In their second year in Meath hurling's premier grade, Na Fianna avoided the drop back down to the intermediate ranks and they made progress in the IFC by getting to the quarter-finals only to lose out to Gaeil Colmcille after extra-time in Athboy. In the SHC they were in Group B with O'Mahonys, Dunboyne, Drumree, Kiltale and Boardsmill and got off to a winning start with a 2-13 to 1-10 success over their Navan opponents at Kilmessan. Na Fianna also met O'Mahonys in the opening round in 2006 when a late levelling point from a free denied the south county side. But 12 months later the men from the Baconstown/Enfield are made no mistake and in a scoring burst in the first half during which a 0-2 to 0-4 deficit was turned into a 2-8 to 0-4 interval lead proved decisive. Paul Hanley and Barry Slevin netted the goals and further scores from Slevin and David Kirby stretched the advantage to a dozen points and although the arrears was reduced to five points, Na Fianna comfortably held out. However, the IHC winners of 2006 were brought down to earth in the second round when Dunboyne inflicted a 1-18 to 0-9 defeat at Kilmessan. Na Fianna played into the strong wind in the first half and without the influential Dave Kirby, they struggled and were 0-3 to 1-11 adrift at the break. Barry Slevin put over seven points, three from play, and it took the losers 22 minutes to get their first score from play, put over by Paul Hanley. Although well beaten in that game, Na Fianna were in with a chance of finishing third in the group with holders Kiltale and Dunboyne the likely top two. Kilmessan was also the venue for Na Fianna's third round outing as they faced up to defending champions Kiltale in a Saturday evening clash in which Paddy Kelly's charges proved much too good in a one-sided game in which they finished up emphatic 0-20 to 0-5 victors. Na Fianna's last group game against Drumree at Longwood ended in confusion with referee Mick Ryan calling a halt to proceedings with seconds left when Na Fianna were leading by three points. A brief skirmish broke out following a close-in free by Drumree. A subsequent ruling prevented each side from completing their group schedule except for relegation play-offs. Na Fianna eventually secured their place in the 2009 SHC with a 1-16 to 1-10 win over Boardsmill in a play-off in Trim. Such a result looked unlikely midway through the first half when Na Fianna were reduced to 14 men with the dismissal of defender Mark Kelly. David Kirby made a massive contribution for the winners by scoring 1-9 and Barry Slevin put over four points in the first half as their side led by 1-5 to 0-6 at the break. Fine defensive efforts by Brendan Flynn, Niall Reilly and Christy Cosgrove helped to keep the Boardsmill tally down. However, it did not look good for Na Fianna when Boardsmill drew level soon after the restart and looked to be making use of their numerical advantage. But in the next 25 minutes Kirby turned on the style to put over eight consecutive points, including a spectacular effort from 85 metres, and Paul Hanley, Diarmuid Bailey and Daniel Gleeson also got on target. Na Fianna got to the junior camogie championship final but lost out to Dunderry who were decisive winners on a 4-7 to 0-2 scoreline in Ashbourne. Claire Coffey battled very well for the winners and she got good support from Nicola Doherty and Marie Healy. Na Fianna team in final - N. Doherty; C. Reynolds, M. Dixon, A. Healy; C. Murphy, C. Coffey, M. Dunne; E. Flynn, M. Healy; M. Reilly, L. Fagan, O. Vesey; C. Smullen, S. Dowling, S. Kirby. Subs - M. O'Malley for Murphy, L. Reilly for M. Reilly, A. Kirby for Smullen, C. Carberry for Vesey, T. Cosgrove for L. Reilly. In the IFC Na Fianna, managed by county junior boss Kit Henry, were drawn in Group A along with Nobber, St Michael's, Cortown, Oldcastle and St Colmcille's. Their opening outing was on a Thursday evening in Bohermeen where one of the most fancied sides in the championship, Nobber, defeated them by 1-10 to 0-10. The game marked the return to competitive action of county forward Brian Farrell and he made his mark with a contribution of six points. After being ahead for most of the match, Na Fianna were unlucky to be overtaken as their opponents struck them with 1-1 near the final whistle. Jamie Queeney gave Na Fianna an early lead with the first of his five points and with Sean Griffin, John O'Lone