SFC: Na Fianna tame 'Tones
August 17, 2013
Na Fianna's Dean Barrett gets in his handpass as Wolfe Tones Aodhan McKeown closes in during the hoganstand.com SFC game at Lomans Park Trim
Na Fianna ...... 1-10
Wolfe Tones .....0-11
It took two late pointed Shane Barrett frees to secure a third win from four outings for Na Fianna and leave them on the verge of securing a place of the business end in their debut year at this level.
A sublime Jamie Queeney foot pass led to Shane Barrett goaling from close range at the town end in the 19th minute. Them the provider turned scorer to leave six points in it 1-5 to 0-2 with a third of the game gone.
These were the highlights of a mediocre contest. Had Na Fianna endured their second defeat of the campaign, they could look to the number of times they conceded ground for dissent having conceeded frees.
All bar two of the 'Tones points came courtesy of Fiachra Ward frees. His ninth score - following a harsh call against Tommy Cosgrave - levelled matters for the third time in the game with 58 minutes gone.
The Na Fianna number 14 - who operated throughout in a deep role - subsequently picked up his second yellow card (this one for dissent) and was dismissed.
Stung by the prospect of leaving empty-handed, Na Fianna rallied and were rewarded with the aforementioned scores - one from close range, the other from distance.
Overall, Na Fianna posted seven scores from play while Alan Callaghan's 35th minute point was Wolfe Tones second and final such score.
While the rain kept its distance, Na Fianna operated from the off with the sun and win at their backs. With Ollie Lewis and Queeney bossing matters at midfield last year's IFC winners were let down by six first-half wides. The 'Tones had just two such misses in the first 30 minutes.
Lewis and Queeney also pitched-in with four points from play between them. The latter's opening one that left it 0-2-each 12 minutes in was the pick of them.
Apart from Shane Barrett - who finished with 1-5 - Conor Downey was the only other Na Fianna forward to score from play.
Nearly six minutes passed before Shane Barrett posted the opening score. Cian Ward responded quickly from play to level matters. Then Fiachra Ward opened his account following a foul on his elder brother and Wolfe Tones were in front for the only time.
Na Fianna tagged on 1-4 before Wolfe Tones scored again. Three Fiachra Ward frees left last year's SFC runners-up just a goal off the pace at the break, 0-5 to 1-5.
Over the first 20 minutes of the second-half Na Fianna kept the gap to at least a goal and led by four points on two occasions. By the 51st minute Na Fianna's lead was down to two points.
Three Fiachra Ward frees tied up the scores for the first time since the opening quarter, before Na Fianna claimed the verdict with those late scores.
Na Fianna - Shane Geraghty; Diarmuid Bailey, Christy Cosgrave, John Baldwin; Michael Farley, Michael Foley, Dean Hendrick; Ollie Lewis (0-2), Jamie Queeney (0-2); Brian Queeney, Dean Barrett, Conor Downey (0-1); Shane Barrett (1-5, 0-4 fs), Tommy Cosgrave, Dalton McDonagh (0-3).
Wolfe Tones - David Nolan; Richie Brady, Ciaran McLoughlin, David Coleman; Stephen Sheppard, Eoghan Harrington, Eanna Harrington; Stephen Corrigan, Fiachra Ward (0-9 fs); Cian Ward (0-1), Mark Coleman, Alan Callaghan (0-1); Alan Fox, Paddy Caffrey,Niall McLoughlin. Subs - Niall O'Reilly for D Coleman (28), Darren McGrath for Caffrey (ht), Conor Fahy for M Coleman (42), Aodhan McKeown for Callaghan (56).
Referee - Patrick Neilis (Kilmainham) Tweet
