SFC Group C: Na Fianna outgun the 'Tones
August 14, 2016
Hold on there 'Dolly". Na Fianna's Dalton McDonagh with Stephen Sheppard Wolfe Tones during the hoganstand.com Meath SFC game in Pairc Tailteann.
An impressive first-half showing saw Na Fianna outscore Wolfe Tones at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon to move to the top of Group C of the hoganstand.com SFC
Na Fianna ......... 3-15
Wolfe Tones ....... 0-15
On a fine afternoon for football, Na Fianna came good after a slow start to effectively settle the outcome with three first-half goals and lead by 3-8 to 0-8 at the break.
Cian Ward finished with eight points but Wolfe Tones made no inroads into the interval deficit thereafter.
Wolfe Tones opened on the front foot with points from Alan Callaghan, Thomas O'Reilly and Cian Ward (45).
Wing-back Conor Downey pushed forward for the first goal 12 minutes. It made it 1-1 to 0-3 and last year's runners-up remained in front to the end.
The second goal arrived in the 13th minute when Barry Clancy reacted quickest to a breaking ball to finish to the net at the town end.
That left it 2-2 to 0-3 before the opening quarter expired. Wolfe Tones enjoyed a mini-revival to cut the gap to three points, 0-7 to 2-4, by the 22nd minute.
Na Fianna 'keeper Shane Geraghty proved his worth when saving from Niall McLoughlin. Fergal Foran's men reasserted themselves to outscore Wolfe Tones by 1-4 to 0-1 over the remainder of the half.
Dean Barrett capped an impressive afternoon with his 28th minute goal with Clancy and Dalton McDonagh playing supporting roles.
Cian Ward's accuracy was central to Wolfe Tones' improved showing from the resumption.
Na Fianna led by 11 points on three occasions while Thomas O'Reilly was unlucky not to pull a goal back for the 'Tones midway through the half.
Further points from Cian Ward and Niall McLoughlin completed the scoring for Wolfe Tones who finished with 14-men after Stephen Corrigan departed slightly early having picked up a black card to go along with a yellow one obtained in the opening half.
Na Fianna - Shane Geraghty; Johnny Baldwin, James Geagan; Conor Downey (1-1), Anthony Neary, Peter Slevin; Ollie Lewis (0-1), Brian Queeney; Daniel Queeney (0-2, 1f), Dalton McDonagh (0-1),Michael Collins; Barry Clancy (1-3), Dean Barrett (1-0), James Queeney (0-5, 3fs)..Subs - Conor Ryan for Barrett (53), Harrison Silke for Clancy (58).
Wolfe Tones - David Nolan; Shane Glynn, Stephen Sheppard (0-1), Conor Sheppard; Charlie McGarry, Niall McLoughlin (0-1), Eanna Harrington; Stephen Corrigan, Daniel O'Neill; Padraig Diamond, Cian Ward (0-8, 4fs 1 45), Alan Callaghan (0-2); Eoghan Harrington, Fiachra Ward, Thomas O'Reilly (0-3).Subs - Mark Coleman for Callaghan (40), Alan Fox for O'Reilly (53).
Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha)