and John Farrell also registering in the first half, they held a narrow 0-6 to 0-5 lead at the interval. They were still the minimum margin to the good before their opponents' late scoring burst. Na Fianna put that disappointment behind them when scoring a 2-10 to 0-10 win over St Michael's in their second round outing in Athboy. Goals from Declan Brennan and Jamie Queeney in the first half proved to be the difference between the sides at the end of the hour. Both of the goalscorers also shot over three points and with the long-serving Jason Henrick, Christy Cosgrove and John Baldwin also showing up well, the Baconstown /Enfield side was back on the right track. Na Fianna showed that they had recovered well from the losing start when going on a scoring spree on their return to Athboy when running up an impressive total of 4-13 to 2-8 for Oldcastle. After leading by just three points (3-5 to 2-5) at the break, the south county side took emphatic control to go above Nobber and St Colmcille's at the top of the table. John and Kit Henry were in opposition along the sideline in round four of the IFC and the former was the happier after Cortown defeated Na Fianna by 3-4 to 1-8 at Dunderry. Jamie Queeney hit 1-5 of the losing tally and his side led by 1-5 to 2-1 at the break. However, they were unable to hold on to the narrow advantage and went down to a second defeat. It was another eight weeks before team saw round five action and a 2-11 to 1-13 victory over St Colmcille's was good enough to enable Na Fianna earn a quarter-final place as they finished on second place in their section, below table-toppers Cortown and above St Michael's on score difference. Gaeil Colmcille were Na Fianna's quarter-final opponents and although the Baconstown/Enfield side gave good account of themselves, they were just edged out in extra-time, 1-12 to 1-10 being the final score in the Athboy encounter. It was 1-7 each at the end of regulation time. County minor Harrison Silke scored 1-4, including the levelling point at the end of the hour, for Na Fianna who were in arrears by 0-2 to 1-3 at the first break Points from Johnny Farrell and Declan Brennan gave them the advantage in the early stages of extra-time but an Ollie Lewis score was all they add after that. Na Fianna's second team, managed by Davy Killoran, did well to reach the Junior C FC final where they lost to Blackhall Gaels' thirds who took the title on a 2-7 to 0-6 in a game in which the losers came close to finding the net a few times. There was no shortage of scores in Na Fianna's quarter-final at Kildalkey where they won the smallest possible margin (1-15 to 0-17) at the end of extra-time. A late goal from substitute Shane Farrell proved to be the decisive score. Midfielder Brian Queeney shot seven points and full forward Seamie Donegan put over six. A point from Queeney left it 0-12 each after an hour of action. Simonstown Gaels were Na Fianna's semi-final opponents at Bective and the Navan side was overcome on a 1-9 to 0-8 scoreline. This year's Na Fianna junior C side had a number of players with intermediate experience like Bobby Hilton, Gene Greville, Fergal Foran, Hugh Dorgan and Seamie Donegan but the concession of two goals in the opening 10 minutes and were in arrears by 0-5 to 2-3 at the break. Na Fianna finished the first half on a promising note with Stephen Leonard and Brian Queeney putting over points. They had further cause for optimism when Donegan further reduced the arrears immediately after the restart. Although there were subsequently a few near misses, they did cause the umpires at the hospital end to raise another flag. The Na Fianna team and scorers in the 2008 Junior C FC final : Fergus Clinton; Bobby Hilton, Gene Greville, Anthony McDonald; Niall Burke, Fergal Foran, Shane Farrell; Hugh Dorgan, Brian Queeney (0-1); Mark Baldwin (0-1), Stephen Leonard (0-1), Shane Burke (0-1); Damien Downey, Seamie Donegan (0-2), David McCormack. Subs - Fergal O'Connor for Burke, Donal Curran for McDonald, Pauric Hogan for Downey, Eoin Maher, William Davey, Simon Sharkey. In 2008 the Na Fianna club lost two stalwart members in Jim Queeney and Charlie Flattery, both of whom served so well over the years. On the playing pitches their teams competed well and they could well be stronger contenders in the IFC in the coming year. Tweet

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