Na Fianna

Sports Clubs

NA FIANNA G.A.A.

G.A.A CLUB NOTES

13 SEPTEMBER 2021

U15 C FOOTBALL COMPETITION RD 2

Na Fianna U15 No 2 Football Team picked up their first win in fine style in Rd 2 of the C Competition against neighbours St Vincents last Monday week in Geashill on a scoreline of 5-16 to 0-04 to put themselves right in contention for a place in the knockout stage going into the final round. Incredibly given the final scoreline it was St Vincents who opened the scoring with a pointed free inside the first minute which would prove to be their only score of the half. Na Fianna then got up and running first with 3 points before striking their first goal in the 12th minute when Ryan Kinahan caught a high ball over the top, turned and shot to the net. 2 more points followed before a blistering 2 minute spell between the 22nd & 24th minutes saw Na Fianna fire in 3 goals one after the other, the first 2 both cracking finishes by Cormac O’Grady with the 3rd a great shot from outside the square by Doonocha Cooney. Na Fianna rounded off the half with 2 more points so at half time Na Fianna were in complete control leading by 4-7 to 0-01. In the second half Na Fianna eased back but still managing to add 8 more points to St Vincents 3 before goal no 5 arrived in the last minute of normal time when Tadhg Lee lobbed a shot to the top left corner of the net and the scoring was complete when Stephen Confrey sent over Na Fianna’s final point in injury time.

NA FIANNA: Adam Wallace, Rian Fenlon, Aaron McEvoy, Cathal Quinn, Jamie Byrne, Dara Grehan, Stevie Byrne (0-01), Stephen Confrey (0-04), Padraig Cooney, Sean Dunne (0-01), Cian Multaney-Kelly (0-02), Tadhg Lee (1-01), Cormac O’Grady (2-00), Ryan Kinahan (1-06), Doonacha Cooney (1-00).

SUBS: Shane Hackett, Paddy Sheil (0-01), Dara Flynn, Michael Cooney.

U15 A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RD 2

Alike their U13 counterparts Na Fianna U15 No 1 Team are through to the A Championship Quarter Final but did it with a game to spare as they made it 2 wins out of 2 with a Rd 2 victory over Shamrocks last Wednesday evening in Mucklagh on a scoreline of 3-13 to 1-08 in a game that was much closer than the scoreline suggests. Na Fianna were first off the mark with the opening point before raising their first green flag on 11 minutes when Conor Bracken chipped a shot from outside the square into the left corner of the net. Shamrocks responded immediately with their opening point and this is how it remained until the final 10 minutes of the half when both sides found their range adding 7 points between them with Na Fianna getting 4 of them so at the break Na Fianna had their noses in front by 1-05 to 0-04. Shamrocks opened the scoring in the second half with a point in the 5th minute but Na Fianna responded with a further 6 points before cracking in their 2nd goal in the 15th minute when a short Shamrocks kickout was intercepted by Edward Mangan just outside the square who laid it off to Ryan Kinahan who shot first time low to the right corner of the net. At this stage it looked like it was game over but Shamrocks went straight downfield and got through to score their goal. Over the next 15 odd minutes both sides completed their points scoring with 5 points between them but this time it was Shamrocks who edged it with 3 of them. Then in the 5th minute of stoppage time Na Fianna wrapped it up with their 3rd goal when 45 taken by Aaron Rattigan came off the crossbar into the waiting hands of Edward Mangan and he rounded his marker to shoot to the net.

NA FIANNA: Doonacha Keoghan, Josh Sheeran, Finn Hassett, Colm Nolan, Jack Fox (0-02), Rory Grehan (0-01), Oissine Troy, Eimhin Gorman (0-01), Aaron Rattigan (0-02), Conor Bracken (1-00), Eoin Dunne (0-01), Sean Cuskelly (0-03), D J Tierney, Edward Mangan (1-00), Ryan Kinahan (1-03).

SUBS: Jamie Byrne, Sean Dunne, Dara Grehan, Lucas O’Meara.

U13 A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINAL

Na Fianna U13 No 1 Team bowed out of the A Championship at the Quarter Final stage last Sunday morning against Tullamore in O’Brien Pk, Tullamore on a scoreline of 4-10 to 1-04. Na Fianna were always going to be up against it as they faced the side who would be considered favourites to win out the Championship but despite this Na Fianna put it up to them for between half & three quarters of the game. Tullamore opened the scoring with 2 points either side of their first goal in the 4th minute when a shot from the right corner was punched to the net at the left post. Na Fianna then slowly began to settle into the game and got off the mark with 2 pointed 45’s in the the 9th & 12th minutes. This is how it remained until the 21st minute when Na Fianna struck for their goal when Adam Wallace sent in a shot from the left corner which Doonacha Cooney caught and finding himself surrounded he just flicked it over his shoulder to Paddy Sheil who took full advantage to shoot it over the line. This brought the sides level but Na Fianna’s joy was short lived as Tullamore struck for their second goal on 25 minutes when their full forward was put through the middle in the clear and he sent it to the net. Both sides added a point apiece before the end of the half so at the break it was just a 1 score game as Tullamore led 2-03 to 1-03. The first and the third 10 minute spells of the second half proved to be Na Fianna’s undoing as in the first 10 minutes Tullamore tagged on 4 points to Na Fianna’s 1 to strech clear and the final 10 minutes Tullamore wrapped it up scoring 2-03 without reply to put a bigger gap on the scoreboard than the game deserved.

NA FIANNA: Darragh Flynn, Donal Connolly, Killian Dunne, Michael Cooney, Ruairi Dunne, Stevie Byrne, Cormac Staunton, Cian Multaney-Kelly (0-01), Stephen Confrey, Paddy Sheil (1-00), Adam Wallace (0-01), Michael McAndrew, Doonacha Cooney (0-02), Cormac O’Grady, Rory Kehoe.

SUBS: Senan Farrell, Cathal Sheil, Martin Conroy

U15 C FOOTBALL COMPETITION RD 3

Na Fianna U15 No 2 Football Team take on Tullamore in the 3^rd & Final Rd of the U15 C Football Competition this Monday evening (20^th September) @ 6:30pm in O’Brien Pk, Tullamore. All Support would be appreciated.

U15 A FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RD 3

Na Fianna U15 No 1 Football Team with 2 wins out of 2 already secured face their toughest assignment yet when they take on Tullamore in the 3^rd and final round of the U15 A Championship next Wednesday evening (22nd September) @ 6:30pm in O’Brien Pk, Tullamore. All Support would be appreciated.

MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP RD 3

Na Fianna Minor Footballers complete the group stage of the Championship as they take on neighbours St Broughans in Rd 3 on Saturday week (25^th Sept) @ 11am in Bracknagh. A win for either side will put them through to the Quarter Final and the loser out. This game is all ticket and Link to Purchase Tickets will be issued first on the Na Fianna Committee & Na Fianna Players WhatsApp Groups and any still available will go on sale on Offaly GAA website from 6PM Friday evening beforehand. All Support would be appreciated.