Na Fianna 3-10
Dunshaughlin 1-10

Na Fianna senior footballers maintained their winning start to the 2015 Meath SFC with a 3-10 to 1-10 victory over a strong Dunshaughlin team in Trim On Friday evening. The score line may have been slightly harsh on Dunshaughlin after a close fought game but Eamon Barry's troops were deserved victors on the night.

Heavy rain in the first half threatened to spoil the game but credit to both teams for coping well with the conditions.

It was Dunshaughlin who started the livelier early on. They had a point on the board after just one minute from a free from full forward Cathal o Dwyer and added to this 5 minutes later with another pointed free. In the 10th minute Na Fianna opened their account with a Shane Barrett free after Jamie Queeney was fouled in possession. Dunshaughlin replied with a point from play to leave them 2 pts ahead on the 14th min. Then a goal for Eamon Barry's men. After Brian Queeney was fouled in midfield, his brother Daniel kicked the resulting free into the Dunshaughlin penalty area. When the ball broke loose near goal Shane Barrett showed his corner forward instincts to fist the ball to the net. Dunshaughlin replied with a point from play to level the game 1-1 to 0-4. Na Fianna began to settle into the game better now and begun to attack in numbers. When Dalton McDonagh was fouled after a nice Conor Downey pass, Daniel Queeney pointed the resulting free. Then a great run forward by the influential Na Fianna full back Christy Cosgrave caused problems for Dunshaughlin. He laid off a nice pass to Conor Downey on the right wing who was then fouled. Shane Barrett made no mistake in pointing the free. Moments later Cosgrave again made another great surge forward from full back and was fouled on the opposition 21 yard line. Shane Barrett proved deadly again from the free to land another score for Eamon Barry's men.

Na Fianna were finding their rhythm now and moments later the hard working Dalton McDonagh stepped up to take a side-line ball on the right hand side. He aimed his kick towards goal and it was Jamie Queeney who reacted fastest to punch the dropping ball past Stephen Clusker in the Dunshaughlin goal. Queeney was in at full forward and was causing plenty of problems all evening for the Dunshaughlin defence. Despite the rain and slippery conditions both teams played attacking football and minutes later Dunshaughlin replied with a goal themselves. Wing forward Fergus Toolan drove an unstoppable shot past Shane Geraghty in the Na Fianna goal. Na Fianna then had another goal chance but Shane Barrett was unlucky when his effort hit the post and went out wide. On the 29th minute Dunshaughlin pointed a free, and a minute later Daniel Queeney pointed a free for the Na Fianna men right on the stroke of half time. Half time score: Na Fianna 2-5 Dunshaughlin 1-6

In the second Na Fianna started well with a point after 3 mins from play by Barry Clancy. Clancy struck another point from play moments later after good work from Shane Barrett and Jamie Queeney. In the 13th minute Na Fianna centre back Anthony Neary finished off a great team move to land another point for Na Fianna. Dunshaughlin replied a minute later with a point. Midway through the second half there was 4 points between the teams but 2 points from Dunshaughlin cut the deficit in half. Eamon Barry added fresh legs when he introduced Dean Hendrick for Evan Hendrick and Harrison Silk for Brian Queeney who worked tirelessly all evening. Dan Queeney then replied for Na Fianna with a well pointed free after Dean Hendrick was fouled on the wing. Dunshaughlin pointed again to leave 2 between them but up popped Dan Queeney again to point from play after great work from Shane Barrett. Dunshaughlin drove forward seeking a goal to draw the game in the final minutes, but Na Fianna were resolute in defence and weathered the storm .Then in the dying moments Na Fianna countered up the pitch. A great run forward by Conor Downey created space and Jamie Queeney found Shane Barrett inside, Barrett passed a delightful ball to sub Harrison Silk on the overlap and he duly drove the ball to the net to cement the victory for Na Fianna. Seconds later the final whistle blew and Na Fianna claimed the spoils.

Na Fianna now have full points from 2 games but they will know that there are still plenty of things to work on ahead of the next round of games.

Best for Na Fianna in a strong team performance were Christy Cosgrave who led from the back, Shane Barrett and Jamie Queeney who worked well on the inside line, Conor Downey, Daniel Queeney and Dalton McDonagh.

Na Fianna Scorers: Shane Barrett 1-3; Dan Queeney0-4, J Queeney 1-0,H Silk 1-0, B Clancy 0-2, A Neary 0-1

Na Fianna Team : S Geraghty,J Baldwin, C Cosgrave, D Downey,E Hendrick, A Neary, C Downey, D Queeney, B Queeney,J Gegan,D McDonagh, J Queeney, B Clancy, D Barrett, S Barrett.

Senior Match Report

Dunshaughlin 1-10
Na Fianna 3-10

Dunshaughlin's senior team travelled to Trim on Friday evening in a quest to maintain their 100% unbeaten run in 2015.

Three points from the in-form Cathal O'Dwyer had Dunshaughlin 3 points to the good before Na Fianna got their first score of the game after 12 mins. This score seemed to awaken the Na Fianna forwards with a minute later Shane Barrett finding the back of the Dunshaughlin net to now have them leading after 14 mins. Dunshaughlin responded well to this and a brace of points from the impressive Cathal O'Dwyer had them back in front. It was now Na Fianna's turn to have their purple patch with them getting 3 unanswered points before both teams went on to score a goal apiece in the space of a minute with Jamie Queeney and Ray Maloney both raising the green flag for their teams. A converted free from Shane Gallogly and a Na Fianna free in injury had Na Fianna leading by 2 points as conditions worsened and the first half came to a close.

It was all Na Fianna as the second half started and they were looking value for money before an inspiration score from Dunshaghlins John Crimmons gave them some hope. Veteran sharp shooter Trevor Dowd was on-hand to point for Dunshaughlin and this was followed up by another score from Cathal O'Dwyer now meant the game was still in the balance. Another Trevor Dowd score for Dunshaughlin had just a goal between the teams with 2 mins left to play but another Na Fianna goal deep in injury time broke Dunshaughlin hearts to leave Na Fianna with 6 points to spare as they ran out winners.

Dunshaughlin - S.Clusker,D.Ormsby,A.Doyle,N.Murphy,D.Dunne,C.King, T.O'Dushlaine,J.Crimmons(0-01),R.Maloney(1-00),F.Toolan,T.Dowd(0-02),B.Duggan,S.Gallogly(0-01),C.O'Dwyer(0-06),F.Delaney. Subs - M.Ahern for S.Clusker,c.Deveraux for S.Gallogly,M.Devaney for R.Maloney

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