SFC Group C: Dunboyne revive campaign at Na Fianna's expense
August 11, 2019
Dunboyne's Seamus Lavin with Shane Walsh Na Fianna during the Meath SFC game at Pairc Tailteann
Champions Dunboyne proved too strong and streetwise for Na Fianna in this SFC round three tie at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday evening.
Dunboyne .......... 2-12
Na Fianna .......... 1-11
Following a first-half where the scores were tied six times, this game turned in the lead-in to half-time with the first of Donal Lenihan's brace of goals.
The number 15 flicked to the net at the old swimming pool end while Robbie McCarthy and Shane Comiskey were involved in the build-up.
The Keegan Cup holders - who lost last time out to Wolfe Tones - led 1-8 to 1-5 at the break.
From the restart, Na Fianna pulled points back from Ethan Devine and Jamie Queeney. With their lead threatened Dunboyne responded with four points on the spin.
Robbie McCarthy's seventh and final point of the game on 43 minutes left it 1-12 to 1-7.
The remainder of the hour was fractured. It was no surprise that over six minutes of stoppage time were played. The outcome was Na Fianna's first loss of the campaign following wins over St Colmcille's and Curraha.
Dunboyne's sole remaining score arrived on 51 minutes courtesy of neat McCarthy finish after a mix-up in Na Fianna's defence.
That left seven points in it, 2-12 to 1-8. Dudley Farrell's men pulled back the last three points while Owen McDonnell's goal attempt was low and wide.
Both sides sport good alternative kits - better than their first choice ones. This added to the spectacle.
The teams shared eight points in the opening quarter. Shane Walsh, Na Fianna's most prominent forward in the first-half, then set up his side's goal in the 17th minute.
Walsh's long range free was flicked to the net by Jamie Queeney to leave it 1-4 to 0-4.
Three points inside five minutes before McCarthy's 24th minute point made it 0-8 to 1-4. Shane Walsh's fourth score of the half levelled matters for the fifth time, in the 25th
The next score was Lenihan's opening goal that gave the champions a lead they would take to the finish.
Dunboyne are fixed to face St Colmcille's in the next round while Na Fianna up against Simonstown.
Dunboyne - Cian Flynn; Sean Ryan, Seamus Lavin, Jack Scannell; Conor Doran, Gavin McCoy, Craig Lowndes; Shane McEntee (0-2), Jack Donnelly; Niall Jones (0-1), David McEntee (0-1), Liam Byrne; Robbie McCarthy (1-7, 1f), Shane Comiskey, Donal Leniihan (1-1). Subs - Cathal Lacey for Byrne (43), David Gallagher for S McEntee (45), Michael Murphy for D McEntee (53), Jordan McLoughlin for Lowndes (55), Jack Cox for Comiskey (59)
Na Fianna - Shane Geraghty; Michael Collins, Oisin McCloskey, Sean Rafferty; Oran Smullen, Luke Kelly, Anthony Neary; Jamie Queeney (1-1), Harrison Silke (0-2); James Geoghan, Sean Martin, Owen McDonnell (0-1); Conor Downey, Shane Walsh (0-5, 2fs), Ethan Devine (0-2). Subs - Barry Slevin for McCloskey (30 + 1), Michael Farley for Collins (49), Jack McNally for Devine (55).
Referee - Liam O'Brien (Duleek-Bellewstown)
