IHC Semi Final: O'Kelly Lynch seals final place for Tones
September 28, 2015
Na Fianna's Daniel Gleeson with Cillian O'Brien Wolfe Tones during the Meath IHC semi final at Trim
Wolfe Tones 4-19 Na Fianna 3-21
Wolfe Tones qualified for the Meath Intermediate Hurling Championship final with this one point win over Na Fianna at Lomans Park Trim.
Before the game there was a minutes silence for Anne Browne, mother of Wolfe Tones players Alan and Trevor, who passed away during the week.
Extra time was needed to separate these two well matched teams. Wolfe Tones held the upper hand in the opening half and led 2-11 to 0-9 at the break. But it was Pat O'Hallorans men who made all the running in the second half as Na Fianna snatched a draw with the last puck of the game.
Na Fianna held a two point advantage going in to the last minute of extra time before Eanna O'Kelly Lynch found the back of the net to give Wolfe Tones a sensational win.
Ken McKenna's men now meet Clann Na nGael in the final.
Wolfe Tones: Stephen Tiernan, John Paul Melady, Eoin Harrington, Conor Sheppard, Brian Meade, Gerry Farrelly, Stephen Jordan, Eanna Harrington 0-11, Donal Curtis 0-1, Gary McFadden, Killian O'Brien 1-1, Donal Keogan 1-0, Caolach Halligan 0-2, Stephen Sheppard, Eanna O'Kelly Lynch 2-1. Subs Thomas O'Reilly 0-2, Niall O'Reilly 0-1, Alan Browne
Na Fianna Report
Na Fianna: 3-21 Wolfe Tones 4-19
Na Fianna were knocked out of this year's IHC following a titanic battle with Wolfe Tones in Trim on Sunday in a game which went into extra time.
Na Fianna were very slow to start, with Tones hitting two early goals. Na Fianna managed to stay in contention with the mercurial Barry Slevin sending over six points, added to by efforts from David Kirby and Mark Slevin. Kirby would go on to play a major role in reviving the Na Fianna challenge after being introduced after twenty minutes. Na Fianna trailed a rampant Tones side by 2-11 to 0-9 at half time.
Na Fianna came out fighting in the second half, with Barry Slevin and Kirby firing goals, along with spectacular long range efforts from peter & Mark Slevin. Na Fianna had snatched a draw on the stroke of full time, 2-15 to 3-12 as the game went into extra time.
A goal and three points from the impressive Barry Slevin in extra time gave Na Fianna real hope, and with two minutes remaining Christy Cosgrave strode forward and hit a long range effort over to put Na Fianna one up. Barry Slevin followed up a minute later with a point as Na Fianna looked set for the win with time up. Tones managed one more attack and managed to scramble a goal from a long ball in to the box to break Na Fianna hearts and claim a final place.
Na Fianna were best served by Noel O Sullivan, Shane Burke, Peter Slevin, Mark Slevin, David Kirby, Christy Cosgrave and Barry Slevin.
Na Fianna: Davy Reilly, Mark Burke, Niall Reilly, Noel O Sullivan, Mark Kelly, Daniel Gleeson, Evan Mullally, Shane Burke, Peter Slevin (0-1), Jonathan McCloskey, Diarmuid Bailey Mark Slevin (0-3), Ronan Byrne (0-1), Eoin Reilly, Barry Slevin (2-11).
Subs: David Kirby (1-03) for McCloskey, Christy Cosgrave (0-1) for Kelly, Mark Coffey (0-1) for E Reilly, J McCloskey for S Burke, Davy Lyons for Mullally, Will Flynn for Ronan Byrne.
