Na Fianna 1-9 Curraha 0-8

If you were driving through Batterstown on Sunday evening you would be asking yourself a few questions. First question would be is it November as it had all the hallmarks of a wet, cold dark November evening. Second question is how can GAA clubs continue to get the numbers of volunteers out to help stage matches, whether they be scanning tickets, parking cars, moving and directing traffic etc all in the lashing of rain. The third question would be is the rumours of Na Fianna's inability to perform without Shane Walsh true and the forth question would be who were the intercounty players returning to club.

Well it wasn't November, it is Meath Championship on the last weekend in July. It was raining, dark and miserable but that didn't stop all the volunteers from Blackhall Gaels serving their club with pride to ensure this Group A match was delivered without a hitch. 

Na Fianna without Shane Walsh proved to be just as Championship resilient as every other year making them one of the most consistent team in Meath Championship despite the local punditry rumours of their demise. And as for the returning county players you would be forgiven in thinking they were Na Fianna' Oran Smullen, Michael Farley, Ethan Devine and Daniel Queeney because it was those 4 players who dictated the match.

Curraha will rue their slow start in both halves and allowing Na Fianna build up a 4 point lead in the first half and a 5 point lead in the second half before they got into the match. 

Luke Kelly opened Na Fianna's Keegan Cup bid with a fine point from play. Daniel Queeney followed suit with 2 points, one from play and a free, his effervescent brother Jamie scored from a free before Curraha even got the ball into the Na Fianna's half. Shane Geraghty barely had to make a save all match. In fact Daniel Queeney's point from play should have been a goal as it followed an interception after the Curraha goalkeeper slipped when kicking the ball off the tee and Curraha's day could have been prematurely ended if Na Fianna had gone 1- 3 up after 7 minutes. But Curraha clawed their way back into the game with four frees and when Na Fianna's Sean Rafferty recieving a black card 5 minutes from the end of the first half Curraha probably should have reflected their numeric difference on the scoreboard. But a score of 6 point to four at half time reflected how the elements affected the game.

Na Fianna played with the wind in the second half and a player down again got the better start. Just as in the first half Na Fianna's midfield of Owen McDonnell and Ethan Devine won the throw in setting up the platform for another excellent 15 minutes for Na Fianna. Leading 1 - 8 to 6 points it was nearly 15 minutes into the second half before Curraha got going. Na Fianna's Michael Farley and Oran Smullen were extremely sharp and brave with a number of well timed interceptions from defence. Sean Martin marking of James McEntee eliminated McEntee almost completely from the game and Devine's pin point accuracy with his foot passing to the forwards kept Na Fianna at arm's length for the remainder of the game. The introduction of Sean Hurley a recent transfer into the club gave Na Fianna another target forward and although rusty due to an extended absence from the football pitch there were flashes of what could be an very exciting find for Na Fianna.

So we are up and running and Cormac Davey's men are off to a winning start. Next up is Dunsaughlin on Friday August 11th. See you all there.

Na Fianna: Shane Geraghty, Oran Smullen, Sean Rafferty, Ronan Byrne (Oisin Bright), Michael Farley, Sean Martin, James Geoghan (Jamie Queeney), Owen McDonnell, Ethan Devine (1pt 45m), Luke Kelly (1pt play) (Evan Mullaly), Conor Downey, Jack McNally (Sean Hurley), Sean McDonnell (1 pt play) (Cormac Rafferty), Jamie Queeney (2 frees), Daniel Queeney (1 goal 1 point from play 3 frees).

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