Senior Hurling Championship play-off Boardsmill 1-10 Na Fianna 1-16 Na Fianna hurlers recorded a comfortable six points victory over Boardsmill last Sunday morning in Trim to ensure Senior Championship status for the coming year. However such a victory seemed far away in the early stages of the second half when Na Fianna, down to 14 players following a straight red card to Mark Kelly, lost a two point half time lead in a matter of ninety seconds of the restart. Na Fianna struggled all through the first half to get any sort of rhythm going in a game where both sets of defences dominated. Excellent play by Brendan Flynn at full back, Niall Reilly and Christy Cosgrove in the half back line, kept the Boardsmill attach at bay. It took four points from Barry Slevin and a goal and a point from centre forward David Kirby to give Na Fianna the 1-5 to 0-6 half time lead. Within minutes of the restart Vinnie Guy and Niall O'Rourke had the teams level with two excellent points and Boardsmill looked the stronger team and were fully exploiting their extra man. However the next twenty five minutes of the game became the David Kirby show when he scored eight consecutive points -coming from frees, 65s and play. This tally included a massive 85 metre effort. During this time Boardsmill only added one point to their scoreline. In the final five minutes Na Fianna's Paul Hanley, Diarmuid Bailey and Daniel Gleeson got further points while Boardsmill got a consolation goal and point. Apart from those already mentioned other to play well for Na Fianna were Davy Lyons, Shane Burke and Sean Griffin. A poor strike on Stephen Gibbons after fifteen minutes resulted in his replacement and the sending off of the Na Fianna player. Boardsmill trailed by 1-5 to 0-6 at half time. Despite only having fourteen men, Na Fianna played like a team inspired in the second half and outplayed Boardsmill in almost every position. Niall O'Rourke, Jerry Jones and Ray Hatton played best for Boardsmill. Killoyn now await the losers of Drumree. and Boardsmill, this game will then determine who will be relegated to the Intermediate ranks. Na Fianna ; Anthony Kirby; Mark Kelly; Brendan Flynn (Capt); Sean Griffin; Christy Cosgrave; Niall Reilly; Michael Hanley; Davy Lyons; Shane Burke; Shane Greaney; David Kirby (1-9); Alan Burke; Barry Slevin (0-4); Tony Healy; Paul Hanley (0-1). Subs Diarmuid Bailey (0-1) for Greaney; Paul Coffey for Tony Healy; Eoin Reilly for Alan Burke and Daniel Gleeson (0-1) for Michael Hanley. Boardsmill: Stephen Masterson, Eoin Corrigan, Bernard McLoughlin, Ray Hatton, Stephen O'Toole, Gerry Jones, Paudie Guy, David Farrell, James Pratt, Eoin Dunne, Stephen Gibbons(0-1), Niall O'Rourke(0-5), Keith Hamilton(0-2), Vinny Guy(1-1) , Eric Cribbin. Subs: Neil McLoughlin for Gibbons (injured) Cathal Flattery (0-1) for Jimmy Pratt, Ian Darby for Corrigan Tweet

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