half in what was a pretty difficult game to watch.
If the backline was solid, then the forwards were razor sharp as Conor McHugh was shooting from every angle, at every opportunity, and just firing on all cylinders.
On one occasion in the first half, he spilled a pretty basic ball and found himself near the corner flag, but not only managed to scoop the ball back into his hands, turning the defender in the process, but then side-step the next Ballyboden man before popping it over the bar.
Glen O’Reilly got the score of the evening however, as he receives the ball on the right flank, sells the dummy before cutting in, only to meet another defender, who he also fools with a lovely cut-back, and then glides the ball over the bar.
Glen O'Reilly with two beautiful dummies and a wonderful finish in the Dublin championship💥@DubGAAOfficial pic.twitter.com/1qpbERCbY9
— Lee Costello (@sitelee) October 1, 2022
With lightening quick reflexes, the forward managed to beat the two backs easily, creating just enough space in a tight area and still had the coolness needed to finish the attack.
Ballyboden started the second half much better, but couldn’t turn chances into consistent scores, hitting several wides in a row.
Eoin Murchan was relentless running out of the Na Fianna defence and stretching the opposition. Usually if you play corner back for your county you are played in a more involved role for the club, but he still lines out in corner back for the club.
It’s easy to see why because he such a threat going forward, but still so consistent with his defensive duties and has the energy to always track back.
Although Ballyboden managed to clean up their defence by moving McCauley into the full back position, they just didn’t have enough going forward and the game got away from them.
David Lacey then solidified the victory, catching Ballyboden on the break and burying the ball into the back of the net.
Kilmacud Crokes play Thomas Davis tomorrow and the winner of that will play Na Fianna in the championship final.
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