Na Fianna won the one that counted most when outscoring Gaeil Colmcille the first hoganstand.com SFC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening.

Na Fianna  1-19
Gaeil Colmcille  0-12

Gaeil Colmcille triumphed in a round robin meeting between the sides as well as in the A FL Division 2 decider. However, the Kells-men were unable to contain Eamon Barry's men who posted 16 of their 20 scores from play.

In outscoring Gaeil Colmcille by 0-6 to 0-1 in nine first-half minutes, Na Fianna - who lost to Summerhill in the 2014 final - laid the foundations for an impressive success.

That made it 0-8 to 0-4 after 16 minutes. Na Fianna were on the front foot thereafter, though a brief second quarter Gaeil Colmcille rally trimmed the deficit to a point.

Brian Hanlon's 20th minute pointed free left the Kells-side trailing 0-7 to 0-8. It didn't get any better for Gaeil Colmcille, who led briefly in the opening 10 minutes.

With Daniel Queeney leading the way, Na Fianna went on to lead by 0-12 to 0-8 at the break.

The scoring rate dipped in the second half. Two Na Fianna scores were cancelled by similar scores for Gaeil Colmcillle.

Oisin Reilly's point for Gaeil Colmcille was the pick of that quartet of scores as Na Fianna led by 0-14 to 0-10 after 35 minutes.

Three points on the spin - including two from Barry Clancy - moved Na Fianna five clear heading towards the final quarter.

Points from Brian Hanlon and Martin Barrett briefly boosted Gaeil Colmcille.

Dalton McDonagh's 48th minute goal - with assistance from Barry Clancy - settled matters. Consequently, the scoring rate dropped in the latter stages.

Na Fianna completed the scoring with points from Daniel Queeney (free) and Conor Downey.

Some unpleasantries broke out that saw Gaeil Colmcille's Barry Tormay and Cormac Ferguson as well as Na Fianna's Tommy Cosgrave sent off in separate incidents.

The sides were level three times in the opening seven minutes. Dalton McDonagh's 10th minute point made it 0-4 to 0-3 and Na Fianna took the lead to the end, finishing with 10 points to spare.

Na Fianna - Shane Geraghty; James Geagan, Christy Cosgrave, John Baldwin; Dean Henrick (0-1), Conor Downey (0-2), Anthony Neary; Ollie Lewis, Brian Queeney; Daniel Queeney (0-6,2fs), Jamie Queeney (0-3), Ethan Devine; Barry Clancy (0-3), Dalton McDonagh (1-4,2fs), Michael Farley. Subs - Evan Henrick for Lewis (bc 48),  Shane Barrett for Clancy (52), Tommy Cosgrave for Devine ((53), Dean Barrett for J Queeney (57), Damien Downey for Geagan (59), Andrew Glynn for McDonagh (60).

Gaeil Colmcille - Justin Carry-Lynch; Cormac Ferguson, Robert Flanagan, Liam Ferguson (0-1); Paul Tormay, Barry Tormay (C), Barry Smith; Cormac Keegan, Keith Reilly (0-2); Seamus Mattimoe (0-3), Martin Barrett (0-1), Seanie Curran; Oisin Reilly (0-1), Brian Hanlon (0-4, 2fs), Stevie McManus. Subs - Fionn Reilly for McManus (ht), Michael Foley for Curran (41), Stephen Reddy for Keegan (45), Gary Arkins for K Reilly (55), Ryan Farnham for Hanlon (58).

Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)

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