A FL Division 1 final: Goals deliver title to Dunboyne as Na Fianna fall

October 26, 2014

Dunboyne's Donal Lenihan with Christy Cosgrave Na Fianna during the ACFL Division 1 final at Pairc Tailteann.

Goals were central to Dunboyne's decisive win over Na Fianna in the Seamus Connolly Catering A FL Division 1 final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday

Dunboyne ......... 4-6
Na Fianna ......... 2-5

Donal Lenihan led the way with 2-2 for Dunboyne who topped the table in the round robin phase that included a 3-16 to 3-14 win over Na Fianna in round five.

Dunboyne netted twice in each half including two in the run-up to half-time that gave Conor O'Donoghue's men an advantage they took to the finish.

It was a welcome win for Dunboyne who have had a bad run in finals in recent times including losing to Navan O'Mahonys in the final of this competition a year ago. To their credit they rallied well having conceded the opening goal here.

Na Fianna were bidding to make it a hat-trick of league titles, having claimed the Division 2 crown last year and the Division 3 honours in 2012.

Having played against the wind in the first-half, it took Na Fianna until the 40th minute to register for the first time after the change of ends. Dean Barrett's excellent point arrived shortly after Conor Daly bagged Dunboyne's third goal.  By the 46th minute the wearers of green were 4-6 to 1-3 ahead when Lenihan completed their goal tally.

Na Fianna lost Tommy Cosgrave to a harsh straight red in the 43rd minute. However, Ned Moore's men kept plugging away and trimmed the deficit with Shane Barrett's 50th minute goal from a penalty. The contest flatlined in the latter stages while Jamie Queeney was unlucky to see his 60th minute piledriver go narrowly wide.

Playing with the wind towards the town goal, it took Dunboyne less than 15 seconds to get off the mark with Conor Daly registering with assistance from Ronan Jones and Cathal Finn.

Michael Dunne doubled Dunboyne's advantage before the pendulum swung Na Fianna's way. The beaten SFC semi-finalists got off the mark through Shane Barrett (free) in the seventh minute.

The next score didn't arrive until the 17th minute when Shane Barrett netted from close range soccer style after the Dunboyne defence tried to let the ball to wide. Na Fianna went a goal clear, 1-2 to 0-2, when Jamie Queeney reacted quickest when a Daniel Queeney free rebounded off a post.

Dunboyne's opening goal arrived in the 20th minute when Michael Dunne netted with assistance from David Geaney. This levelled matters for the only time in the game.

Conor O'Donoghue's men tagged on 1-2 without reply over the remainder of the half to lead by double scores at the break, 2-4 to 1-2.

David Geaney's point from play from almost 45 metres was a highlight of the half. Dunboyne's second goal arrived in the 23rd minute when Donal Lenihan finished off a sweeping move with an unstoppable drive.

Within four minutes of fthe restart Lenihan tagged on two pointed frees at the old swimming pool end. Seconds later Conor Daly fired to the net and suddenly there were ten points in it.  The Tommy Mooney Cup was bound for Dunboyne.

Dunboyne - Andy Markey; Johnny Meehan, Damien Sweeney, Jack Scannell; Cathal Finn, Seamus Lavin, Shane McEntee; David Gallagher, Ronan Jones; Gavin McCoy , Donal Lenihan (2-2, 0-2fs), David Geaney (0-2, 1f); Conor Daly (1-1), Michael Dunne (1-1), Colin Clarke. Subs - Conor Doran for Lavin (6), Tommy O'Connor for McEntee (ht), Jason Daly for Conor Daly (47),  Ger Robinson for Jones (60)

Na Fianna - Shane Geraghty; Michael Farley, Christopher Cosgrave, Johnny Baldwin; Damien Downey, Diarmuid Bailey, Dean Hendrick; Ollie Lewis, Brian Queeney; Daniel Queeney, Conor Downey, Tommy Cosgrave; Dean Barrett (0-1), Jamie Queeney (C) (0-2), Shane Barrett (2-2, 1-0 pen, 0-2 fs). Subs - Evan Hendrick for B Queeney (ht), Anthony Neary for D Downey (ht), James Geagan for Baldwin (55).

Referee - Cormac Reilly (St Mary's)


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