IFC: Queeney points help Na Fianna hold off St Michael's

May 03, 2010

The race is on between Na Fianna's Ollie Lewis and St Michael's Brendan Ryan during the Meath IFC clash at Athboy
Na Fianna 1-16
St Michael's 1-13

Na Fianna earned their first win in the IFC when they accounted for St Michael's on Sunday evening.

Central to this win was the inspirational Ollie Lewis at midfield who stole the show with a series of fine fetches and three points from play. Na Fianna were in the ascendancy for most of the game and they were in good form in the first half. The full forward line of Jamie and Daniel Queeney and Harry Silke were showing well and winning most ball while centre forward Dean Henrick was in good scoring form. Lewis and Brian Queeney were on top at midfield and ensured a good supply of ball into the forwards. Silke scored a great point from near the sideline as Na Fianna kept their noses in front but they were constantly pegged back by the scoring of Ciaran Lynch and Daithi Regan at the opposite end. The score at half time was 0-9 to 0-8 in favour of Na Fianna.

In the second half, Na Fianna were forced to dig deep as Michael's applied a great deal of pressure. Na Fianna were quickly out of the traps with a Conor Downey goal after midfielder Brian Queeney sent a high ball in to the square which his brother Jamie fisted off the crossbar and Downey was on hand to slot it in the net. The South Meath side kept up the good form with further points from Silke, Lewis and sub Eoin Murray but they were matched point for point by their opponents. When St Michael's Ciaran Lynch managed to goal midway through the half to come within two points, disaster struck for Na Fianna as county star Jamie Queeney came down heavily on his ankle and was stretchered off with what looks like ligament damage. The game was held up for a few minutes and on the resumption St Michael's took the initiative and scored two quick points to draw level for the first time in the game with eight minutes left.

A further point from Johnny Reilly reduced the deficit for St. Michaels to two points and Daithi Regan added two more points to level the match on 22 minutes and by this stage Na Fianna had gone 18 minutes without scoring. Then came Johnny Reilly's missed goal opportunity which would have put St. Michaels into the lead, this seemed to have had a negative effect on St. Michaels who only managed one further point from a Daithi Regan free.

Na Fianna looked under serious strain but up stepped county minor Daniel Queeney who calmly slotted over two late points one of which followed another fine fetch from Lewis.

Best for Na Fianna were Shane Geraghty in goals, Christy Cosgrave, Daniel and Jamie Queeney and man of the match Ollie lewis.

Na Fianna: Shane Geraghty, Rob Walsh, Christy Cosgrave, Davy Lyons, John Baldwin, Tommy Cosgrave, Shane Burke, Brian Queeney, Ollie Lewis (0-3), Damien Downey, Dean Henrick (0-3), Conor Downey (1-0), Daniel Queeney (0-5), Jamie Queeney (0-2), Harry Silke (0-2). Subs: Eoin Murray (0-1) for D Downey, David Lynch for Lyons, Lyons for J Queeney.

St. Michaels - Paul McCormack, James Farrell, Derek Flood, Daithi Reilly, Ronan Cassidy, Philip Rogers, Sean Gaffney, Brendan Ryan, John Barry O'Reilly, Kevin Cassidy, Peter Clinton, Phelim O'Reilly, Daithi Regan, Johnny Reilly, Ciaran Lynch. Subs - David Lynch for Kevin Cassidy, John Farrell for Peter Clinton, Peter Clinton for Johnny Reilly.

SCORERS - Ciaran Lynch 1-6, Daithi Regan 0-5, Johnny Reilly 0-2.

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